1992 Texas House of Representatives election explained

Election Name:1992 Texas House of Representatives election
Leader2:Tom Craddick
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Leader Since2:January 9, 1973
Leaders Seat2:82nd
Last Election2:57
Seats Before2:58
Seats Needed2: 17
Seats2:58
Popular Vote2:2,234,252
Swing1: 2.39%
Percentage2:45.25%
Swing2: 0.23%
Map Size:320px
Speaker
Before Election:Gib Lewis
Before Party:Democratic
After Election:Pete Laney
Percentage1:52.13%
Country:Texas
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1990 Texas House of Representatives election
Previous Year:1990
Next Election:1994 Texas House of Representatives election
Next Year:1994
Seats For Election:All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives
Majority Seats:76
Election Date:November 3, 1992
Popular Vote1:2,573,755
Leader1:Gib Lewis
(retired)
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Leader Since1:January 11, 1983
Leaders Seat1:89th
Last Election1:93
Seats Before1:92
Seats1:92
After Party:Democratic

The 1992 Texas House of Representatives elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Texas voters elected state representatives in all 150 State House of Representatives districts. The winners of this election served in the 73rd Texas Legislature, with seats apportioned according to the 1990 United States census. State representatives serve for two-year terms. Democrats maintained their majority of 92 out of 150 seats. As of, this is the last time Democrats won the statewide popular vote for the Texas House.

Background

Democrats had held control of the Texas House of Representatives since Reconstruction. Republicans had gained one seat due to special elections after the resignation of Democrat Bruce Gibson of District 58. Republican Bernard Erickson won the special election outright to avoid a runoff, becoming the first Republican to ever represent the district.[1]

Redistricting

Following the release of the 1990 census results, democrats fully controlled the redistricting process. Republicans sued over the Texas House's map that was originally passed. The courts partially overhauled the map as a result of these lawsuits.[2] Democrats codified the court's map into law in a January 1992 special session.[3]

House districts follow the "county line rule," effectively granting individual counties delegations of state house seats based on their population.[4] The census found that Texas had a population of 14,229,191 in 1980, giving each district an "ideal population" of 94,861 people. In 1990, the "ideal population for a district" was 113,243 people based on a statewide population of 16,986,510. Counties with at least this number of people must fully contain at least one state house district. Counties with sufficient population for two or more districts must be divided into that number of districts. Should a county have sufficient population for one or more district plus a fraction of another, one district from another county may extend into it to represent the remaining population. District delegations for counties with at least one district changed as follows following the 1990 Census:[5]

County1980 pop.[6] SeatsPartial1990 pop.[7] SeatsPartial+/– W+/– P
Bell County157,8201Yes191,0731Yes
Bexar County988,97110No1,185,39411No1
Brazoria County169,5871Two191,7071Yes
Brazos County93,5881No121,8621Yes
Cameron County209,7272Yes260,1202Yes
Collin County144,5761Two264,0362Yes1
Dallas County1,556,41917No1,852,69116No1
Denton County143,1261Yes273,6442Yes1
Ector County115,3741Yes118,9341Yes
El Paso County479,8995No591,6105No
Fort Bend County130,9621Yes225,4212No1
Galveston County195,7382No217,3962No
Gregg County99,4951No104,9480Yes1
Harris County2,409,54726No2,818,10125No1
Hidalgo County283,3233No383,5453Yes
Jefferson County248,6512Two239,3892Yes
Lubbock County211,6512Yes222,6362No
McLennan County170,7551Yes189,1231Yes
Montgomery County127,2221Yes182,2011Yes
Nueces County268,2152Yes291,1452Yes
Potter County98,6371No97,8740Yes1
Smith County128,3661Yes151,3091Yes
Tarrant County860,8809No1,170,10310No1
Taylor County110,9321Yes119,6551Yes
Travis County419,5734Yes576,4075No1
Webb County99,2581No133,2391Yes
Wichita County121,0821Yes122,3781Yes
Williamson County76,5210Yes139,5511Yes1

Results

Despite Republican George H. W. Bush's victory in Texas in the concurrent presidential election, Republicans made no net gains over the Democrats in the Texas House.[8] A large number of retirements and primary defeats led to a turnover of over 30 House members.[9] In Harris County, a narrow election result in District 144 led to a contested election between Democrat Donald Fogo and Republican Robert Talton. Early ballots had Fogo in the lead, but later counts gave the lead to Talton. A recount confirmed Talton's victory, but Fogo contested the election.[10] A special panel in the Texas House later upheld Talton's victory, flipping the seat to the Republicans.[11]

Statewide

colspan="15" align="center"
PartyCandidatesVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Party1152,573,75552.13%92
Republican Party892,234,25245.25%58
Libertarian Party29129,3532.62%0
Total4,937,360100.00%150

Results by district

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanLibertarianTotalResult
data-sort-type="number" scope="col" Votesdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" %data-sort-type="number" scope="col" Votesdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" %data-sort-type="number" scope="col" Votesdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" %data-sort-type="number" scope="col" Votesdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" %
District 130,216100.00%----30,216100.00%Democratic hold
District 225,05161.48%15,69738.52%--40,748100.00%Democratic hold
District 330,733100.00%----30,733100.00%Democratic hold
District 423,11755.30%18,68544.70%--41,802100.00%Democratic gain
District 525,12566.29%12,77833.71%--37,903100.00%Democratic hold
District 6--35,321100.00%--35,321100.00%Republican hold
District 7--29,855100.00%--29,855100.00%Republican hold
District 831,43772.73%11,78927.27%--43,226100.00%Democratic hold
District 934,024100.00%----34,024100.00%Democratic hold
District 1019,17345.23%23,21754.77%--42,390100.00%Republican hold
District 1128,740100.00%----28,740100.00%Democratic hold
District 1233,028100.00%----33,028100.00%Democratic hold
District 1321,06251.82%19,57948.18%--40,641100.00%Democratic hold
District 14--31,649100.00%--31,649100.00%Republican hold
District 15--35,491100.00%--35,491100.00%Republican hold
District 1614,98134.83%28,02765.17%--43,008100.00%Republican hold
District 1733,129100.00%----33,129100.00%Democratic hold
District 1832,166100.00%----32,166100.00%Democratic hold
District 1931,30671.92%12,22328.08%--43,529100.00%Democratic hold
District 2027,13165.76%14,12534.24%--41,256100.00%Democratic hold
District 2130,10160.24%19,87039.76%--49,971100.00%Democratic hold
District 2229,864100.00%----29,864100.00%Democratic hold
District 2324,672100.00%----24,672100.00%Democratic hold
District 2431,605100.00%----31,605100.00%Democratic hold
District 25--33,332100.00%--33,332100.00%Republican hold
District 2616,13832.65%33,28867.35%--49,426100.00%Republican hold
District 2722,27066.88%11,03033.12%--33,300100.00%Democratic gain
District 2832,005100.00%----32,005100.00%Democratic hold
District 2926,224100.00%----26,224100.00%Democratic hold
District 3018,04144.86%22,17755.14%--40,218100.00%Republican hold
District 3128,958100.00%----28,958100.00%Democratic hold
District 3230,084100.00%----30,084100.00%Democratic hold
District 3319,74156.11%15,44343.89%--35,184100.00%Democratic hold
District 3421,260100.00%----21,260100.00%Democratic hold
District 3525,116100.00%----25,116100.00%Democratic hold
District 3614,761100.00%----14,761100.00%Democratic gain
District 3713,367100.00%----13,367100.00%Democratic hold
District 3812,23750.13%12,17249.87%--24,409100.00%Democratic gain
District 3915,149100.00%----15,149100.00%Democratic hold
District 4015,237100.00%----15,237100.00%Democratic hold
District 4115,099100.00%----15,099100.00%Democratic hold
District 4219,102100.00%----19,102100.00%Democratic hold
District 4326,101100.00%----26,101100.00%Democratic hold
District 4429,174100.00%----29,174100.00%Democratic hold
District 45--31,56074.22%10,96125.78%42,521100.00%Republican hold
District 4628,504100.00%----28,504100.00%Democratic hold
District 4723,98734.59%45,35565.41%--69,342100.00%Republican gain
District 4836,05865.51%18,98334.49%--55,041100.00%Democratic hold
District 4939,106100.00%----39,106100.00%Democratic hold
District 5032,76687.11%--4,84812.89%37,614100.00%Democratic hold
District 5126,62870.20%11,30629.80%--37,934100.00%Democratic hold
District 5223,44348.14%25,25951.86%--48,702100.00%Republican gain
District 53--39,480100.00%--39,480100.00%Republican hold
District 5421,081100.00%----21,081100.00%Democratic hold
District 55--21,076100.00%--21,076100.00%Republican hold
District 5618,13140.31%26,85359.69%--44,984100.00%Republican hold
District 5719,29654.27%16,26145.73%--35,557100.00%Democratic hold
District 5818,45442.00%25,48658.00%--43,940100.00%Republican hold
District 5922,689100.00%----22,689100.00%Democratic hold
District 6027,72862.16%16,87637.84%--44,604100.00%Democratic hold
District 6128,70963.83%16,26936.17%--44,978100.00%Democratic hold
District 6229,768100.00%----29,768100.00%Democratic hold
District 6317,98738.06%26,65156.39%2,6225.55%47,260100.00%Republican gain
District 64--35,079100.00%--35,079100.00%Republican hold
District 6515,30536.86%26,21963.14%--41,524100.00%Republican hold
District 66--43,64585.32%7,50814.68%51,153100.00%Republican hold
District 67--35,40883.97%6,75916.03%42,167100.00%Republican gain
District 6832,719100.00%----32,719100.00%Democratic hold
District 6931,304100.00%----31,304100.00%Democratic hold
District 7029,037100.00%----29,037100.00%Democratic hold
District 71--32,463100.00%--32,463100.00%Republican hold
District 7233,576100.00%----33,576100.00%Democratic hold
District 7327,62761.16%17,54838.84%--45,175100.00%Democratic hold
District 7422,779100.00%----22,779100.00%Democratic hold
District 7516,308100.00%----16,308100.00%Democratic hold
District 7622,122100.00%----22,122100.00%Democratic hold
District 7714,797100.00%----14,797100.00%Democratic hold
District 78--25,443100.00%--25,443100.00%Republican hold
District 79--21,041100.00%--21,041100.00%Republican hold
District 8026,634100.00%----26,634100.00%Democratic hold
District 8116,40445.71%19,48254.29%--35,886100.00%Republican gain
District 82--32,539100.00%--32,539100.00%Republican hold
District 8311,62839.24%18,00460.76%--29,632100.00%Republican hold
District 8416,90733.60%33,40766.40%--50,314100.00%Republican hold
District 8525,206100.00%----25,206100.00%Democratic hold
District 86--36,420100.00%--36,420100.00%Republican hold
District 8714,72045.13%17,89754.87%--32,617100.00%Republican hold
District 8832,755100.00%----32,755100.00%Democratic hold
District 8920,44651.06%16,93442.29%2,6656.66%40,045100.00%Democratic hold
District 9019,645100.00%----19,645100.00%Democratic hold
District 91--32,66382.26%7,04217.74%39,705100.00%Republican hold
District 9214,90130.24%32,20865.36%2,1674.40%49,276100.00%Republican hold
District 9313,65437.18%20,56556.00%2,5036.82%36,722100.00%Republican hold
District 94--39,072100.00%--39,072100.00%Republican hold
District 9531,378100.00%----31,378100.00%Democratic hold
District 96--34,12482.08%7,45017.92%41,574100.00%Republican hold
District 9718,07430.56%41,05969.44%--59,133100.00%Republican hold
District 98--38,914100.00%--38,914100.00%Republican hold
District 99--36,04583.74%6,99716.26%43,042100.00%Republican hold
District 10018,60969.47%8,18030.53%--26,789100.00%Democratic hold
District 10113,23134.79%24,80065.21%--38,031100.00%Republican hold
District 102--36,703100.00%--36,703100.00%Republican hold
District 10313,43881.42%--3,06718.58%16,505100.00%Democratic hold
District 10410,15866.05%5,22233.95%--15,380100.00%Democratic gain
District 10515,53671.63%--6,15428.37%21,690100.00%Democratic hold
District 10615,61545.12%18,99554.88%--34,610100.00%Republican gain
District 10717,60153.41%12,24837.16%3,1089.43%32,957100.00%Democratic hold
District 10813,72923.63%41,50371.45%2,8584.92%58,090100.00%Republican hold
District 10924,125100.00%----24,125100.00%Democratic gain
District 11027,02971.06%11,01028.94%--38,039100.00%Democratic hold
District 11124,55065.07%13,17934.93%--37,729100.00%Democratic hold
District 112--32,310100.00%--32,310100.00%Republican hold
District 113--28,12182.06%6,14917.94%34,270100.00%Republican hold
District 114--33,653100.00%--33,653100.00%Republican hold
District 11519,26485.48%--3,27314.52%22,537100.00%Democratic hold
District 11621,957100.00%----21,957100.00%Democratic hold
District 11716,506100.00%----16,506100.00%Democratic hold
District 11819,147100.00%----19,147100.00%Democratic hold
District 11921,949100.00%----21,949100.00%Democratic hold
District 12021,965100.00%----21,965100.00%Democratic hold
District 121--36,166100.00%--36,166100.00%Republican hold
District 122--38,83888.55%5,02411.45%43,862100.00%Republican hold
District 123--39,04487.83%5,41012.17%44,454100.00%Republican hold
District 12422,105100.00%----22,105100.00%Democratic hold
District 12519,60561.68%12,17938.32%--31,784100.00%Democratic gain
District 126--40,114100.00%--40,114100.00%Republican hold
District 127--36,72884.16%6,91315.84%43,641100.00%Republican hold
District 12821,590100.00%----21,590100.00%Democratic hold
District 129--34,31880.59%8,26419.41%42,582100.00%Republican hold
District 130--37,161100.00%--37,161100.00%Republican hold
District 13123,51785.10%--4,11814.90%27,635100.00%Democratic hold
District 13223,78455.81%18,83544.19%--42,619100.00%Democratic hold
District 133--39,51887.95%5,41312.05%44,931100.00%Republican hold
District 13417,31750.15%16,43947.61%7742.24%34,530100.00%Democratic hold
District 13515,85135.95%26,55160.23%1,6843.82%44,086100.00%Republican hold
District 1369,53619.25%37,59475.88%2,4124.87%49,542100.00%Republican hold
District 13719,55359.12%12,23136.98%1,2903.90%33,074100.00%Democratic hold
District 13818,21858.52%11,75937.78%1,1523.70%31,129100.00%Democratic hold
District 13919,542100.00%----19,542100.00%Democratic hold
District 14014,150100.00%----14,150100.00%Democratic hold
District 14125,558100.00%----25,558100.00%Democratic hold
District 14224,651100.00%----24,651100.00%Democratic hold
District 14315,939100.00%----15,939100.00%Democratic hold
District 14413,32349.86%13,40050.14%--26,723100.00%Republican gain
District 14511,99266.15%6,13733.85%--18,129100.00%Democratic hold
District 14629,800100.00%----29,800100.00%Democratic hold
District 14721,07677.63%6,07322.37%--27,149100.00%Democratic hold
District 14813,25366.49%5,91129.66%7683.85%19,932100.00%Democratic hold
District 149--23,518100.00%--23,518100.00%Republican hold
District 150--32,472100.00%--32,472100.00%Republican hold
Total2,573,75552.13%2,234,25245.25%129,3532.62%4,937,360100.00%

Notes and References

  1. News: May 14, 1992 . Erickson takes oath for Texas House . B2 . . June 24, 2023. .
  2. Web site: History . 2023-03-16 . redistricting.capitol.texas.gov.
  3. Book: Bickerstaff, Steve . Gerrymandering Texas . Texas Tech University Press . 2020 . 978-1-68283-073-4 . Heath . C. Robert . Lubbock, Texas . 124.
  4. Web site: Legal Requirements . 2022-01-16 . redistricting.capitol.texas.gov.
  5. Web site: History . 2022-01-16 . redistricting.capitol.texas.gov.
  6. Web site: Bureau . US Census . County Intercensal Tables 1980-1990 . 2023-06-24 . Census.gov.
  7. Web site: Bureau . US Census . 1990 Census: All Counties . 2023-06-24 . Census.gov.
  8. Web site: November 3, 1992 . 1992 General Election . June 23, 2023 . Texas Secretary of State.
  9. News: Copelin . Laylan . November 4, 1992 . Republican Combs beats Day for House seat . A15 . . June 23, 2023. .
  10. News: Elliot . David . December 28, 1992 . House may settle contested election. Lawmakers hope to avoid partisan battle . A1 . . June 23, 2023. .
  11. News: Gardner . Selby . February 4, 1993 . House panel upholds Pasadenan's election . A24 . Houston Post . June 23, 2023. .