The 1978 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, to elect the governor of Texas. In a surprising upset, RepublicanBill Clements was narrowly elected over Democrat State Attorney General John Luke Hill, winning 50% of the vote to Hill's 49%. In doing so, Clements became the first Republican to be elected governor since Reconstruction.
Besides Clements' upset victory in the gubernatorial election, Republican Senator John Tower was re-elected to a third full six-year term in the Texas U.S. Senate race. But the majority of the down-ballot statewide offices remained with the Democratic Party.
Dolph Briscoe, who had first been elected in 1972 and was easily re-elected in 1974, had become increasingly unpopular within the Texas Democratic Party during his six years in office. John Luke Hill fielded a primary challenge against the Governor, as a liberal alternative to Briscoe, who represented the more conservative, rural faction of the party. Dissatisfaction with Briscoe prompted former Governor Preston Smith to enter the race, running as a populist alternative to the other two candidates. Briscoe had previously defeated Smith in the 1972 primary.
1978, texas, gubernatorial, election, held, november, 1978, elect, governor, texas, surprising, upset, republican, bill, clements, narrowly, elected, over, democrat, state, attorney, general, john, luke, hill, winning, vote, hill, doing, clements, became, firs. The 1978 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 7 1978 to elect the governor of Texas In a surprising upset Republican Bill Clements was narrowly elected over Democrat State Attorney General John Luke Hill winning 50 of the vote to Hill s 49 In doing so Clements became the first Republican to be elected governor since Reconstruction 1978 Texas gubernatorial election 1974 November 7 1978 1982 Nominee Bill Clements John Luke HillParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 1 183 828 1 166 919Percentage 50 0 49 2 County resultsClements 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 Hill 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 Compean 50 60 Governor before electionDolph BriscoeDemocratic Elected Governor Bill ClementsRepublicanBesides Clements upset victory in the gubernatorial election Republican Senator John Tower was re elected to a third full six year term in the Texas U S Senate race But the majority of the down ballot statewide offices remained with the Democratic Party Contents 1 Republican Party 1 1 Candidates 1 1 1 Declared 1 1 2 Withdrew 1 2 Results 2 Democratic Party 2 1 Candidates 2 1 1 Declared 2 2 Results 3 Results 4 Further reading 5 Videos 6 ReferencesRepublican Party EditCandidates Edit Declared Edit Bill Clements businessman and former Deputy Secretary of Defense Ray Hutchison attorney former State Representative and husband of Kay Bailey Hutchison Clarence ThompsonWithdrew Edit James M Collins U S Representative endorsed Clements Results Edit Republican primary results 1 Party Candidate Votes Republican Bill Clements 115 345 72 82Republican Ray Hutchison 38 268 24 16Republican Clarence Thompson 4 790 3 02Total votes 158 403 100 00Democratic Party EditDolph Briscoe who had first been elected in 1972 and was easily re elected in 1974 had become increasingly unpopular within the Texas Democratic Party during his six years in office John Luke Hill fielded a primary challenge against the Governor as a liberal alternative to Briscoe who represented the more conservative rural faction of the party Dissatisfaction with Briscoe prompted former Governor Preston Smith to enter the race running as a populist alternative to the other two candidates Briscoe had previously defeated Smith in the 1972 primary Candidates Edit Declared Edit Dolph Briscoe incumbent Governor John Luke Hill Attorney General of Texas Preston Smith former GovernorResults Edit Democratic primary results Party Candidate Votes Democratic John Luke Hill 932 245 52 44 Democratic Dolph Briscoe incumbent 753 309 42 37 Democratic Preston Smith 92 202 5 19 Total votes 1 777 756 100Results EditGeneral election results Party Candidate Votes Republican Bill Clements 1 183 828 49 96Democratic John Luke Hill 1 166 919 49 24Raza Unida Mario C Compean 14 213 0 59Socialist Workers Sara Johnston 4 624 0 19Total votes 2 369 999 100 00Further reading EditBridges Kenneth Twilight of the Texas Democrats The 1978 Governor s Race Texas A amp M University Press 2008 219 pp Cunningham Sean P Cowboy Conservatism Texas and the Rise of the Modern Right Lexington University Press of Kentucky 2010 Videos Edit 1 Bill Clements bio 1 2 Gubernatorial Debate on October 24 1978 at KPRC TV Studios in Houston 2 3 Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate in 1978 3 4 Gubernatorial Debate on October 27 1978 at KERA TV Studios in Dallas 4 References Edit Texas Almanac Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1978 Texas gubernatorial election amp oldid 1133723532, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
