Closest U.S. Senate elections in Texas
The closest U.S. Senate election in Texas history was in 1978, a margin of 0.53 points. John G. Tower beat Robert Krueger, 1,151,376 to 1,139,149. Next closest are 2018 (2.6 points) and 1970 (7.1 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Texas has held, special elections included, see the Texas U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Texas history?
The Texas Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1978, 0.53 points. John G. Tower beat Robert Krueger, 1,151,376 to 1,139,149. The next closest were 2018 (2.6 points) and 1970 (7.1 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Texas’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Texas Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Texas election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1978 | John G. Tower R def. Robert Krueger D | 1,151,376 – 1,139,149 | 0.53 points |
| 2 | 2018 | Ted Cruz R def. Beto O'Rourke D | 4,260,553 – 4,045,632 | 2.6 points |
| 3 | 1970 | Lloyd Bentsen D def. George H. W. Bush R | 1,194,069 – 1,035,794 | 7.1 points |
| 4 | 2024 | Ted Cruz R def. Colin Allred D | 5,990,741 – 5,031,249 | 8.5 points |
| 5 | 1972 | John G. Tower R def. Barefoot Sanders D | 1,822,877 – 1,511,985 | 9.1 points |
| 6 | 2020 | John Cornyn R def. Mary Mj Hegar D | 5,962,983 – 4,888,764 | 9.6 points |
| 7 | 1996 | Phil Gramm R def. Victor M. Morales D | 3,027,680 – 2,428,776 | 10.8 points |
| 8 | 2002 | John Cornyn R def. Ron Kirk D | 2,496,243 – 1,955,758 | 12.0 points |
| 9 | 2008 | John Cornyn R def. Richard J. Rick Noriega D | 4,337,469 – 3,389,365 | 12.0 points |
| 10 | 1964 | Ralph W. Yarborough D def. George H. W. Bush R | 1,463,958 – 1,134,337 | 12.7 points |
| 11 | 1966 | John G. Tower R def. Waggoner Carr D | 841,501 – 643,855 | 13.3 points |
| 12 | 1976 | Lloyd Bentsen D def. Alan Steelman R | 2,199,956 – 1,636,370 | 14.5 points |
| 13 | 2012 | Ted Cruz R def. Paul Sadler D | 4,440,137 – 3,194,927 | 15.8 points |
| 14 | 1960 | Lyndon B. Johnson D def. John G. Tower R | 1,306,605 – 926,653 | 16.9 points |
| 15 | 1984 | Phil Gramm R def. Lloyd Doggett D | 3,111,348 – 2,202,557 | 17.1 points |
| 16 | 1982 | Lloyd Bentsen D def. Jim Collins R | 1,818,223 – 1,256,759 | 18.1 points |
| 17 | 1988 | Lloyd Bentsen D def. Beau Boulter R | 3,149,806 – 2,129,228 | 19.2 points |
| 18 | 1994 | Kay Bailey Hutchison R def. Richard Fisher D | 2,604,218 – 1,639,615 | 22.5 points |
| 19 | 1990 | Phil Gramm R def. Hugh Parmer D | 2,302,357 – 1,429,986 | 22.8 points |
| 20 | 2006 | Kay Bailey Hutchison R def. Barbara Ann Radnofsky D | 2,661,789 – 1,555,202 | 25.6 points |
| 21 | 2014 | John Cornyn R def. David M. Alameel D | 2,861,531 – 1,597,387 | 27.2 points |
| 22 | 2000 | Kay Bailey Hutchison R def. Gene Kelly D | 4,078,954 – 2,025,024 | 32.8 points |
| 23 | 1948 | Lyndon B. Johnson D def. Jack Porter R | 702,985 – 349,665 | 33.3 points |
| 24 | 1922 | Earle B. Mayfield D def. George E. Peddy R | 264,201 – 130,731 | 33.8 points |
| 25 | 1958 | Ralph W. Yarborough D def. Roy Whittenburg R | 587,030 – 185,926 | 51.0 points |