1996 United States Senate election in Texas

The 1996 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Phil Gramm won re-election to a third term.

1996 United States Senate election in Texas
November 5, 1996
 
Nominee Phil Gramm Victor Morales
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 3,027,680 2,428,776
Percentage 54.8% 43.9%
County Results

Gramm:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

Morales:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
U.S. senator before election

Phil Gramm
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Phil Gramm
Republican

Elections in Texas
Government

Major candidates

Democratic

Republican

Campaign

Morales, who never ran for public office before, pulled a major upset in the primary by defeated three politicians: U.S. Congressman John Wiley Bryant, U.S. Congressman Jim Chapman, and former State Supreme Court litigator John Odam. In the March run-off, he defeated Bryant with 51% of the vote. He became the first minority in Texas history to become a United States Senate nominee from either major party. Despite having no staff, raising only $15,000, and not accepting any special interest money he obtained 2.5 million votes.[1]

Gramm previously ran for President earlier in the year, but lost to fellow U.S. Senator Bob Dole in the Republican presidential primary. Gramm was the heavy favorite. A September poll showed Gramm leading 50% to 40%. A late October poll showed him leading with 53% to 31%.[2]

Exit Polls showed that Gramm performed well with Anglos (68% to 31%), while Morales won African Americans (79% to 19%) and Latinos (79% to 20%) respectively.

Results
General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Gramm 3,027,680 54.8%
Democratic Victor M. Morales 2,428,776 43.9%
Libertarian Michael Bird 51,516 0.9%
Natural Law John Huff 19,469 0.4%
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See also
  • United States Senate elections, 1996

References
  1. "Candidate - Victor M. Morales". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  2. "San Antonio Express-News, Archives | mySA.com". Nl.newsbank.com. October 26, 1996. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  3. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=187
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