1988 United States Senate election in Texas

none March 2026 September 2023 1988 United States Senate election in Texas Texas presidential no 1982 United States Senate election in Texas 1982 1993 United States Senate special election in Texas 1993 (special) November 8, 1988 150x150px LloydBentsen (cropped 3x4).jpg Lloyd Bentsen Democratic Party (United States) 3,149,806 59.17% Beau Boulter.jpg Beau Boulter Republican Party (United States) 2,129,228 40.00% 310px County results 310px Congressional district results Bentsen: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d056c >90%Boulter: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen Democratic Party (United States) Lloyd Bentsen Democratic Party (United States) The 1988 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen won re-election to a fourth term, defeating Republican U.S. Representative Beau Boulter. Bentsen easily won the Democratic nomination for another term, while Boulter came through a run-off in the Republican primary defeating Wes Gilbreath. After winning renomination, Bentsen was chosen by Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis as his vice-presidential running mate and therefore ran for both the Senate and the vice-presidency at the same time. Although the Dukakis/Bentsen presidential ticket lost the general election by 7 points and the election in Texas by 12.6 points, Bentsen was always the favorite for the Senate election and defeated Boulter by 19.2 points. 2026, this was the last time a Democrat won a U.S. Senate election in Texas.http://go.bloomberg.com/political-capital/2012-05-30/texas-democratic-u-s-senate-turnout-may-be-lowest-since-1916/ Texas Democratic U.S. Senate Turnout May Be Lowest Since 1916 Giroux Gregory May 30, 2012 Bloomberg May 11, 2013http://edition.cnn.com/election/2012/results/state/TX/senate https://web.archive.org/web/20121107053810/http://edition.cnn.com/election/2012/results/state/TX/senate dead November 7, 2012 Senate: Texas November 8, 2012 CNN August 9, 2014 Primaries Democratic primary In the Democratic primary, Senator Lloyd Bentsen defeated the same opponent he had beaten in 1982, Joe Sullivan, a psychology professor from San Antonio.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-09-mn-763-story.html Mississippi Congressmen Will Battle for Stennis' Senate Seat March 9, 1988 Los Angeles Times Associated Press May 11, 2013 Bentsen had been a senator from Texas since first winning election in 1970 and had been re-elected in 1976 and 1982. He was also Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the clear favorite for re-election in 1988.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19880227&id=p71dAAAAIBAJ&pg=7148,5801754 Bentsen target of 5 'Davids' February 27, 1988 The Victoria Advocate 46 May 11, 2013 Sullivan stood on a platform calling for reduced spending by the federal government, but had been easily defeated by Bentsen in the 1982 Democratic primary. This was repeated in 1988 with Bentsen winning the primary with over 80% of the vote. March 8 Democratic primary resultshttp://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth162512/m1/368/ Texas Almanac, 1990-1991 Texas Almanac The Portal to Texas History 366 May 11, 2013 Democratic Party (United States) Lloyd Bentsen (incumbent) 1,365,736 84.8 Democratic Party (United States) Joe Sullivan 244,805 15.2 1,610,541 100 Republican primary Four candidates competed for the Republican nomination; U.S. representative Beau Boulter, former state representative Milton Fox, millionaire Houston businessman Wes Gilbreath and businessman Ned Snead.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19880309&id=xK9JAAAAIBAJ&pg=5603,2126978 Candidates for Stennis seat chosen March 9, 1988 Bangor Daily News Associated Press 33 May 11, 2013 Boulter was a two-term representative for the 13th district, while Gilbreath was competing in his first election, but spent $500,000 on the primary.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1244219.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160315151240/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1244219.html usurped March 15, 2016 subscription Sen. Bentsen Nominated for 4th Term March 9, 1988 The Washington Post HighBeam Research August 9, 2014 Wes Gilbreath led in the March primary with 36.7%, but as no candidate won a majority, went into a run-off election against Beau Boulter who came second with 30.5%. March 8 Republican primary results Republican Party (United States) Wes Gilbreath 275,080 36.7 Republican Party (United States) Beau Boulter 228,676 30.5 Republican Party (United States) Milton Fox 138,031 18.4 Republican Party (United States) Ned Snead 107,560 14.4 749,347 100 There were few policy differences between Boulter and Gilbreath, with both candidates being conservatives who opposed abortion and called for reduced government spending.https://apnews.com/047087a963929c93d2f254cc2519077e Boulter, Gilbreath in Texas GOP senate runoff April 13, 1988 Associated Press May 12, 2013 Gilbreath spent about one million dollars of his money in his contest for the primary,https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/12/us/texas-senate-primary-today-pits-2-survivors-of-march-8.html Texas Senate Primary Today Pits 2 Survivors of March 8 April 12, 1988 The New York Times Associated Press May 12, 2013 while Boulter spent about $250,000. However Boulter won endorsements from many Texas Republican leaders, including the candidates who had come third and fourth in the March primary, as well as from anti-abortion groups. Boulter won the April run-off for the Republican nomination with just over 60% of the vote. April 12 Republican run-off results Republican Party (United States) Beau Boulter 111,134 60.2 Republican Party (United States) Wes Gilbreath 73,573 39.8 184,707 100 Vice-presidential candidate In July 1988, Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis chose Lloyd Bentsen to be his vice-presidential running mate.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/23/AR2006052300780.html Dukakis Chooses Texas Sen. Bentsen as Running Mate July 13, 1988 The Washington Post May 12, 2013 As the Texas Democrats had already nominated Bentsen for the Senate, he could not be replaced on the ballot. Bentsen was able to run both for the Senate and for vice president as Lyndon Johnson had gotten Texas to change the law in 1960 to allow him to do the same in the 1960 election.https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/04/us/texas-law-seems-mixed-blessing-to-bentsen.html Texas Law Seems Mixed Blessing to Bentsen Weaver Warren October 4, 1988 The New York Times May 12, 2013 However, Beau Boulter attacked Bentsen for running for both the Senate and vice presidency, calling it arrogant, unethical and possibly illegal.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8070626.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160410071125/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8070626.html usurped April 10, 2016 Bentsen's senate for raps bid for 2 offices Pertman Adam July 14, 1988 The Boston Globe HighBeam Research subscription Boston, MA August 10, 2014 Boulter and the National Republican Senatorial Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) claiming that the dual candidacy violated federal campaign finance laws as any spending in one race would unfairly affect the other campaign, however the FEC rejected the complaint and this decision was confirmed by the United States courts of appeals.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8073425.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160415211921/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8073425.html usurped April 15, 2016 Court refuses to block spending by Democrats Chachere Vickie August 4, 1988 The Boston Globe HighBeam Research subscription Boston, MA August 10, 2014 Boulter continued to attack Bentsen over the dual candidacy running a campaign ad in August 1988 mocking Bentsen for trying to ride two horses at the same time.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1273901.html https://web.archive.org/web/20171009041932/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1273901.html usurped October 9, 2017 Commercial Lampoons Bentsen Over Campaigning for 2 Offices Schwartz Maralee August 17, 1988 The Washington Post HighBeam Research subscription August 10, 2014 Campaign Lloyd Bentsen was always the favorite for the election,http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1268663.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160409080617/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1268663.html usurped April 9, 2016 Another Senate Race in Texas? Schwartz Maralee July 19, 1988 The Washington Post HighBeam Research subscription August 10, 2014 with a large cash advantage over Beau Boulter.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1271051.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160311214920/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1271051.html usurped March 11, 2016 Tilting Toward the Ins August 1, 1988 The Washington Post HighBeam Research subscription August 10, 2014 Filings with the FEC at the beginning of August showed Bentsen had $3.9 million compared to only $14,000 for Boulter. The financial advantage for Bentsen continued through the campaign and by the beginning of November Bentsen had raised $7.5 million for the senate election, while Boulter had raised $2.7 million.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-04-mn-1225-story.html Law Allows Senator to Run 2 Races : Conservative Texas Voters Can Get Bush and Bentsen Tumulty Karen November 4, 1988 Los Angeles Times August 10, 2014 Boulter's campaign receive little or no official Republican support, with the Republican presidential campaign giving a not very subtle endorsement of a "Texas Ticket", which was George Bush for president and Bentsen for the Senate.Moreland Laurence Steed Robert Baker Tod The 1988 Presidential Election in the South: Continuity Amidst Change in Southern Party Politics https://books.google.com/books?id=-uv8n0ccziwC August 10, 2014 January 1, 1991 Greenwood Publishing Group 9780275931452 226 However Boulter hoped to benefit from Bush's coattails and ran campaign ads pointing to his links with Bush and Ronald Reagan.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19881023&id=AjVSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6739,5116979 Bentsen favored for Senate, Boulter Counts on Bush Link October 23, 1988 The Victoria Advocate 11 August 10, 2014 Boulter also ran ads attacking Bentsen for supporting giving benefit to illegal immigrants, but this was denied by the Bentsen campaign. Meanwhile, Bentsen ran ads showing things they said he had done for Texas such as passing a trade bill, catastrophic coverage legislation, repealing the windfall profit tax and preserving local bus services. At the beginning of October 1988, Democratic polls showed Bentsen at least 20 points ahead of Boulter, with Bentsen spending much of his time campaigning for the presidential election and very little time on the Senate election. Results Bentsen won the election by a wide margin over Boulter on the same ballot that he and Michael Dukakis lost the presidential race,http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3913294.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160409215702/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3913294.html usurped April 9, 2016 Sen. Bentsen 'wins' even while losing November 9, 1988 Chicago Sun-Times HighBeam Research subscription August 10, 2014 with George Bush winning his home state of Texas with 56% of the vote compared to 43% for Dukakis.http://www.rollcall.com/members/14833.html Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) Roll Call August 10, 2014 Bentsen's vote total in the Senate election was the highest vote total in any Texas statewide election.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8087347.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121356/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8087347.html usurped March 4, 2016 Bentsen reelected but Texas goes GOP Black Chris November 9, 1988 The Boston Globe HighBeam Research subscription Boston, MA August 10, 2014 Boulter's showing was particularly embarrassing for the Texas GOP, given that Bush easily carried Texas by a margin nearly as large as Bentsen’s. Bentsen received 93% of the black vote.Black Black 1992 356 General election results Democratic Party (United States) Lloyd Bentsen (incumbent) 3,149,806 59.17% +0.58% Republican Party (United States) Beau Boulter 2,129,228 40.00% -0.50% Libertarian Party (United States) Jeff Daiell 44,572 0.84% +0.08% 1,020,578 19.17% +1.08% 5,323,606 Democratic Party (United States) See also 1988 United States Senate elections References Works cited Black Earl Earl Black (political scientist) Black Merle Merle Black The Vital South: How Presidents Are Elected Harvard University Press 1992 https://archive.org/details/vitalsouthhowpre0000blac 0674941306 United States Senate Texas 1988 Category:Lloyd Bentsen