1978 Texas gubernatorial election: Difference between revisions
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| popular_vote2 = 1,166,919 |
| popular_vote2 = 1,166,919 |
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| percentage2 = 49.2% |
| percentage2 = 49.2% |
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| map_image = Texas |
| map_image = 1978 Texas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg |
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| map_size = 305px |
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| map_caption = County results<br/>'''Clements:''' {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}<br/>'''Hill:''' {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}<br/>'''Compeán:''' {{legend0|#ff8649|50–60%}} |
| map_caption = County results<br/>'''Clements:''' {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}<br/>'''Hill:''' {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}<br/>'''Compeán:''' {{legend0|#ff8649|50–60%}} |
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Revision as of 16:07, 10 January 2022
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 County results Clements: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hill: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Compeán: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Texas |
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 Government |
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.
Republican Party
Candidates
Declared
- Bill Clements, businessman and former Deputy Secretary of Defense
- Ray Hutchison, attorney, former State Representative and husband of Kay Bailey Hutchison
- Clarence Thompson
Withdrew
- James M. Collins, U.S. Representative (endorsed Clements)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Clements | 115,345 | 72.82 | |
| Republican | Ray Hutchison | 38,268 | 24.16 | |
| Republican | Clarence Thompson | 4,790 | 3.02 | |
| Total votes | 158,403 | 100.00 | ||
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.
Candidates
Declared
- Dolph Briscoe, incumbent Governor
- John Luke Hill, Attorney General of Texas
- Preston Smith, former Governor
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 | 100 | ||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Clements | 1,183,828 | 49.96 | |
| Democratic | John Luke Hill | 1,166,919 | 49.24 | |
| Raza Unida | Mario C. Compeán | 14,213 | 0.59 | |
| Socialist Workers | Sara Johnston | 4,624 | 0.19 | |
| Total votes | 2,369,999 | 100.00 | ||
Further reading
- Bridges, Kenneth. Twilight of the Texas Democrats: The 1978 Governor’s Race (Texas A&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
(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]