1996 United States Senate election in Texas

Major candidates

Democratic

• Victor Morales, Teacher, Navy veteran
• John Bryant, Incumbent U.S representative
• Jim Chapman, Incumbent U.S representative
• John Odam, State Supreme Court litigator

Republican

• Phil Gramm, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Henry Grover, former state senator and 1972 nominee for Governor of Texas

Campaign

Morales, who never ran for statewide office before, pulled a major upset in the primary by defeating three politicians: U.S. Congressman John Wiley Bryant, U.S. Congressman Jim Chapman, and former State Supreme Court litigator John Odam. In the March run-off, he defeated Bryant with 51% of the vote. He became the first minority in Texas history to become a United States Senate nominee from either major party. Despite having no staff, raising only $15,000, and not accepting any special interest money he obtained 2.5 million votes.

Gramm previously ran for President earlier in the year, but lost to fellow U.S. Senator Bob Dole in the Republican presidential primary. Gramm was the heavy favorite. A September poll showed Gramm leading 50% to 40%. A late October poll showed him leading with 53% to 31%.

Exit Polls showed that Gramm performed well with Anglos (68% to 31%), while Morales won African Americans (79% to 19%) and Latinos (79% to 20%) respectively.

Results

References

References

1. "Candidate - Victor M. Morales". Our Campaigns.
2. Ramos, Mary G.. (1997). "Texas Almanac, 1998-1999".
3. (October 26, 1996). "San Antonio Express-News, Archives | mySA.com". Nl.newsbank.com.
4. "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1996".