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1978 Texas gubernatorial election
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| election_name | 1978 Texas gubernatorial election |
| country | Texas |
| type | presidential |
| ongoing | no |
| previous_election | 1974 Texas gubernatorial election |
| previous_year | 1974 |
| next_election | 1982 Texas gubernatorial election |
| next_year | 1982 |
| election_date | November 7, 1978 |
| image1 | File:Bill Clements in 1978 (cropped).jpg |
| image_size | 150x150px |
| nominee1 | Bill Clements |
| party1 | Republican Party (United States) |
| popular_vote1 | 1,183,828 |
| percentage1 | 50.0% |
| image2 | 3x4.svg |
| nominee2 | John Hill |
| party2 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| popular_vote2 | 1,166,919 |
| percentage2 | 49.2% |
| map_image | 1978 Texas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg |
| map_size | 310px |
| map_caption | County results |
| Clements: | |
| Hill: | |
| Compeán: | |
| title | Governor |
| before_election | Dolph Briscoe |
| before_party | Democratic Party (United States) |
| after_election | Bill Clements |
| after_party | Republican Party (United States) |
Clements:
Hill:
Compeán:
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 Democratic State Attorney General John Hill, winning 50% of the vote to Hill's 49%. In doing so, Clements became the first Republican to be elected governor since Reconstruction in 1869.
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. However, the majority of the down-ballot statewide offices remained with the Democratic Party. With a margin of victory of just 0.72%, this was the closest race of the 1978 gubernatorial cycle.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Bill Clements, businessman and former Deputy U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Ray Hutchison, attorney, former State Representative and husband of Kay Bailey Hutchison
- Clarence Thompson
Withdrew
- James M. Collins, U.S. Representative from Dallas (endorsed Clements)
Results
|}
Democratic primary
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 Hill, Attorney General of Texas
- Preston Smith, former Governor
Results
|}
General election
Results
Videos
(1) Bill Clements bio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUX2sglZ-W8
(2) Gubernatorial Debate on October 24, 1978 at KPRC-TV Studios in Houston https://tx.clementspapers.org/media/videos/e_cle_0014539
(3) Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate in 1978 https://tx.clementspapers.org/media/videos/e_cle_0014540
(4) Gubernatorial Debate on October 27, 1978 at KERA-TV Studios in Dallas https://tx.clementspapers.org/media/videos/ecle0014537
References
References
- [https://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/uploads/gov1845-2010table.pdf Texas Almanac]
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