The 1996 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 5, 1996, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Texas.

In the Republican primary, Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Phil Gramm easily secured the Republican nomination. In the Democratic primary, Victor Morales, a teacher and navy veteran, scored an upset victory over two incumbent U.S. Representatives to secure the nomination in a runoff.

In the general election, Gramm defeated Morales by a margin of 10.8 percentage points, securing re-election to his third and final term.

Republican primary

Candidates Nominee Phil Gramm, incumbent U.S. senator since 1985 Eliminated in primary Henry Grover, former state senator and 1972 nominee for governor David Young

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates Nominee Victor Morales, teacher and U.S. Navy veteran Eliminated in runoff John Bryant, U.S. representative from Dallas Eliminated in primary Jim Chapman, U.S, representative from Sulphur Springs John Odam, State Supreme Court litigator

Results

Runoff

General election

Candidates

Michael Bird (Libertarian) Phil Gramm, incumbent U.S. senator since 1985 (Republican) John Huff (Natural Law) Victor Morales, teacher and U.S. Navy veteran (Democratic)

Campaign Morales, who never ran for statewide office before, pulled a major upset in the primary by defeating 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.

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%.

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

See also 1996 United States Senate elections

References