# 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

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The 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 2, 1982, 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, up three from the 1970s, apportioned according to the 1980 United States census.
Due to the Texas' divided government, considerable challenge was foreseen in the state's decennial redistricting process. The process attracted the attention of many prominent members of the U.S. House. The Texas Legislature failed to adopt new congressional districts during the regular legislative session in 1981 due to conflict between liberal and conservative Texas Democrats. During a special session in 1981, conservative Democrats voted with Republicans on a plan supported by Republican governor Bill Clements. Most contentious during this session was the transfer of African-American voting precincts from District 5 to District 24 in the Dallas area. Though Republicans supported the establishment of the minority opportunity district, it was seen by many Democrats as a tactical political move to increase the Republican lean of the 5th District.
The adopted congressional districts were challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice in a District Court in Upham v. Seamon. Under preclearance established by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, they asserted that the boundaries of District 15 and District 27 were racially gerrymandered. The court ruled in favor of the Department of Justice, and it drew its own map, which established two districts in Dallas County where African-Americans made up a substantial proportion of the voting-age population. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and it remanded the case back to the District Court, but the ruling was made so close to the May primary election that the District Court's maps were allowed to stand for the 1982 elections.
These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1982, the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections.
Although Republicans were expected to gain seats in Texas's congressional delegation, Democrats maintained their majority of seats, winning all three of the new seats Texas gained in the 1980 United States census.

## Overview

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats before | Seats after | +/– |
| | Democratic | 1,847,045 | 64.83% | 19 | 22 | +3 |
| | Republican | 934,863 | 32.81% | 5 | 5 | - |
| | Libertarian | 57,998 | 2.04% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Citizens | 5,933 | 0.21% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Independent | 3,192 | 0.11% | 0 | 0 | - |
| Totals | Totals | | 100.00% | 24 | 27 | - |

## Congressional districts
### District 1

Incumbent Democrat Sam B. Hall ran for re-election.
Texas's 1st congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sam B. Hall (incumbent) | 100,685 | 97.48 |
| | Libertarian | John Traylor | 2,598 | 2.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 103,283 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 2

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.
Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charlie Wilson (incumbent) | 91,762 | 94.26 |
| | Libertarian | Ed Richbourg | 5,584 | 5.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 97,346 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 3

Incumbent Republican James M. Collins retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Bartlett | 99,852 | 77.09 |
| | Democratic | Jim McNees | 28,223 | 21.79 |
| | Libertarian | Jerry Williamson | 1,453 | 1.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 129,528 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4

Incumbent Democrat Ralph Hall ran for re-election.
Texas's 4th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ralph Hall (incumbent) | 94,134 | 73.83 |
| | Republican | Pete Collumb | 32,221 | 25.27 |
| | Libertarian | Bruce Iiams | 1,141 | 0.89 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 127,496 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 5

Incumbent Democrat Jim Mattox retired to run for Attorney General.
Texas's 5th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Wiley Bryant | 52,214 | 64.84 |
| | Republican | Joe Devany | 27,121 | 33.68 |
| | Libertarian | Richard Squire | 732 | 0.91 |
| | Citizens | John Richard Bridges | 459 | 0.57 |
| | Write-in | Others | 4 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,530 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 6

Incumbent Democrat Phil Gramm ran for re-election.
Texas's 6th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phil Gramm (incumbent) | 91,546 | 94.54 |
| | Libertarian | Ron Hard | 5,288 | 5.46 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 96,834 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 7

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election.
Texas's 7th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Archer (incumbent) | 108,718 | 84.99 |
| | Democratic | Dennis Scoggins | 17,866 | 13.97 |
| | Libertarian | Bill Ware | 1,338 | 1.05 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 127,922 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

Incumbent Republican Jack Fields ran for re-election.
Texas's 8th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Fields (incumbent) | 50,630 | 56.75 |
| | Democratic | Henry Allee | 38,041 | 42.64 |
| | Libertarian | Mike Angwin | 547 | 0.61 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,218 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 9

Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election.
Texas's 9th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Brooks (incumbent) | 78,965 | 67.55 |
| | Republican | John Lewis | 35,422 | 30.30 |
| | Libertarian | Dean Allen | 2,510 | 2.15 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 116,897 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 10

Incumbent Democrat J. J. Pickle ran for re-election.
Texas's 10th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. J. Pickle (incumbent) | 121,030 | 90.14 |
| | Libertarian | William Kelsey | 8,735 | 6.51 |
| | Citizens | Bradley Louis Rockwell | 4,511 | 3.36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 134,276 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 11

Incumbent Democrat Marvin Leath ran for re-election.
Texas's 11th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marvin Leath (incumbent) | 83,236 | 96.34 |
| | Libertarian | Thomas Kilbride | 3,136 | 3.63 |
| | Write-in | Others | 23 | 0.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 86,395 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 12

Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election.
Texas's 12th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Wright (incumbent) | 78,913 | 68.90 |
| | Republican | Jim Ryan | 34,879 | 30.45 |
| | Libertarian | Edward Olson | 743 | 0.65 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 114,535 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 13

Incumbent Democrat Jack Hightower ran for re-election.
Texas's 13th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Hightower (incumbent) | 86,376 | 63.60 |
| | Republican | Ron Solver | 47,877 | 35.25 |
| | Libertarian | Rod Collier | 1,567 | 1.15 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 135,820 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 14

Incumbent Democrat Bill Patman ran for re-election. Former representative Joseph Wyatt, who retired in 1980, challenged Patman, having switched his party affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
Texas's 14th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Patman (incumbent) | 76,851 | 60.65 |
| | Republican | Joseph Wyatt | 48,942 | 38.62 |
| | Libertarian | Glenn Rasmussen | 919 | 0.73 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 126,712 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 15

Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza ran for re-election.
Texas's 15th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kika de la Garza (incumbent) | 76,544 | 95.68 |
| | Libertarian | Frank Jones | 3,458 | 4.32 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,002 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 16

Incumbent Democrat Richard Crawford White opted to retire rather than run for re-election.
Texas's 16th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ronald D. Coleman | 44,024 | 53.90 |
| | Republican | Pat Haggerty | 36,064 | 44.16 |
| | Libertarian | Catherine McDivitt | 1,583 | 1.94 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 81,671 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 17

Incumbent Democrat Charles Stenholm ran for re-election.
Texas's 17th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Stenholm (incumbent) | 109,359 | 97.10 |
| | Libertarian | James Cooley | 3,271 | 2.90 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 112,630 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 18

Incumbent Democrat Mickey Leland ran for re-election.
Texas's 18th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mickey Leland (incumbent) | 68,014 | 82.61 |
| | Republican | C. Leon Pickett | 12,104 | 14.70 |
| | Libertarian | Thomas Bernhardt | 2,215 | 2.69 |
| | Write-in | Others | 2 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,335 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 19

Incumbent Democrat Kent Hance ran for re-election.
Texas's 19th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kent Hance (incumbent) | 89,702 | 81.57 |
| | Republican | E. L. Hicks | 19,062 | 17.33 |
| | Libertarian | Mike Read | 1,206 | 1.10 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 109,970 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 20

Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González ran for re-election.
Texas's 20th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent) | 68,544 | 91.48 |
| | Libertarian | Roger Gary | 4,163 | 5.56 |
| | Independent | Benedict La Rosa | 2,213 | 2.95 |
| | Write-in | Others | 4 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 74,924 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 21

Incumbent Republican Tom Loeffler ran for re-election.
Texas's 21st congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Loeffler (incumbent) | 106,515 | 74.55 |
| | Democratic | Charles Stough | 35,112 | 24.58 |
| | Libertarian | Jeffrey Brown | 1,243 | 0.87 |
| | Write-in | Others | 2 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 142,872 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 22

Incumbent Republican Ron Paul ran for re-election.
Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ron Paul (incumbent) | 66,536 | 98.60 |
| | Write-in | Nick Benton | 943 | 1.40 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,479 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 23

Incumbent Democrat Abraham Kazen ran for re-election.
Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Abraham Kazen (incumbent) | 51,690 | 55.27 |
| | Republican | Jeff Wentworth | 41,363 | 44.23 |
| | Libertarian | Parker Abell | 475 | 0.51 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 93,528 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 24

Incumbent Democrat Martin Frost ran for re-election. Under the legislature's initial redistricting plan, this district was slated to become a minority-majority district. Democratic former Dallas city councilwoman Lucy Patterson, an African-American woman, had announced her intention to challenge Frost in the Democratic primary. After the district's boundaries were changed by federal courts to return the district to having a majority-white population, Patterson switched parties and ran in the general election as a Republican.
Texas's 24th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Martin Frost (incumbent) | 63,857 | 72.85 |
| | Republican | Lucy Patterson | 22,798 | 26.01 |
| | Libertarian | David Guier | 998 | 1.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 87,653 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 25

District 25 was created as a result of redistricting after the 1980 census. The district was located in southern Harris County.
Texas's 25th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Michael A. Andrews | 63,974 | 60.40 |
| | Republican | Mike Faubion | 40,112 | 37.87 |
| | Citizens | Barbara Coldiron | 963 | 0.91 |
| | Libertarian | Jeff Calvert | 864 | 0.82 |
| | Write-in | Others | 1 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 105,914 | 100 |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |

### District 26

District 26 was created as a result of redistricting after the 1980 census. Both political parties heavily lobbied former Arlington mayor Tom Vandergriff to run for the seat on their respective tickets. Vandergriff eventually chose to run as a Democrat. The district's lines had been drawn to favor Republicans; it would have given Ronald Reagan 67 percent of the vote had it existed in 1980.
Texas's 26th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Vandergriff | 69,782 | 50.12 |
| | Republican | Jim Bradshaw | 69,438 | 49.88 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 139,220 | 100 |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |

### District 27

District 27 was created as a result of redistricting after the 1980 census. The district was located in South Texas and was 53 percent Hispanic while the neighboring 15th District was 80 percent Hispanic in the plan passed by the Texas Legislature. The U.S. Department of Justice successfully argued that this was a racial gerrymander that diluted Hispanic voting power, and a District Court redrew the districts to more equally reflect Hispanic voting strength in the region.
Texas's 27th congressional district, 1982 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Solomon Ortiz | 66,604 | 64.02 |
| | Republican | Jason Luby | 35,209 | 33.84 |
| | Libertarian | Steven Roberts | 2,231 | 2.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 104,044 | 100 |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |