1976 United States Senate election in Texas

1976 United States Senate election in Texas

November 2, 1976

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

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.

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

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

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