1982 Texas gubernatorial election

The 1982 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican governor Bill Clements ran for reelection, but was defeated in the general election by Democrat Mark White, winning 46% of the vote to White's 53%. White was sworn into office on January 18, 1983.

1982 Texas gubernatorial election

← 1978 November 2, 1982 1986 →

Nominee Mark White Bill Clements Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,697,870 1,465,937 Percentage 53.2% 45.9%

County results White:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Clements:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Bill Clements Republican Elected Governor Mark White Democratic

White carried 196 out of 254 counties. As of 2023, this is the last time a Democrat won a majority of the vote in a Texas gubernatorial election, or carried Carson, Oldham, Donley, Wheeler, Castro, Floyd, Motley, Lamb, Hockley, Terry, Cochran, Lynn, Garza, Kent, King, Gaines, Dawson, Martin, Howard, Coke, Runnels, Coleman, Brown, Callahan, Eastland, Shackelford, Stephens, Young, Jack, Erath, Hood, Somervell, Parker, Johnson, Ellis, Hunt, Franklin, Wood, Upshur, Van Zandt, Nacogdoches, Cherokee, Anderson, Freestone, Leon, Brazos, San Jacinto, Liberty, Lee, Washington, Austin, Fayette, Colorado, Wharton, Lavaca, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Goliad, Wilson, Karnes, Atascosa, Gonzales, Bell, Coryell, Bosque, Hamilton, Lampasas, Mills, San Saba, McCulloch, Concho, Llano, Burnet, Schleicher, Real, Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Reagan, Upton, Crane, Winkler, Ward, or Brewster counties.

Primaries

Republican

Candidates

• Bill Clements, Incumbent
• Duke Embs

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Clements (incumbent)	246,120	92.58%
	Republican	Duke Embs	19,731	7.42%
Total votes			265,851	100.00

Democratic

Candidates

• Mark White, Attorney General
• Buddy Temple, Railroad Commissioner
• Bob Armstrong, Land Commissioner
• David Young
• Ray Allen Mayo II
• Donald R. Beagle

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark White	592,658	44.94
	Democratic	Buddy Temple	402,693	30.54
	Democratic	Bob Armstrong	262,189	19.88
	Democratic	David Young	25,386	1.93
	Democratic	Ray Allen Mayo II	20,088	1.52
	Democratic	Donald R. Beagle	15,649	1.19
Total votes			1,318,663	100.00

Temple refused to participate in the runoff, causing White to win by default.

Results

General election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark White	1,697,870	53.20
	Republican	Bill Clements (incumbent)	1,465,937	45.94
	Libertarian	David Hutzelman	19,143	0.60
	Independent	Bob Poteet	8,065	0.19
Total votes			3,191,091	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

Videos

(1) Gubernatorial Debate from September 24, 1982 in Amarillo

(2) White Campaign commercials from October 7, 1982

(3) White Campaign commercials from October 28, 1982

(4) White Campaign commercial from September 29, 1982

(5) White Campaign commercial for the Democratic Primary on April 12, 1982

(6) White Campaign commercial for the Democratic Primary on March 6, 1982

(7) Revised commercial from March 6, 1982

(8) White Campaign commercial for the Democratic Primary on March 23, 1982

(9) Gubernatorial Debate from October 11, 1982 in Austin