1982 United States Senate election in Texas

←  1976 November 2, 1982 1988 →

Nominee Lloyd Bentsen James M. Collins Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,818,223 1,256,759 Percentage 58.59% 40.50%

County results Bentsen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Collins:      50–60%      60–70%

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

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Government
v t e

The 1982 United States Senate election in Texas took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen won re-election to a third term in office, defeating Republican U.S. Representative James M. Collins.

Bentsen's victory in the election was credited with producing a coattail effect that allowed Democrats to win in the concurrent gubernatorial election. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Lloyd Bentsen, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Joe Sullivan, minister and perennial candidate for U.S. Representative from San Antonio

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• James M. Collins, U.S. Representative from Dallas
• Walter H. Mengden, State Representation from Houston
• Don Richardson, electronics salesman from Houston

Results

General election

Results

1982 United States Senate election in Texas ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lloyd Bentsen (incumbent)	1,818,223	58.59%	1.81
	Republican	James M. Collins	1,256,759	40.50%	1.74
	Libertarian	John E. Ford	23,494	0.76%	N/A
	Citizens	Lineaus Hooper Lorette	4,564	0.15%	N/A
	Write-in	All others	127	0.00%	N/A
Total votes			3,103,167	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1982 United States Senate elections

References

Works cited

• Moreland, Laurence; Steed, Robert; Baker, Tod, eds. (1991). The 1988 Presidential Election in the South: Continuity Amidst Change in Southern Party Politics. Praeger Publishers. ISBN  0275931455.