1996 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

← 1994 November 5, 1996 1998 →
All 30 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 19 11 Seats before 18 12 Seats won 17 13 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 2,206,346 2,604,389 Percentage 44.8% 52.9% Swing 2.7% 2.8%
Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90% Republican   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%

Elections in Texas
General elections 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Federal government Presidential elections 1848 1852 1856 1860 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential primaries Democratic 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Republican 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 U.S. Senate 1846 1847 1851 1853 1857 1859 1859 sp 1870 1871 1875 1876 1881 1882 1887 1888 1892 sp 1893 1894 1899 1901 1905 1907 1911 1913 1913 sp 1916 1918 1922 1924 1928 1930 1934 1936 1940 1941 sp 1942 1946 1948 1952 1954 1957 sp 1958 1960 1961 sp 1964 1966 1970 1972 1976 1978 1982 1984 1988 1990 1993 sp 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2012 2014 2018 2020 2024 2026 U.S. House of Representatives 1846 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1866 1869 1870 1871 1872 1874 1876 1878 1879 6th sp 1880 1882 1884 1886 1887 2nd sp 1888 1890 1892 9th sp 1894 1896 11th sp 1898 1900 1901 6th sp 1902 4th sp 1903 8th sp 1904 1905 8th sp 1906 1908 1910 1912 1913 10th sp 1914 1916 1918 1919 12th sp 1920 1922 13th sp 1924 1926 1928 1930 17th sp 1931 14th sp 1932 1933 7th sp 8th sp 15th sp 1934 1936 1937 10th sp 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 6th sp 1947 9th sp 16th sp 1948 15th sp 1950 18th sp 1951 13th sp 1952 7th sp 1954 1956 1958 1960 1961 20th sp 1962 4th sp 13th sp 1963 10th sp 1964 1966 8th sp 1968 3rd sp 1970 1972 1974 1976 1st sp 22nd sp 1978 1980 1982 1983 6th sp 1984 1985 1st sp 1986 1988 1989 12th sp 18th sp 1990 1991 3rd sp 1992 1994 1996 1997 28th sp 1998 2000 2002 2003 19th sp 2004 2006 22nd 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 27th sp 2020 2021 6th sp 2022 34th sp 2024 18th sp
State government Gubernatorial elections 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1866 1866 1869 1873 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Lieutenant gubernatorial elections 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Attorney General elections 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Comptroller elections 2010 2014 2018 2022 Senate elections 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 House of Representatives elections 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Constitutional amendments 1972 2005 2007 2021 2023
Austin Mayoral elections 2003 2006 2009 2012 2014 2018 2022 2024 Austin municipal elections 2022 2024
Corpus Christi Mayoral elections 2012 2014 2016 2017 sp 2018 2020 2022 2024
Dallas–Fort Worth Arlington mayoral elections 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 Dallas mayoral elections 1856 1857 1875 1904 1925 1961 1963 1965 1995 1999 2002 sp 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023 Dallas municipal elections 2015 2019 2021 Fort Worth mayoral elections 2003 2007 2009 2011 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 Denton mayoral elections 2020 2022 Plano municipal elections 2017 2019 2021
El Paso Mayoral elections 2001 2003 2005 2009 2013 2017 2020 2024 Municipal elections 2017 2020 2024
Houston Mayoral elections 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2019 2023 Municipal elections 2005 2007 2009
Laredo Mayoral elections 2018 2022
Lubbock Mayoral elections 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
San Antonio Mayoral elections 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025
Government
v t e

The 1996 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 5, 1996, to elect the members of the state of Texas's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Texas had thirty seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1990 United States census.

Texas underwent mid-decade redistricting as a result of the Supreme Court case Bush v. Vera. The court had ruled that districts such as District 18 and District 30 were racially gerrymandered.^[1] A prior district court decision had voided the results of the primary elections in 13 districts, which the Supreme Court upheld. These districts instead conducted special elections concurrent with the general elections.^[2][3]

These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1996, the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections.

Texas Democrats maintained their majority in Texas' congressional delegation, albeit reduced by two seats from 1994. These elections produced an unusually high level of turnover due to the retirements of several representatives.^[3]

Incumbent Democrat Jim Chapman opted to retire rather than run for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson opted to retire rather than run for re-election.

Incumbent Republican Sam Johnson ran for re-election. The 3rd district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

1996 Texas's 4th congressional district election

← 1994 1998 →

Nominee Ralph Hall Jerry Ray Hall Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 132,126 71,065 Percentage 63.8% 34.3%

County results R. Hall:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% J. Hall:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Ralph Hall Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Ralph Hall Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Ralph Hall ran for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat John Wiley Bryant retired to run for U.S. Senator.^[7] The 5th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

Incumbent Republican Joe Barton ran for re-election. The 6th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election. The 7th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

1996 Texas's 8th congressional district election

← 1994 1998 →

Candidate Kevin Brady Gene Fontenot Party Republican Republican First round 80,325 41.5% 75,399 38.9% Runoff 30,366 59.1% 21,004 40.9%   Candidate CJ Newman Robert Musemeche Party Democratic Democratic First round 26,246 13.6% 11,689 6.0% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

First round county results Runoff county results Brady:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Fontenot:      40–50%

U.S. Representative before election Jack Fields Republican Elected U.S. Representative Kevin Brady Republican

Incumbent Republican Jack Fields opted to retire rather than run for re-election.^[8] The 8th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

No candidate received a majority of the vote, so a runoff was held on December 10.

1996 Texas's 9th congressional district election

← 1994 1998 →

Candidate Nick Lampson Steve Stockman Party Democratic Republican First round 83,782 44.1% 88,171 46.4% Runoff 59,225 52.8% 52,870 47.2%   Candidate Geraldine Sam Party Democratic First round 17,887 9.4% Runoff Eliminated

First round county results Runoff county results Lampson:      50–60% Stockman:      40–50%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election Steve Stockman Republican Elected U.S. Representative Nick Lampson Democratic

Incumbent Republican Steve Stockman ran for re-election. The 9th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

No candidate received a majority of the vote, so a runoff was held on December 10. Stockman lost reelection by 5.66% to Democratic challenger Nick Lampson.

Incumbent Democrat Lloyd Doggett ran for re-election. He won against Republican candidate Teresa Doggett, to whom he has no relation.

Incumbent Democrat Chet Edwards ran for re-election.

1996 Texas's 12th congressional district election

← 1994 1998 →

Nominee Kay Granger Hugh Parmer Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 98,349 69,859 Percentage 57.8% 41.0%

County results Granger:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election Pete Geren Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Kay Granger Republican

Incumbent Democrat Pete Geren opted to retire rather than run for re-election.^[9]

Incumbent Republican Mac Thornberry ran for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat Greg Laughlin switched his party affiliation to the Republican Party on June 26, 1995.^[10] He was defeated in the Republican Primary by former U.S. Representative Ron Paul.^[11]

Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza opted to retire rather than run for re-election.^[12]

Incumbent Democrat Ronald D. Coleman opted to retire rather than run for re-election.^[13]

1996 Texas's 17th congressional district election

← 1994 1998 →

Nominee Charles Stenholm Rudy Izzard Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 99,678 91,429 Percentage 51.7% 47.4%

County results Stenholm:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Izzard:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Charles Stenholm Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Charles Stenholm Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Charles Stenholm ran for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee ran for re-election. The 18th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

Incumbent Republican Larry Combest ran for re-election.

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

Incumbent Republican Lamar Smith ran for re-election.

Incumbent Republican Tom DeLay ran for re-election. The 22nd district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

Incumbent Republican Henry Bonilla ran for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat Martin Frost ran for re-election. The 24th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

Incumbent Democrat Ken Bentsen ran for re-election. The 25th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

No candidate received a majority of the vote, so a runoff was held on December 10.

Incumbent Republican Dick Armey ran for re-election. The 26th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

Incumbent Democrat Solomon Ortiz ran for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat Frank Tejeda ran for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat Gene Green ran for re-election. The 29th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

Incumbent Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson ran for re-election. The 30th district was among thirteen districts holding a special election on November 5, the same day as the general election. The race pitted all certified candidates against one another in each district, regardless of party.

*Includes one write-in vote