The 1993 United States Senate special election in Texas was held on June 6, 1993, to replace Democratic U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, who had resigned to become Secretary of the Treasury. Governor Ann Richards appointed Democrat Bob Krueger, a Texas Railroad Commissioner, to fill the seat. Krueger ran in the special election, but was defeated in a landslide by Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison. The nonpartisan blanket primary was held on May 1, 1993. Since no candidate received a majority in the primary, a runoff was held on June 6, 1993.
Hutchison was the first Republican to win this seat since Reconstruction in 1875 and the first Republican ever to be popularly elected to this seat. It was the first time since then that Republicans held both of the state's Senate seats simultaneously. In 2010, Krueger's campaign was named by the Houston Chronicle as the worst in Texas' modern political history. Hutchinson became the first woman to serve as a senator from Texas.
Candidates Democratic Richard W. Fisher, businessman José Ángel Gutiérrez Gene Kelly Bob Krueger, incumbent U.S. Senator and former U.S. Congressman C. "Sonny" Payne
Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas State Treasurer and former State Representative Joe Barton, U.S. Congressman Jack Fields, U.S. Congressman Charles Ben Howell Chuck Sibley Thomas D. Spink Herbert John Spiro James Vallaster Clymer Wright
Libertarian Rick Draheim
People's Billy Brown
Socialist Workers Rose "Jackie" Floyd
Independents Louis C. Davis Lou Bolling Hancock Roger Henson Don Richardson Maco Stewart Lou Zaeske
Primary election Results
Special Election Run-off Results
See also 1992 United States Senate elections
References