# Robert L. Duncan

Robert Lloyd Duncan (born August 5, 1953) is an American attorney and politician who served as the fourth chancellor of the Texas Tech University System, serving from 2014 to 2018. A Republican, he previously served as a member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature.
Duncan served in the Texas State Senate from the 28th district, centered about Lubbock, from 1996, when he won a special election, until his resignation in July 2014, when he was named chancellor of the Texas Tech system. He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives from District 84 from his election in 1992 until 1996. On May 19, 2014, the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents named Duncan the sole finalist to succeed former U.S. Representative Kent Hance as the system chancellor.

## Early life and education

Duncan is the only son of the five children of Frank L. Duncan, a district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Vernon, and the former Robena Formby. Duncan holds bachelor's and law degrees from Texas Tech University.

## Career

Duncan was a partner at the Lubbock firm of Crenshaw Dupree & Milam, L.L.P. for 25 years, and is now of counsel for the firm. In January 2025, the office of Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that Duncan would be joining his team to serve as Chief of Staff.

## Personal life

Duncan is married to the former Terri Patterson. He has two children from his first marriage to the former Lynne Stebbins, Lindsey and Matthew Duncan.

## Election history

Senate election history of Duncan.

### Most recent election
#### 2004

Texas general election, 2004: Senate District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert Duncan (Incumbent) | 176,588 | 100.00 | +8.68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 176,588 | 100.00 | +17.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 176,588 | | +34.85 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### Previous elections
#### 2002

Texas general election, 2002: Senate District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert Duncan (Incumbent) | 119,580 | 91.32 | −8.68 |
| | Libertarian | Jon Ensor | 11,372 | 8.8 | +8.68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 108,208 | 82.63 | −17.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 130,952 | | +58.98 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### 1998

Texas general election, 1998: Senate District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert Duncan (Incumbent) | 82,368 | 100.00 | +64.21 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 82,368 | 100.00 | +71.58 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 82,368 | | −32.78 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### 1996

Special Election Runoff: Senate District 28, Unexpired term December 10, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert Duncan | 32,489 | 56.82 | '"`UNIQ−−ref−0000003B−QINU`"'+26.42 |
| | Democratic | David R. Langston | 24,686 | 43.18 | +18.89 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,803 | 13.65 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,175 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
Special Election: Senate District 28, Unexpired term November 2, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dick Bowen | 3,938 | 2.65 |
| | Republican | Robert Duncan | 45,106 | 30.41 |
| | Republican | Monte Hasie of Lubbock | 13,303 | 8.97 |
| | Republican | Tim Lambert of Lubbock | 18,885 | 12.73 |
| | Democratic | David R. Langston of Lubbock | 36,032 | 24.29 |
| | Democratic | Lorenzo "Bubba" Sedeno | 12,419 | 8.37 |
| | Democratic | Gary L. Watkins of Odessa | 18,652 | 12.57 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 148,335 | |