# 1986 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

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vte :
The 1986 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 4, 1986, 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.
These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1986, the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections.
Democrats maintained their majority of U.S. House seats from Texas, but Republicans retained the four seats they gained in 1984 under the coattails of Ronald Reagan's re-election.

## Overview

1986 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats before | Seats after | +/– |
| | Democratic | 1,716,978 | 57.03% | 17 | 17 | - |
| | Republican | 1,263,413 | 41.97% | 10 | 10 | - |
| | Libertarian | 13,005 | 0.43% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Independent | 17,010 | 0.57% | 0 | 0 | - |
| Totals | Totals | 3,010,406 | 100.00% | 27 | 27 | - |

## Congressional districts
### District 1

Incumbent Democrat Sam B. Hall resigned to become a U.S. District Judge. This prompted a special election to be held. Republicans saw this special election as a prime opportunity to demonstrate the political realignment of East Texas, as the district had supported Republicans Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm in 1984. Gramm had arranged Hall's appointment to the judiciary in an attempt to see a Republican elected from the area. In the end, however, Democrat Jim Chapman narrowly won the election in a runoff. He ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 1st congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Chapman (incumbent) | 84,445 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,445 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 2

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.
Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charlie Wilson (incumbent) | 78,529 | 56.76 |
| | Republican | Julian Gordon | 55,986 | 40.47 |
| | Independent | Sam Paradice | 3,838 | 2.77 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 138,353 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 3

Incumbent Republican Steve Bartlett ran for re-election.
Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Bartlett (incumbent) | 143,381 | 94.09 |
| | Independent | Brent Barnes | 6,268 | 4.11 |
| | Libertarian | Don Goush | 2,736 | 1.80 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 152,385 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4

Incumbent Democrat Ralph Hall ran for re-election.
Texas's 4th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ralph Hall (incumbent) | 97,540 | 71.66 |
| | Republican | Thomas Blow | 38,578 | 28.34 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 136,118 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 5

Incumbent Democrat John Wiley Bryant ran for re-election.
Texas's 5th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Wiley Bryant (incumbent) | 57,410 | 58.52 |
| | Republican | Tom Carter | 39,945 | 40.72 |
| | Libertarian | Bob Brewer | 749 | 0.76 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 98,104 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 6

Incumbent Republican Joe Barton ran for re-election.
Texas's 6th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 86,190 | 55.80 |
| | Democratic | Pete Geren | 68,270 | 44.20 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 154,460 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election.
Texas's 7th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Archer (incumbent) | 129,673 | 87.38 |
| | Democratic | Harry Kniffen | 17,635 | 11.88 |
| | Libertarian | Roger Plail | 1,087 | 0.73 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 148,395 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

Incumbent Republican Jack Fields ran for re-election.
Texas's 8th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Fields (incumbent) | 66,280 | 68.40 |
| | Democratic | Blaine Mann | 30,617 | 31.60 |
| | Write-in | Wesley Moshay | 6 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 96,903 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 9

Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election.
Texas's 9th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Brooks (incumbent) | 73,285 | 61.52 |
| | Republican | Lisa Duperier | 45,834 | 38.48 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 119,119 | 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, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. J. Pickle (incumbent) | 135,863 | 72.32 |
| | Republican | Carole Keeton Rylander | 52,000 | 27.68 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 187,863 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 11

Incumbent Democrat Marvin Leath ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 11th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marvin Leath (incumbent) | 84,201 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,201 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 12

Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election. He was subsequently elected Speaker of the House.
Texas's 12th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Wright (incumbent) | 84,831 | 68.72 |
| | Republican | Don McNeil | 38,620 | 31.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 123,451 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 13

Incumbent Republican Beau Boulter ran for re-election.
Texas's 13th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Beau Boulter (incumbent) | 84,980 | 64.93 |
| | Democratic | Doug Steal | 45,907 | 35.07 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 130,887 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

Incumbent Republican Mac Sweeney ran for re-election.
Texas's 14th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Sweeney (incumbent) | 74,471 | 52.33 |
| | Democratic | Greg Laughlin | 67,852 | 47.67 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 142,323 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 15

Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 15th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kika de la Garza (incumbent) | 70,777 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,777 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 16

Incumbent Democrat Ronald D. Coleman ran for re-election.
Texas's 16th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ronald D. Coleman (incumbent) | 50,590 | 65.69 |
| | Republican | Roy Gillia | 26,421 | 34.31 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 77,011 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 17

Incumbent Democrat Charles Stenholm ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 17th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Stenholm (incumbent) | 97,791 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 97,791 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 18

Incumbent Democrat Mickey Leland ran for re-election.
Texas's 18th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mickey Leland (incumbent) | 63,335 | 90.20 |
| | Independent | Joanne Kuniansky | 6,884 | 9.80 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,219 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 19

Incumbent Republican Larry Combest ran for re-election.
Texas's 19th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Combest (incumbent) | 68,695 | 61.99 |
| | Democratic | Gerald McCathern | 42,129 | 38.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 110,824 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 20

Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 20th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent) | 55,363 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,363 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 21

Incumbent Republican Tom Loeffler retired to run for governor.
Texas's 21st congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lamar Smith | 100,346 | 60.61 |
| | Democratic | Pete Snelson | 63,779 | 38.52 |
| | Libertarian | Jim Robinson | 1,432 | 0.86 |
| | Write-in | Others | 10 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 165,567 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 22

Incumbent Republican Tom DeLay ran for re-election.
Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom DeLay (incumbent) | 76,459 | 71.77 |
| | Democratic | Susan Director | 30,079 | 28.23 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106,538 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 23

Incumbent Democrat Albert Bustamante ran for re-election.
Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Albert Bustamante (incumbent) | 68,131 | 90.68 |
| | Libertarian | Ken Hendrix | 7,001 | 9.32 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,132 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 24

Incumbent Democrat Martin Frost ran for re-election.
Texas's 24th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Martin Frost (incumbent) | 69,368 | 67.22 |
| | Republican | Bob Burk | 33,819 | 32.77 |
| | Write-in | Others | 4 | 0.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 103,191 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 25

Incumbent Democrat Michael A. Andrews ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 25th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Michael A. Andrews (incumbent) | 67,435 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,435 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 26

Incumbent Republican Dick Armey ran for re-election. Former representative Tom Vandergriff had considered running to regain the seat he had previously held from 1983 to 1985, but he ultimately declined.
Texas's 26th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dick Armey (incumbent) | 101,735 | 68.10 |
| | Democratic | George Richardson | 47,651 | 31.90 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 149,386 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 27

Incumbent Democrat Solomon Ortiz ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 27th congressional district, 1986 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Solomon Ortiz (incumbent) | 64,165 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,165 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |