1976 United States Senate election in Texas
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1976 United States Senate election in Texas
| country = Texas
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1970 United States Senate election in Texas
| previous_year = 1970
| next_election = 1982 United States Senate election in Texas
| next_year = 1982
| election_date = November 2, 1976
| image_size = 145x145px
| image1 = Lloyd Bentsen crop.jpg
| nominee1 = Lloyd Bentsen
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 2,199,956
| percentage1 = 56.78%
| image2 = Alan Steelman (1).jpg
| nominee2 = Alan Steelman
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 1,636,370
| percentage2 = 42.24%
| map_image = 1976 United States Senate election in Texas results map by county.svg
| map_size = 310px
| map_caption = County results
Bentsen: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0d056c|>90%}}
Steelman: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Lloyd Bentsen
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Lloyd Bentsen
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Elections in Texas sidebar}}
The 1976 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen won re-election to a second term.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- Lloyd Bentsen, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Leon Dugi
- Phil Gramm, Texas A&M economics professor
- Hugh Wilson
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 1976 Democratic Senate primary{{cite web |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1976&fips=48&f=0&off=3&elect=1&class=0 |title=1976 Senatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Texas |website=US Election Atlas |access-date=October 14, 2020}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Lloyd Bentsen (incumbent)
|votes = 970,983
|percentage = 63.54%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Phil Gramm
|votes = 427,597
|percentage = 27.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Hugh Wilson
|votes = 109,715
|percentage = 7.18%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Leon Dugi
|votes = 19,870
|percentage = 1.30%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 1,528,165
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
= Candidates =
- Alan Steelman, U.S. Representative from Texas's 5th district since 1973
General election
=== Results ===
{{Election box begin
| title=General election results{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6275|title = Our Campaigns - TX US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1976}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Lloyd Bentsen (incumbent)
|votes = 2,199,956
|percentage = 56.78%
|change = {{increase}}3.23%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Alan Steelman|votes=1,636,370|percentage=42.24%|change={{decrease}}4.21%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Socialist Workers Party (United States)|candidate=Pedro Vasquez|votes=20,549|percentage=0.53%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=American Independent Party|candidate=Marjorie P. Gallion|votes=17,355|percentage=0.45%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{1976 United States elections}}
{{Elections in Texas footer}}
{{Texas-stub}}