1998 Texas House of Representatives election

Last updated

1998 Texas House of Representatives election
Flag of Texas.svg
  1996 November 3, 1998 2000  

All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives
76 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Leader Pete Laney Tom Craddick
Party Democratic Republican
Leader sinceJanuary 12, 1993January 9, 1973
Leader's seat 85th 82nd
Last election8268
Seats won7872
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 4Increase2.svg 4
Popular vote1,289,2751,827,843
Percentage41.29%58.54%
SwingDecrease2.svg 2.89%Increase2.svg 3.70%

TxHouse1998Election.svg
1998 Texas State House election voteshares.svg
     Democratic hold
     Republican hold     Republican gain
Democratic:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     ≥90%
Republican:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     ≥90%

Speaker before election

Pete Laney
Democratic

Elected Speaker

Pete Laney
Democratic

The 1998 Texas House of Representatives elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Texas voters elected state representatives in all 150 State House of Representatives districts. The winners of this election served in the 76th Texas Legislature. State representatives serve for two-year terms. Republicans gained four seats from the Democrats, reducing the Democratic majority to 78 out of 150 seats.

Contents

Background

Democrats had held control of the Texas House of Representatives since Reconstruction despite Republicans winning the governorship in 1994 and the Texas Senate in 1996. [1] [2] Democrats faced difficulties from the top of the ticket due to the popular Republican governor George W. Bush running for reelection. Republicans sought to use Bush's coattails to gain several seats in the Texas House, increasing their chances of winning control of the chamber in 2000 ahead of the redistricting that would occur the following year. [3]

Redistricting

Democrats had fully controlled the redistricting process in 1991, and Republicans sued over the Texas House's map. The courts partially overhauled the map as a result of these lawsuits. [4] Democrats codified the court's map into law in a January 1992 special session. [5] The 1995 lawsuit Thomas v. Bush further altered the maps, as the courts reached a settlement with the legislature to alter some districts for the 1996 elections. These changes, plus minor alterations to districts in Williamson County and Jefferson County, were passed into law for the 1998 election. [4] [6] [7]

Results

Republicans flipped four seats from the Democrats, failing to take control of the chamber but further narrowing the Democratic majority. [8] [9]

Statewide

Summary of the November 3, 1998 Texas House of Representatives election results
Texas House 2000.svg
PartyCandidatesVotes %Seats+/–
Democratic Party 971,289,27541.29%78Decrease2.svg4
Republican Party 1051,827,84358.54%72Increase2.svg4
Libertarian Party 34,4730.14%0
Write-in 15750.02%0
Total3,122,166100.00%150
Popular vote
Republican
58.54%
Democratic
41.29%
Libertarian
0.14%
Write-in
0.02%
House seats won
Democratic
52.00%
Republican
48.00%

Close races

  1. District 46, 0.12% (gain)
  2. District 68, 0.88% (gain)
  3. District 138, 0.92%
  4. District 13, 2.00% (gain)
  5. District 18, 2.66%
  6. District 73, 3.56% (tipping-point district)
  7. District 30, 5.48%
  8. District 44, 5.58%
  9. District 21, 6.28%
  10. District 4, 6.62% (gain)
  11. District 70, 7.50%
  12. District 59, 8.92%
  13. District 54, 9.56%
  14. District 2, 9.88%

Results by district

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 118,237100.00%----18,237100.00%Democratic hold
District 217,09654.94%14,02345.06%--31,119100.00%Democratic hold
District 315,81356.98%11,93743.02%--27,750100.00%Democratic hold
District 413,01046.69%14,85353.31%--27,863100.00%Republican gain
District 515,01556.17%11,71643.83%--26,731100.00%Democratic hold
District 6--23,744100.00%--23,744100.00%Republican hold
District 7--18,395100.00%--18,395100.00%Republican hold
District 817,49661.56%10,92638.44%--28,422100.00%Democratic hold
District 912,13542.16%16,64657.84%--28,781100.00%Republican hold
District 10--20,162100.00%--20,162100.00%Republican hold
District 11--18,863100.00%--18,863100.00%Republican hold
District 1218,49762.75%10,97937.25%--29,476100.00%Democratic hold
District 1315,40649.00%16,03451.00%--31,440100.00%Republican gain
District 14--16,721100.00%--16,721100.00%Republican hold
District 1511,16330.40%25,55869.60%--36,721100.00%Republican hold
District 16--21,51397.40%5752.60%22,088100.00%Republican hold
District 1718,77163.61%10,73736.39%--29,508100.00%Democratic hold
District 1815,30451.33%14,51148.67%--29,815100.00%Democratic hold
District 1921,860100.00%----21,860100.00%Democratic hold
District 2016,57956.05%13,00043.95%--29,579100.00%Democratic hold
District 2118,25253.14%16,09646.86%--34,348100.00%Democratic hold
District 2220,229100.00%----20,229100.00%Democratic hold
District 2314,45255.98%11,36444.02%--25,816100.00%Democratic hold
District 2416,55858.34%11,82341.66%--28,381100.00%Democratic hold
District 25--23,882100.00%--23,882100.00%Republican hold
District 26--29,495100.00%--29,495100.00%Republican hold
District 2715,001100.00%----15,001100.00%Democratic hold
District 2820,89064.62%11,43935.38%--32,329100.00%Democratic hold
District 2914,88665.30%7,91034.70%--22,796100.00%Democratic hold
District 3014,49447.26%16,17652.74%--30,670100.00%Republican hold
District 3119,989100.00%----19,989100.00%Democratic hold
District 32--23,318100.00%--23,318100.00%Republican hold
District 3315,04470.27%6,36429.73%--21,408100.00%Democratic hold
District 3414,01467.37%6,78732.63%--20,801100.00%Democratic hold
District 3515,971100.00%----15,971100.00%Democratic hold
District 368,781100.00%----8,781100.00%Democratic hold
District 378,390100.00%----8,390100.00%Democratic hold
District 389,872100.00%----9,872100.00%Democratic hold
District 396,719100.00%----6,719100.00%Democratic hold
District 407,659100.00%----7,659100.00%Democratic hold
District 418,951100.00%----8,951100.00%Democratic hold
District 4212,402100.00%----12,402100.00%Democratic hold
District 4317,622100.00%----17,622100.00%Democratic hold
District 4413,59652.79%12,15747.21%--25,753100.00%Democratic hold
District 45--27,994100.00%--27,994100.00%Republican hold
District 4615,03949.94%15,07550.06%--30,114100.00%Republican gain
District 47--46,745100.00%--46,745100.00%Republican hold
District 4824,257100.00%----24,257100.00%Democratic hold
District 4919,07463.25%11,08236.75%--30,156100.00%Democratic hold
District 5018,726100.00%----18,726100.00%Democratic hold
District 5113,58473.42%4,91926.58%--18,503100.00%Democratic hold
District 52--33,465100.00%--33,465100.00%Republican hold
District 53--37,257100.00%--37,257100.00%Republican hold
District 549,86645.22%11,95454.78%--21,820100.00%Republican hold
District 55--14,916100.00%--14,916100.00%Republican hold
District 568,61830.78%19,38469.22%--28,002100.00%Republican hold
District 5715,073100.00%----15,073100.00%Democratic hold
District 5811,58540.60%16,94859.40%--28,533100.00%Republican hold
District 5911,65154.46%9,74145.54%--21,392100.00%Democratic hold
District 60--23,348100.00%--23,348100.00%Republican hold
District 6111,62635.42%21,20064.58%--32,826100.00%Republican hold
District 629,45433.86%18,46966.14%--27,923100.00%Republican hold
District 638,71625.64%25,27674.36%--33,992100.00%Republican hold
District 64--23,726100.00%--23,726100.00%Republican hold
District 65--17,625100.00%--17,625100.00%Republican hold
District 66--31,432100.00%--31,432100.00%Republican hold
District 67--26,521100.00%--26,521100.00%Republican hold
District 6814,59749.56%14,85450.44%--29,451100.00%Republican gain
District 6914,20756.07%11,13043.93%--25,337100.00%Democratic hold
District 7014,18853.75%12,20846.25%--26,396100.00%Democratic hold
District 71--22,138100.00%--22,138100.00%Republican hold
District 7219,97573.60%7,16526.40%--27,140100.00%Democratic hold
District 7318,43851.78%17,17048.22%--35,608100.00%Democratic hold
District 7416,293100.00%----16,293100.00%Democratic hold
District 7511,82273.24%4,32026.76%--16,142100.00%Democratic hold
District 7615,586100.00%----15,586100.00%Democratic hold
District 7711,573100.00%----11,573100.00%Democratic hold
District 789,48035.22%17,43664.78%--26,916100.00%Republican hold
District 7913,263100.00%----13,263100.00%Democratic hold
District 80--16,249100.00%--16,249100.00%Republican hold
District 81--15,420100.00%--15,420100.00%Republican hold
District 82--22,086100.00%--22,086100.00%Republican hold
District 83--13,053100.00%--13,053100.00%Republican hold
District 84--26,189100.00%--26,189100.00%Republican hold
District 8517,75173.47%6,41026.53%--24,161100.00%Democratic hold
District 86--25,887100.00%--25,887100.00%Republican hold
District 87--15,848100.00%--15,848100.00%Republican hold
District 88--22,852100.00%--22,852100.00%Republican hold
District 898,06637.61%13,37862.39%--21,444100.00%Republican hold
District 908,990100.00%----8,990100.00%Democratic hold
District 91--19,142100.00%--19,142100.00%Republican hold
District 92--19,515100.00%--19,515100.00%Republican hold
District 93--13,054100.00%--13,054100.00%Republican hold
District 94--22,580100.00%--22,580100.00%Republican hold
District 9518,742100.00%----18,742100.00%Democratic hold
District 96--21,515100.00%--21,515100.00%Republican hold
District 97--27,590100.00%--27,590100.00%Republican hold
District 987,36223.54%23,91076.46%--31,272100.00%Republican hold
District 99--20,644100.00%--20,644100.00%Republican hold
District 10011,592100.00%----11,592100.00%Democratic hold
District 101--15,007100.00%--15,007100.00%Republican hold
District 102--19,117100.00%--19,117100.00%Republican hold
District 1037,898100.00%----7,898100.00%Democratic hold
District 1045,68270.62%2,36429.38%--8,046100.00%Democratic hold
District 1058,794100.00%----8,794100.00%Democratic hold
District 1066,80436.04%12,07663.96%--18,880100.00%Republican hold
District 10710,15259.26%6,98040.74%--17,132100.00%Democratic hold
District 108--27,220100.00%--27,220100.00%Republican hold
District 10914,667100.00%----14,667100.00%Democratic hold
District 11017,790100.00%----17,790100.00%Democratic hold
District 11116,215100.00%----16,215100.00%Democratic hold
District 112--18,748100.00%--18,748100.00%Republican hold
District 113--16,911100.00%--16,911100.00%Republican hold
District 114--20,782100.00%--20,782100.00%Republican hold
District 11510,943100.00%----10,943100.00%Democratic hold
District 11611,378100.00%----11,378100.00%Democratic hold
District 1178,219100.00%----8,219100.00%Democratic hold
District 1189,878100.00%----9,878100.00%Democratic hold
District 11912,104100.00%----12,104100.00%Democratic hold
District 12011,945100.00%----11,945100.00%Democratic hold
District 121--22,974100.00%--22,974100.00%Republican hold
District 122--28,763100.00%--28,763100.00%Republican hold
District 123--26,380100.00%--26,380100.00%Republican hold
District 12412,472100.00%----12,472100.00%Democratic hold
District 12511,440100.00%----11,440100.00%Democratic hold
District 126--25,914100.00%--25,914100.00%Republican hold
District 127--21,427100.00%--21,427100.00%Republican hold
District 1289,13562.61%5,45537.39%--14,590100.00%Democratic hold
District 1297,86327.64%20,08670.62%4941.74%28,443100.00%Republican hold
District 130--26,059100.00%--26,059100.00%Republican hold
District 13116,183100.00%----16,183100.00%Democratic hold
District 13218,559100.00%----18,559100.00%Democratic hold
District 133--23,734100.00%--23,734100.00%Republican hold
District 1348,90639.70%13,52760.30%--22,433100.00%Republican hold
District 135--21,151100.00%--21,151100.00%Republican hold
District 136--26,67892.06%2,3017.94%28,979100.00%Republican hold
District 13711,35963.07%6,65036.93%--18,009100.00%Democratic hold
District 13810,27450.46%10,08849.54%--20,362100.00%Democratic hold
District 13912,068100.00%----12,068100.00%Democratic hold
District 1406,547100.00%----6,547100.00%Democratic hold
District 14115,462100.00%----15,462100.00%Democratic hold
District 14214,183100.00%----14,183100.00%Democratic hold
District 1437,50672.24%2,88427.76%--10,390100.00%Democratic hold
District 144--12,26587.97%1,67812.03%13,943100.00%Republican hold
District 1456,40567.12%3,13732.88%--9,542100.00%Democratic hold
District 14617,37475.95%5,50124.05%--22,875100.00%Democratic hold
District 14713,081100.00%----13,081100.00%Democratic hold
District 1488,641100.00%----8,641100.00%Democratic hold
District 149--10,384100.00%--10,384100.00%Republican hold
District 150--19,632100.00%--19,632100.00%Republican hold
Total1,289,27541.29%1,827,84358.54%4,4730.16%3,122,166100.00%

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References

  1. Barboza, David (November 29, 1996). "Republicans Strike Deep In the Heart Of Texas". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. "Rep. Stockman loses in Texas Congress runoff GOP claims majority in one house of state legislature, 1st since 1872". Baltimore Sun. December 12, 1996. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  3. Balz, Dan (June 30, 1998). "TEXAS ELECTION STAKES HIGH FOR GOP AND DEMOCRATS". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "History". redistricting.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  5. Bickerstaff, Steve (2020). Heath, C. Robert (ed.). Gerrymandering Texas. Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech University Press. p. 124. ISBN   978-1-68283-073-4.
  6. Bickerstaff, Heath 2020, p. 127
  7. Attlesey, Sam (March 14, 1997). "Texas House OKs district boundaries Slight changes in plan would affect 3 counties". The Dallas Morning News . pp. 19.A.
  8. Office of the Secretary of State (November 3, 1998). "1998 General Election". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. "1998 General Election". The Texas Tribune. January 12, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2023.