The 1978 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, to elect the governor of Texas. In a surprising upset, Republican Bill Clements was narrowly elected over Democratic State Attorney General John Hill, winning about 50% of the vote to Hill's 49.2%. In doing so, Clements became the first Republican to be elected governor since Reconstruction in 1869.
Besides Clements' upset victory in the gubernatorial election, Republican Senator John Tower was re-elected to a third full six-year term in the Texas U.S. Senate race. However, the majority of the down-ballot statewide offices remained with the Democratic Party. With a margin of victory of just 0.72%, this was the closest race of the 1978 gubernatorial cycle.
Democratic primary
Dolph Briscoe, who had first been elected in 1972 and was easily re-elected in 1974, had become increasingly unpopular within the Texas Democratic Party during his six years in office. John Luke Hill fielded a primary challenge against the Governor, as a liberal alternative to Briscoe, who represented the more conservative, rural faction of the party. Dissatisfaction with Briscoe prompted former Governor Preston Smith to enter the race, running as a populist alternative to the other two candidates. Briscoe had previously defeated Smith in the 1972 primary.
Hill defeated Briscoe outright by a margin of 10.1 percentage points, with Smith earning just 5% of the vote. This marks the most recent time in Texas that the incumbent governor has failed to receive the nomination of their party while running for reelection.
Candidates
Declared
- Dolph Briscoe, incumbent Governor
- John Hill, Attorney General of Texas
- Preston Smith, former Governor
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Bill Clements, businessman and former Deputy U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Ray Hutchison, attorney, former State Representative and husband of Kay Bailey Hutchison
- Clarence Thompson
Withdrew
- James M. Collins, U.S. Representative from Dallas (endorsed Clements)
Videos
(1) Bill Clements bio
(2) Gubernatorial Debate on October 24, 1978 at KPRC-TV Studios in Houston
(3) Republican Primary Gubernatorial Debate in 1978
(4) Gubernatorial Debate on October 27, 1978 at KERA-TV Studios in Dallas