1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

The 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 7, 1978, to elect the members of the state of Texas's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Texas had twenty-four seats in the House apportioned according to the 1970 United States census.^[1]

1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

← 1976 November 7, 1978 1980 →
All 24 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 22 2 Seats won 20 4 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 1,285,348 889,450 Percentage 58.9% 40.7% Swing 5.8% 5.8%
Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90>% Republican   50–60%   80–90%   90>%

These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1978, the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections.

Democrats maintained their majority of U.S. House seats from Texas, but they lost two seats to the Republicans, decreasing their majority to twenty out of twenty-four seats. These elections produced a high level of turnover due to the retirements of several representatives, as well as the electoral defeat of others.^[2]

Overview

1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas[3]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats before	Seats after	+/–
	Democratic	1,285,348	58.90%	22	20	-2
	Republican	888,215	40.70%	2	4	+2
	La Raza Unida	7,185	0.33%	0	0	-
	Socialist Workers	1,632	0.07%	0	0	-
Totals		2,182,380	100.00%	24	24	-

Congressional districts

District 1

See also: Texas's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Sam B. Hall ran for re-election.

Texas's 1st congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam B. Hall (incumbent)	73,708	78.07
	Republican	Fred Hudson	20,700	21.92
Total votes			94,408	100
	Democratic hold

District 2

See also: Texas's 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.

Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charlie Wilson (incumbent)	66,986	70.09
	Republican	James Dillion	28,584	29.91
Total votes			95,570	100
	Democratic hold

District 3

See also: Texas's 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Republican James M. Collins ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James M. Collins (incumbent)	96,406	100.00
Total votes			96,406	100
	Republican hold

District 4

See also: Texas's 4th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Ray Roberts ran for re-election.

Texas's 4th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ray Roberts (incumbent)	58,336	61.46
	Republican	Frank Glenn	36,582	38.54
Total votes			94,918	100
	Democratic hold

District 5

See also: Texas's 5th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jim Mattox ran for re-election.

Texas's 5th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Mattox (incumbent)	35,524	50.32
	Republican	Thomas W. Pauken	34,672	49.12
	Socialist Workers	James White	397	0.56
Total votes			70,593	100
	Democratic hold

District 6

See also: Texas's 6th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Olin E. Teague opted to retire rather than run for re-election.^[4]

Texas's 6th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Phil Gramm	66,025	65.10
	Republican	Wes Mowery	35,393	34.90
Total votes			101,418	100
	Democratic hold

District 7

See also: Texas's 7th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election.

Texas's 7th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Archer (incumbent)	128,214	85.24
	Democratic	Robert Hutchings	22,415	14.90
Total votes			150,418	100
	Republican hold

District 8

See also: Texas's 8th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Bob Eckhardt ran for re-election.

Texas's 8th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Eckhardt (incumbent)	39,429	61.51
	Republican	Nick Gearhardt	24,673	38.49
Total votes			64,102	100
	Democratic hold

District 9

See also: Texas's 9th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election.

Texas's 9th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack Brooks (incumbent)	50,792	63.28
	Republican	Randy Evans	29,473	34.23
Total votes			80,265	100
	Democratic hold

District 10

See also: Texas's 10th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat J. J. Pickle ran for re-election.

Texas's 10th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. J. Pickle (incumbent)	94,529	76.32
	Republican	Emmett Hudsoeth	29,328	23.68
Total votes			123,857	100
	Democratic hold

District 11

See also: Texas's 11th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat William R. Poage opted to retire rather than run for re-election. He resigned on December 31, 1978, four days before his term would have expired.^[5]

Texas's 11th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Marvin Leath	53,354	51.64
	Republican	Jack Burgess	49,965	48.36
Total votes			103,319	100
	Democratic hold

District 12

See also: Texas's 12th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election.

Texas's 12th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Wright (incumbent)	46,456	68.50
	Republican	Claude Brown	21,364	31.50
Total votes			67,820	100
	Democratic hold

District 13

See also: Texas's 13th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jack Hightower ran for re-election.

Texas's 13th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack Hightower (incumbent)	75,271	74.86
	Republican	Clifford Jones	25,275	25.14
Total votes			100,546	100
	Democratic hold

District 14

See also: Texas's 14th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat John Andrew Young ran for re-election. He lost in the Democratic Primary to Joseph Wyatt.^[6]

Texas's 14th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Wyatt	63,953	72.45
	Republican	Jay Yates	24,325	27.55
Total votes			88,278	100
	Democratic hold

District 15

See also: Texas's 15th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza ran for re-election.

Texas's 15th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kika de la Garza (incumbent)	54,560	66.20
	Republican	Robert McDonald	27,853	33.80
Total votes			82,413	100
	Democratic hold

District 16

See also: Texas's 16th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Richard Crawford White ran for re-election.

Texas's 16th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard Crawford White (incumbent)	53,090	70.01
	Republican	Robert McDonald	22,743	29.99
Total votes			75,833	100
	Democratic hold

District 17

See also: Texas's 17th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Omar Burleson opted to retire rather than run for re-election.^[7]

Texas's 17th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charles Stenholm	69,030	68.12
	Republican	Billy Fisher	32,302	31.88
Total votes			101,332	100
	Democratic hold

District 18

See also: Texas's 18th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Barbara Jordan opted to retire rather than run for re-election.^[8]

Texas's 18th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mickey Leland	36,783	96.75
	Socialist Workers	Deborah Vernier	1,235	3.25
Total votes			38,018	100
	Democratic hold

District 19

See also: Texas's 19th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat George H. Mahon opted to retire rather than run for re-election. Future president George W. Bush was defeated in this election.^[9]

Texas's 19th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kent Hance	54,729	53.24
	Republican	George W. Bush	48,070	46.76
Total votes			102,799	100
	Democratic hold

District 20

See also: Texas's 20th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 20th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent)	51,584	100.00
Total votes			51,584	100
	Democratic hold

District 21

See also: Texas's 21st congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Bob Krueger retired to run for U.S. Senator.^[10]

Texas's 21st congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Loeffler	84,336	57.05
	Democratic	Nelson Wolff	63,501	42.95
Total votes			147,837	100
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 22

See also: Texas's 22nd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Robert Gammage ran for re-election.

Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ron Paul	54,643	50.56
	Democratic	Robert Gammage (incumbent)	53,443	49.44
Total votes			108,086	100
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 23

See also: Texas's 23rd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Abraham Kazen ran for re-election.

Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Abraham Kazen (incumbent)	62,649	89.71
	Raza Unida	Agustin Mata	7,185	10.29
Total votes			69,834	100
	Democratic hold

District 24

See also: Texas's 24th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Dale Milford ran for re-election. He lost in the Democratic Primary to Martin Frost.^[11]

Texas's 24th congressional district, 1978^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Martin Frost	39,201	54.06
	Republican	Leo Berman	33,314	45.94
Total votes			72,515	100
	Democratic hold