1984 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

The 1984 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 6, 1984, to elect the members of the state of Texas's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Texas had twenty-seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1980 United States census.^[1]

1984 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

← 1982 November 6, 1984 1986 →
All 27 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 22 5 Seats before 21 6 Seats won 17 10 Seat change 4 4 Popular vote 2,695,028 1,981,823 Percentage 57.6% 42.3% Swing 7.2% 9.5%
Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   90>% Republican   50–60%   60–70%   80–90%

Texas underwent mid-decade redistricting due to the District Court case Upham v. Seamon. The U.S. Department of Justice objected to the boundaries of District 15 and District 27 adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1981 under preclearance established by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.^[2] The court's modified districts were used in 1982, and the Legislature modified other districts in 1983, keeping the court-modified districts in place.^[3]

These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1984, the United States House elections in other states, the presidential election, and various state and local elections.

Democrats maintained their majority of U.S. House seats from Texas. Still, they lost four seats to the Republicans, who rode the coattails of president Ronald Reagan's re-election.^[4] The Republicans in those four seats, as well as two other freshmen Republicans, would later become known as the Texas Six Pack.

Overview

1984 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas^[5]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats before	Seats after	+/–
	Democratic	2,695,028	57.58%	21	17	-4
	Republican	1,981,823	42.34%	6	10	+4
	Independent	3,064	0.07%	0	0	-
	Others	470	0.01%	0	0	-
Totals		4,680,385	100.00%	27	27	-

Congressional districts

District 1

See also: Texas's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Sam B. Hall ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 1st congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam B. Hall (incumbent)	139,829	100.00
Total votes			139,829	100
	Democratic hold

District 2

See also: Texas's 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election. He faced four primary opponents but managed to avoid a runoff with 54 percent of the vote.^[6]

Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charlie Wilson (incumbent)	113,225	59.26
	Republican	Louis Dugas	77,842	40.74
Total votes			191,067	100
	Democratic hold

District 3

See also: Texas's 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Steve Bartlett ran for re-election.

Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Bartlett (incumbent)	228,819	82.99
	Democratic	Jim Westbrook	46,890	17.01
Total votes			275,709	100
	Republican hold

District 4

See also: Texas's 4th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Ralph Hall ran for re-election.

Texas's 4th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ralph Hall (incumbent)	120,749	57.96
	Republican	Thomas Blow	87,553	42.02
	Write-in	Others	39	0.02
Total votes			208,341	100
	Democratic hold

District 5

See also: Texas's 5th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat John Wiley Bryant ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 5th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Wiley Bryant (incumbent)	94,391	100.00
Total votes			94,391	100
	Democratic hold

District 6

See also: Texas's 6th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Phil Gramm resigned after being removed from his seat on the House Budget Committee by Democratic leadership. He subsequently switched his party affiliation to the Republican Party and ran for his old seat in the ensuing special election.^[7] He had been planning to switch parties even before this occurred.^[8] Ronald Reagan had won the district in 1980, and Gramm's opponents cast the race as a referendum on Reganomics.^[9] Gramm won the race outright, avoiding a runoff and returning to Congress as a Republican.^[10][11] He retired at the end of his term to run for U.S. Senator.^[12]

Texas's 6th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Barton	131,482	56.60
	Democratic	Dan Kubiak	100,799	43.40
Total votes			232,281	100
	Republican hold

District 7

See also: Texas's 7th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election.

Texas's 7th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Archer (incumbent)	213,480	86.67
	Democratic	Billy Willibey	32,315	13.33
Total votes			246,315	100
	Republican hold

District 8

See also: Texas's 8th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Jack Fields ran for re-election.

Texas's 8th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jack Fields (incumbent)	113,031	64.55
	Democratic	Dan Buford	62,072	35.45
Total votes			175,103	100
	Republican hold

District 9

See also: Texas's 9th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election.

Texas's 9th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack Brooks (incumbent)	120,559	58.85
	Republican	Jim Mahan	84,306	41.15
Total votes			204,865	100
	Democratic hold

District 10

See also: Texas's 10th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat J. J. Pickle ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 10th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. J. Pickle (incumbent)	186,447	99.82
	Write-in	Others	338	0.18
Total votes			186,785	100
	Democratic hold

District 11

See also: Texas's 11th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Marvin Leath ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 11th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Marvin Leath (incumbent)	112,940	100.00
Total votes			112,940	100
	Democratic hold

District 12

See also: Texas's 12th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 12th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Wright (incumbent)	106,229	100.00
	Write-in	Others	3	0.00
Total votes			106,302	100
	Democratic hold

District 13

See also: Texas's 13th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Jack Hightower ran for re-election.

Texas's 13th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Beau Boulter	107,600	53.01
	Democratic	Jack Hightower (incumbent)	95,367	46.99
Total votes			202,967	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 14

See also: Texas's 14th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Bill Patman ran for re-election.

Texas's 14th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mac Sweeney	104,181	51.30
	Democratic	Bill Patman (incumbent)	98,885	48.70
Total votes			203,066	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 15

See also: Texas's 15th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 15th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kika de la Garza (incumbent)	104,863	100.00
Total votes			104,863	100
	Democratic hold

District 16

See also: Texas's 16th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Ronald D. Coleman ran for re-election.

Texas's 16th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ronald D. Coleman (incumbent)	76,375	57.44
	Republican	Jack Hammond	56,589	42.56
Total votes			132,964	100
	Democratic hold

District 17

See also: Texas's 17th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Charles Stenholm ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 17th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charles Stenholm (incumbent)	143,012	100.00
Total votes			143,012	100
	Democratic hold

District 18

See also: Texas's 18th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Mickey Leland ran for re-election.

Texas's 18th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mickey Leland (incumbent)	109,626	78.81
	Republican	Glen Beaman	26,400	18.98
	Independent	Jose Alvarado	3,064	2.20
	Write-in	Others	20	0.01
Total votes			139,110	100
	Democratic hold

District 19

See also: Texas's 19th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Kent Hance retired to run for U.S. Senator.^[13]

Texas's 19th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Larry Combest	102,805	58.13
	Democratic	Don Richards	74,044	41.87
Total votes			176,849	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 20

See also: Texas's 20th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González ran for re-election unopposed.

Texas's 20th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent)	100,443	100.00
Total votes			100,443	100
	Democratic hold

District 21

See also: Texas's 21st congressional district

Incumbent Republican Tom Loeffler ran for re-election.

Texas's 21st congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Loeffler (incumbent)	199,909	80.61
	Democratic	Joe Sullivan	48,039	19.37
	Write-in	Others	32	0.01
Total votes			247,980	100
	Republican hold

District 22

See also: Texas's 22nd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Ron Paul retired to run for U.S. Senator.^[12]

Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom DeLay	125,225	65.31
	Democratic	Doug Williams	66,495	34.68
Total votes			191,751	100
	Republican hold

District 23

See also: Texas's 23rd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Abraham Kazen ran for re-election. He lost in the Democratic Primary to Albert Bustamante.^[6] Kazen was one of only three incumbent members of congress to lose a primary in 1984.^[14]

Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Albert Bustamante	95,721	100.00
Total votes			95,721	100
	Democratic hold

District 24

See also: Texas's 24th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Martin Frost ran for re-election.

Texas's 24th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Martin Frost (incumbent)	105,210	59.47
	Republican	Bob Burk	71,703	40.53
	Write-in	Others	5	0.00
Total votes			176,918	100
	Democratic hold

District 25

See also: Texas's 25th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Michael A. Andrews ran for re-election.

Texas's 25th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael A. Andrews (incumbent)	113,946	64.04
	Republican	Jerry Patterson	63,974	35.96
Total votes			177,920	100
	Democratic hold

District 26

See also: Texas's 26th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Tom Vandergriff ran for re-election. Mid-decade redistricting had made this district slightly more favorable to Democrats.^[15] The previous iteration of this district, which Vandergriff narrowly won in 1982, would have given Ronald Reagan 67 percent of the vote had it existed in 1980.^[16]

Texas's 26th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dick Armey	126,641	51.25
	Democratic	Tom Vandergriff (incumbent)	120,451	48.75
	Write-in	Others	2	0.00
Total votes			247,094	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 27

See also: Texas's 27th congressional district

Incumbent Democrat Solomon Ortiz ran for re-election.

Texas's 27th congressional district, 1984^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Solomon Ortiz (incumbent)	105,516	63.64
	Republican	Richard Moore	60,283	36.36
Total votes			165,799	100
	Democratic hold

References

1. Bureau, US Census. "Historical Apportionment Data (1910-2020)". Census.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
2. "Upham v. Seamon, 456 U.S. 37 (1982)". Justia Law. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
3. "History". redistricting.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
4. Texas State Historical Association (1985). "Texas Almanac, 1986-1987". The Portal to Texas History. The Dallas Morning News. p. 646. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
5. Federal Elections 84 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Federal Election Commission. 1985. pp. 105–108.
6. "Veteran Texas congressman defeated". UPI. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
7. Reinhold, Robert; Times, Special To the New York (January 6, 1983). "GRAMM QUITS HOUSE FOR G.O.P. RACE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
8. Romano, Lois (January 10, 1983). "Phil Gramms' Switch &". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
9. "Special election a test of Reaganomics". UPI. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
10. Rudin, Ken (February 12, 2010). "On This Day In 1983: Phil Gramm (D) Returns To Congress As (R)". NPR. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
11. "Our Campaigns - TX District 6 - Special Election Race - Feb 12, 1983". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
12. Taylor, Paul (May 6, 1984). "Gramm Wins GOP Primary For Senate". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
13. Taylor, Paul (May 7, 1984). "Hance First In Texas Senate Race". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
14. Ap (October 1, 1984). "CAMPAIGN NOTES; Most Incumbents Won In the Primary Contests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
15. Smith, Jack (May 18, 1983). "Economist Mulls Run for Congress". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
16. Smith, Hedrick (October 20, 1982). "Some GOP Candidate in the Sun Belt gamble on President's coattails". The New York Times. pp. B6. Retrieved April 6, 2023.