# 1978 United States Senate election in Texas

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Government :
vte :
The 1978 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Tower narrowly won re-election to a fourth term. This is the closest that a Texas Democrat has come to defeating a Republican incumbent U.S. Senator.

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* John G. Tower, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1961

#### Declined

* Hank Grover, former State Senator (1967-1973) and candidate for Governor of Texas in 1972

### Results

Senator Tower was unopposed for re-nomination.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Joe Christie, former State Senator from El Paso (1967–1973)
* Bob Krueger, U.S. Representative from New Braunfels since 1975

### Campaign

Krueger and Christie had contrasting styles, and many voters were undecided until late in the campaign.

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Krueger | 853,460 | 54.67 |
| | Democratic | Joe Christie | 707,738 | 45.33 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,561,198 | 100.0 |

## General election
### Campaign

Krueger held a narrow lead in the polls late in the race, although the race was considered to be a 'toss-up.' On the issues, Tower attacked Krueger for voting for a constitutional amendment that would have granted U.S. senators to the District of Columbia, while Krueger attacked Tower for being an ineffective representative and a drunk. As a result of the charge, Tower refused to shake Krueger's hand at a joint appearance.

### Results

Republicans celebrated the result in this election year as the 'best in a century' despite the narrow win. One analysis in The New York Times cites the growing urban middle-class voters in Houston who migrated from the Northeast as the reason for Tower being able to pull ahead and win.
General election results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | John Tower (incumbent) | 1,151,376 | 49.79% |
| Democratic | Bob Krueger | 1,139,149 | 49.26% |
| Raza Unida | Luis Diaz de Leon | 17,869 | 0.77% |
| Socialist Workers | Miguel Pendas | 4,018 | 0.17% |
| N/A | Write-ins | 128 | 0.01% |
| Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |