# 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas

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The 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 7, 1978, to elect the members of the state of Texas's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Texas had twenty-four seats in the House apportioned according to the 1970 United States census.
These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1978, 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 they lost two seats to the Republicans, decreasing their majority to twenty out of twenty-four seats. These elections produced a high level of turnover due to the retirements of several representatives, as well as the electoral defeat of others.

## Overview

1978 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats before | Seats after | +/– |
| | Democratic | 1,285,348 | 58.90% | 22 | 20 | -2 |
| | Republican | 888,215 | 40.70% | 2 | 4 | +2 |
| | La Raza Unida | 7,185 | 0.33% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Socialist Workers | 1,632 | 0.07% | 0 | 0 | - |
| Totals | Totals | 2,182,380 | 100.00% | 24 | 24 | - |

## Congressional districts
### District 1

Incumbent Democrat Sam B. Hall ran for re-election.
Texas's 1st congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sam B. Hall (incumbent) | 73,708 | 78.07 |
| | Republican | Fred Hudson | 20,700 | 21.92 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 94,408 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 2

Incumbent Democrat Charlie Wilson ran for re-election.
Texas's 2nd congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charlie Wilson (incumbent) | 66,986 | 70.09 |
| | Republican | James Dillion | 28,584 | 29.91 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 95,570 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 3

Incumbent Republican James M. Collins ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 3rd congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James M. Collins (incumbent) | 96,406 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 96,406 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 4

Incumbent Democrat Ray Roberts ran for re-election.
Texas's 4th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ray Roberts (incumbent) | 58,336 | 61.46 |
| | Republican | Frank Glenn | 36,582 | 38.54 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 94,918 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 5

Incumbent Democrat Jim Mattox ran for re-election.
Texas's 5th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Mattox (incumbent) | 35,524 | 50.32 |
| | Republican | Thomas W. Pauken | 34,672 | 49.12 |
| | Socialist Workers | James White | 397 | 0.56 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,593 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 6

Incumbent Democrat Olin E. Teague opted to retire rather than run for re-election.
Texas's 6th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Phil Gramm | 66,025 | 65.10 |
| | Republican | Wes Mowery | 35,393 | 34.90 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 101,418 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 7

Incumbent Republican Bill Archer ran for re-election.
Texas's 7th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Archer (incumbent) | 128,214 | 85.24 |
| | Democratic | Robert Hutchings | 22,415 | 14.90 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 150,418 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

Incumbent Democrat Bob Eckhardt ran for re-election.
Texas's 8th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Eckhardt (incumbent) | 39,429 | 61.51 |
| | Republican | Nick Gearhardt | 24,673 | 38.49 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 64,102 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 9

Incumbent Democrat Jack Brooks ran for re-election.
Texas's 9th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Brooks (incumbent) | 50,792 | 63.28 |
| | Republican | Randy Evans | 29,473 | 34.23 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,265 | 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, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. J. Pickle (incumbent) | 94,529 | 76.32 |
| | Republican | Emmett Hudsoeth | 29,328 | 23.68 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 123,857 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 11

Incumbent Democrat William R. Poage opted to retire rather than run for re-election. He resigned on December 31, 1978, four days before his term would have expired.
Texas's 11th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marvin Leath | 53,354 | 51.64 |
| | Republican | Jack Burgess | 49,965 | 48.36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 103,319 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 12

Incumbent Democrat Jim Wright ran for re-election.
Texas's 12th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Wright (incumbent) | 46,456 | 68.50 |
| | Republican | Claude Brown | 21,364 | 31.50 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,820 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 13

Incumbent Democrat Jack Hightower ran for re-election.
Texas's 13th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Hightower (incumbent) | 75,271 | 74.86 |
| | Republican | Clifford Jones | 25,275 | 25.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100,546 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 14

Incumbent Democrat John Andrew Young ran for re-election. He lost in the Democratic Primary to Joseph Wyatt.
Texas's 14th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph Wyatt | 63,953 | 72.45 |
| | Republican | Jay Yates | 24,325 | 27.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 88,278 | 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, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kika de la Garza (incumbent) | 54,560 | 66.20 |
| | Republican | Robert McDonald | 27,853 | 33.80 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,413 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 16

Incumbent Democrat Richard Crawford White ran for re-election.
Texas's 16th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Crawford White (incumbent) | 53,090 | 70.01 |
| | Republican | Robert McDonald | 22,743 | 29.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,833 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 17

Incumbent Democrat Omar Burleson opted to retire rather than run for re-election.
Texas's 17th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Stenholm | 69,030 | 68.12 |
| | Republican | Billy Fisher | 32,302 | 31.88 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 101,332 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 18

Incumbent Democrat Barbara Jordan opted to retire rather than run for re-election.
Texas's 18th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mickey Leland | 36,783 | 96.75 |
| | Socialist Workers | Deborah Vernier | 1,235 | 3.25 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,018 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 19

Incumbent Democrat George H. Mahon opted to retire rather than run for re-election. Future president George W. Bush was defeated in this election.
Texas's 19th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kent Hance | 54,729 | 53.24 |
| | Republican | George W. Bush | 48,070 | 46.76 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 102,799 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 20

Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González ran for re-election unopposed.
Texas's 20th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Henry B. Gonzalez (incumbent) | 51,584 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,584 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 21

Incumbent Democrat Bob Krueger retired to run for U.S. Senator.
Texas's 21st congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Loeffler | 84,336 | 57.05 |
| | Democratic | Nelson Wolff | 63,501 | 42.95 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 147,837 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 22

Incumbent Democrat Robert Gammage ran for re-election.
Texas's 22nd congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ron Paul | 54,643 | 50.56 |
| | Democratic | Robert Gammage (incumbent) | 53,443 | 49.44 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 108,086 | 100 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 23

Incumbent Democrat Abraham Kazen ran for re-election.
Texas's 23rd congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Abraham Kazen (incumbent) | 62,649 | 89.71 |
| | Raza Unida | Agustin Mata | 7,185 | 10.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,834 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 24

Incumbent Democrat Dale Milford ran for re-election. He lost in the Democratic Primary to Martin Frost.
Texas's 24th congressional district, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Martin Frost | 39,201 | 54.06 |
| | Republican | Leo Berman | 33,314 | 45.94 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,515 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |