1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
| country = Texas
| type = legislative
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1974 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
| previous_year = 1974
| next_election = 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
| next_year = 1978
| seats_for_election = All 24 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives
| election_date = November 2, 1976
| majority_seats =
| turnout =
| image1 =
| leader1 =
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| leaders_seat1 =
| last_election1 = 21
| seats_before1 = 20
| seats_needed1 =
| seats1 = 22
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 2
| popular_vote1 = 2,368,543
| percentage1 = 64.7%
| swing1 = {{decrease}} 7.6%
| image2 =
| leader2 =
| leader_since2 =
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| leaders_seat2 =
| last_election2 = 3
| seats_before2 = 4
| seats_needed2 =
| seats2 = 2
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 2
| popular_vote2 = 1,277,165
| percentage2 = 34.9%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 7.5%
| map_image = 1976 Texas US House.svg
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = {{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Democratic
{{legend|#86b6f2|50–60%}}
{{legend|#4389e3|60–70%}}
{{legend|#1666cb|70–80%}}
{{legend|#0645b4|80–90%}}
{{legend|#002b84|90>%}}
{{col-2}}
Republican
{{legend|#d40000|70–80%}}
{{legend|#800000|90>%}}
{{col-end}}
}}
{{Elections in Texas sidebar}}
The 1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 2, 1976, 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.{{Cite web |title=Historical Apportionment Data (1910-2020) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/apportionment-data-text.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Census.gov |language=EN-US}}
Texas underwent mid-decade redistricting as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court case White v. Weiser. The court's modified districts were used in 1974. In 1975, the Texas Legislature modified the boundaries District 2 and District 6 to move the town of Streetman, which is on the border of Navarro County and Freestone County, fully within the boundaries of District 6.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://redistricting.capitol.texas.gov/history |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=redistricting.capitol.texas.gov}}{{cite web |title=Texas Congressional Districts 1976-1980 Elections |url=https://redistricting.capitol.texas.gov/docs/maps/map_c_1976_1980.pdf |website=Texas Redistricting}}
These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1976, the United States House elections in other states, the presidential election, and various state and local elections.
Democrats maintained their majority of U.S. House seats from Texas, gaining two seats from the Republicans, increasing their majority to twenty-two out of twenty-four seats.{{Cite web |last=Texas State Historical Association |date=1978 |title=Texas Almanac, 1978-1979 |url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113814/m1/534/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=The Portal to Texas History |publisher=The Dallas Morning News |page=528 |language=English}}
Overview
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! colspan="7" |1976 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas{{Cite web |last1=Guthrie |first1=Benjamin |last2=Henshaw |first2=Edmund |date=April 15, 1977 |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf |pages=47–48}} |
| colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
! style="width: 5em" |Votes ! style="width: 7em" |Percentage ! style="width: 5em" |Seats before ! style="width: 5em" |Seats after ! style="width: 5em" |+/– |
|---|
| style="background-color:#3333FF; width: 3px" |
| style="width: 130px" |Democratic | align="right" |2,368,543 | align="right" |65.38% | align="right" |20 | align="right" |22 | align="right" | +2 |
| style="background-color:#FF3333; width: 3px" |
| style="width: 130px" |Republican | align="right" |1,277,960 | align="right" |35.27% | align="right" |4 | align="right" |2 | align="right" | -2 |
| style="background-color:{{party color|American Party (1969)}}; width: 3px" |
| style="width: 130px" |American | align="right" |13,960 | align="right" |0.39% | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" | - |
| style="background-color:{{party color|Raza Unida Party}}; width: 3px" |
| style="width: 130px" |La Raza Unida | align="right" |2,515 | align="right" |0.07% | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" | - |
| style="background-color:{{party color|Socialist Workers Party (United States)}}; width: 3px" |
| style="width: 130px" |Socialist Workers | align="right" |735 | align="right" |0.02% | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" | - |
| bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
| colspan="2" align="right" |Totals | align="right" |3,622,918 | align="right" |100.00% | align="right" |24 | align="right" |24 | align="right" |- |
Congressional districts
= District 1 =
{{See also|Texas's 1st congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Wright Patman, the Dean of the House, died on March 7, 1976.{{Cite news |last=Times |first=Eileen Shanahan Special to The New York |date=1976-03-08 |title=Wright Patman, 82, Dean of House, Dies |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/08/archives/new-jersey-pages-wright-patman-82-dean-of-house-dies-wright-patman.html |access-date=2022-07-20 |issn=0362-4331}} This prompted a special election to be held, which was won by fellow Democrat Sam B. Hall.{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - TX District 1 - Special Election Race - Jun 19, 1976 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=31609 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 1st congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Sam B. Hall (incumbent)|votes=135,384|percentage=83.72}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=James Hogan|votes=26,334|percentage=16.28}}{{Election box total no change|votes=161,718|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 2 =
{{See also|Texas's 2nd congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Charlie Wilson (incumbent)|votes=133,910|percentage=95.04}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Party (1969)|candidate=James Doyle|votes=6,992|percentage=4.96}}{{Election box total no change|votes=140,902|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 3 =
{{See also|Texas's 3rd congressional district}}Incumbent Republican James M. Collins ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=James M. Collins (incumbent)|votes=171,343|percentage=74.04}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Les Shackelford|votes=60,070|percentage=25.96}}{{Election box total no change|votes=231,413|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 4 =
{{See also|Texas's 4th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Ray Roberts ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 4th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ray Roberts (incumbent)|votes=105,394|percentage=62.72}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Frank Glenn|votes=62,641|percentage=37.28}}{{Election box total no change|votes=168,035|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 5 =
{{See also|Texas's 5th congressional district}}Incumbent Republican Alan Steelman retired to run for U.S. Senator.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-06 |title=What will it take to persuade Americans on impeachment? Former Dallas Rep. Alan Steelman has some experience on the issue |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2019/10/06/will-take-persuade-americans-impeachment-former-dallas-rep-alan-steelman-experience-issue/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 5th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jim Mattox|votes=67,871|percentage=53.97}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Nancy Judy|votes=56,056|percentage=44.57}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Party (1969)|candidate=Sam McDonnell|votes=1,841|percentage=1.46}}{{Election box total no change|votes=125,768|percentage=100}}{{Election box gain with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 6 =
{{See also|Texas's 6th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Olin E. Teague ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 6th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Olin E. Teague (incumbent)|votes=119,025|percentage=65.93}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Wes Mowery|votes=60,316|percentage=33.41}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Party (1969)|candidate=Harley Pinon|votes=1,193|percentage=0.66}}{{Election box total no change|votes=180,534|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 7 =
{{See also|Texas's 7th congressional district}}Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election unopposed.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 7th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bill Archer (incumbent)|votes=193,127|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box total no change|votes=193,127|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 8 =
{{See also|Texas's 8th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Bob Eckhardt ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 8th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Bob Eckhardt (incumbent)|votes=84,404|percentage=60.65}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Nick Gearhart|votes=54,566|percentage=39.21}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Socialist Workers Party (United States)|candidate=Gene Lantz|votes=193|percentage=0.14}}{{Election box total no change|votes=139,163|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 9 =
{{See also|Texas's 9th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election unopposed.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 9th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jack Brooks (incumbent)|votes=112,945|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box total no change|votes=112,945|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 10 =
{{See also|Texas's 10th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat J. J. Pickle ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 10th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=J. J. Pickle (incumbent)|votes=160,683|percentage=76.82}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Paul McClure|votes=48,482|percentage=23.18}}{{Election box total no change|votes=209,165|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 11 =
{{See also|Texas's 11th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat William R. Poage ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 11th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=William R. Poage (incumbent)|votes=92,142|percentage=57.40}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Jack Burgess|votes=68,373|percentage=42.60}}{{Election box total no change|votes=160,515|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 12 =
{{See also|Texas's 12th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 12th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jim Wright (incumbent)|votes=101,814|percentage=75.83}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=W. R. Durham|votes=31,941|percentage=23.79}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Party (1969)|candidate=Larry Kutchinski|votes=504|percentage=0.38}}{{Election box total no change|votes=134,259|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 13 =
{{See also|Texas's 13th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Jack Hightower ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 13th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jack Hightower (incumbent)|votes=101,798|percentage=59.30}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bob Price|votes=69,328|percentage=40.38}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Party (1969)|candidate=William Hathcock|votes=547|percentage=0.32}}{{Election box total no change|votes=171,673|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 14 =
{{See also|Texas's 14th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat John Andrew Young ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 14th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=John Andrew Young (incumbent)|votes=93,589|percentage=61.42}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=L. Dean Holford|votes=58,788|percentage=38.58}}{{Election box total no change|votes=152,377|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 15 =
{{See also|Texas's 15th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 15th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kika de la Garza (incumbent)|votes=102,837|percentage=74.37}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Lendy McDonald|votes=35,446|percentage=25.63}}{{Election box total no change|votes=138,283|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 16 =
{{See also|Texas's 16th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Richard Crawford White ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 16th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Richard Crawford White (incumbent)|votes=71,876|percentage=57.79}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Vic Shackelford|votes=52,499|percentage=42.21}}{{Election box total no change|votes=124,375|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 17 =
{{See also|Texas's 17th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Omar Burleson ran for re-election unopposed.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 17th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Omar Burleson (incumbent)|votes=127,613|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box total no change|votes=127,613|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 18 =
{{See also|Texas's 18th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Barbara Jordan ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 18th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Barbara Jordan (incumbent)|votes=93,953|percentage=85.51}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Sam Wright|votes=15,381|percentage=14.00}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Socialist Workers Party (United States)|candidate=Sylvia Zapata|votes=542|percentage=0.49}}{{Election box total no change|votes=109,876|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 19 =
{{See also|Texas's 19th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat George H. Mahon ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 19th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=George H. Mahon (incumbent)|votes=87,908|percentage=54.64}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Jim Reese|votes=72,991|percentage=45.36}}{{Election box total no change|votes=160,899|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 20 =
{{See also|Texas's 20th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González ran for re-election unopposed.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 20th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent)|votes=90,173|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box total no change|votes=90,173|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 21 =
{{See also|Texas's 21st congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Bob Krueger ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 21st congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Bob Krueger (incumbent)|votes=149,395|percentage=71.04}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bobby Locke|votes=56,211|percentage=26.73}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Raza Unida Party|candidate=Ramon Carrillo|votes=2,515|percentage=1.20}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Party (1969)|candidate=Ed Gallion|votes=2,179|percentage=1.03}}{{Election box total no change|votes=210,300|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 22 =
{{See also|Texas's 22nd congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Robert R. Casey resigned to become commissioner to the United States Maritime Commission.{{cite book |author=House Committee Print |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wFXP0ZxhxE0C&q=Robert+R.+Casey+%22Federal+Maritime+Commission&pg=PA270 |title=A Concise History of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations |date=December 2010}} This prompted a special election to be held. Republican Ron Paul won the election in a runoff against former State Senator Robert Gammage, running primarily on Libertarian economic issues, flipping the district.{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - TX District 22 - Special Runoff Race - Apr 03, 1976 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=175886 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}{{Cite web |date=1976-03-18 |title=Up in the Air - Ron Paul, 1976-03-18 {{!}} ArchivesSpace Public Interface |url=http://archives.library.rice.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/106183 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=archives.library.rice.edu}} He ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Robert Gammage|votes=96,535|percentage=50.07}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Ron Paul (incumbent)|votes=96,267|percentage=49.93}}{{Election box total no change|votes=192,802|percentage=100}}{{Election box gain with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 23 =
{{See also|Texas's 23rd congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Abraham Kazen ran for re-election unopposed.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Abraham Kazen (incumbent)|votes=96,481|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box total no change|votes=96,481|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
= District 24 =
{{See also|Texas's 24th congressional district}}Incumbent Democrat Dale Milford ran for re-election.
{{Election box begin no change|title=Texas's 24th congressional district, 1976}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Dale Milford (incumbent)|votes=82,743|percentage=63.39}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Leo Berman|votes=47,075|percentage=36.07}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=American Party (1969)|candidate=Earl Armstrong|votes=704|percentage=0.54}}{{Election box total no change|votes=130,522|percentage=100}}{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{1976 United States elections}}
{{Elections in Texas footer}}