1976 United States Senate election in Texas

The 1976 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen won re-election to a second term.

1976 United States Senate election in Texas

← 1970 November 2, 1976 1982 →

Nominee Lloyd Bentsen Alan Steelman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,199,956 1,636,370 Percentage 56.78% 42.24%

County results Bentsen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Steelman:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Lloyd Bentsen Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Lloyd Bentsen, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Leon Dugi
• Phil Gramm, Texas A&M economics professor
• Hugh Wilson

Results

1976 Democratic Senate primary^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Lloyd Bentsen (incumbent)	970,983	63.54%
	Democratic	Phil Gramm	427,597	27.98%
	Democratic	Hugh Wilson	109,715	7.18%
	Democratic	Leon Dugi	19,870	1.30%
Total votes			1,528,165	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Alan Steelman, U.S. Representative from Texas's 5th district since 1973

General election

Results

General election results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lloyd Bentsen (incumbent)	2,199,956	56.78%	3.23%
	Republican	Alan Steelman	1,636,370	42.24%	4.21%
	Socialist Workers	Pedro Vasquez	20,549	0.53%	N/A
	American Independent	Marjorie P. Gallion	17,355	0.45%	N/A
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1976 United States Senate elections

References

1. "1976 Senatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Texas". US Election Atlas. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
2. "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1976".