Texas — 1988 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1988 Senate electionTexas · U.S. SenateBentsenD+19.2
How it voted
Share of the 1988 vote
| Lloyd Bentsen (i) ✓Democrat | 59.2% | 3,149,806 |
|---|---|---|
| Beau BoulterRepublican | 40.0% | 2,129,228 |
| Jeff DaiellLibertarian | 0.8% | 43,989 |
1988Senate margin
D+60R+60
254 counties, each filled by 1988 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (254 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ANDERSON, TX | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| ANDREWS, TX | Republican | R+5.7 |
| ANGELINA, TX | Democratic | D+29.2 |
| ARANSAS, TX | Democratic | D+9.1 |
| ARCHER, TX | Democratic | D+13.9 |
| ARMSTRONG, TX | Republican | R+6.6 |
| ATASCOSA, TX | Democratic | D+29.2 |
| AUSTIN, TX | Democratic | D+8.4 |
| BAILEY, TX | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| BANDERA, TX | Republican | R+10.7 |
| BASTROP, TX | Democratic | D+49.3 |
| BAYLOR, TX | Democratic | D+30.9 |
| BEE, TX | Democratic | D+27.7 |
| BELL, TX | Democratic | D+5.8 |
| BEXAR, TX | Democratic | D+20.2 |
| BLANCO, TX | Democratic | D+17.1 |
| BORDEN, TX | Democratic | D+6.7 |
| BOSQUE, TX | Democratic | D+12.6 |
| BOWIE, TX | Democratic | D+30.0 |
| BRAZORIA, TX | Democratic | D+14.9 |
| BRAZOS, TX | Democratic | D+17.7 |
| BREWSTER, TX | Democratic | D+31.2 |
| BRISCOE, TX | Democratic | D+38.8 |
| BROOKS, TX | Democratic | D+80.1 |
| BROWN, TX | Democratic | D+17.4 |
| BURLESON, TX | Democratic | D+48.1 |
| BURNET, TX | Democratic | D+26.9 |
| CALDWELL, TX | Democratic | D+44.6 |
| CALHOUN, TX | Democratic | D+32.0 |
| CALLAHAN, TX | Democratic | D+18.1 |
| CAMERON, TX | Democratic | D+31.8 |
| CAMP, TX | Democratic | D+41.7 |
| CARSON, TX | Democratic | D+1.2 |
| CASS, TX | Democratic | D+42.7 |
| CASTRO, TX | Democratic | D+21.7 |
| CHAMBERS, TX | Democratic | D+28.5 |
| CHEROKEE, TX | Democratic | D+24.4 |
| CHILDRESS, TX | Democratic | D+7.9 |
| CLAY, TX | Democratic | D+23.6 |
| COCHRAN, TX | Democratic | D+24.8 |
| COKE, TX | Democratic | D+29.9 |
| COLEMAN, TX | Democratic | D+25.0 |
| COLLIN, TX | Republican | R+12.2 |
| COLLINGSWORTH, TX | Democratic | D+23.1 |
| COLORADO, TX | Democratic | D+20.2 |
| COMAL, TX | Republican | R+11.9 |
| COMANCHE, TX | Democratic | D+39.0 |
| CONCHO, TX | Democratic | D+44.9 |
| COOKE, TX | Democratic | D+2.5 |
| CORYELL, TX | Democratic | D+5.9 |
| COTTLE, TX | Democratic | D+44.4 |
| CRANE, TX | Democratic | D+8.2 |
| CROCKETT, TX | Democratic | D+42.6 |
| CROSBY, TX | Democratic | D+35.7 |
| CULBERSON, TX | Democratic | D+50.6 |
| DALLAM, TX | Republican | R+0.2 |
| DALLAS, TX | Democratic | D+11.4 |
| DAWSON, TX | Democratic | D+16.7 |
| DE WITT, TX | Democratic | D+8.1 |
| DEAF SMITH, TX | Democratic | D+1.3 |
| DELTA, TX | Democratic | D+48.8 |
| DENTON, TX | Republican | R+4.3 |
| DICKENS, TX | Democratic | D+41.1 |
| DIMMIT, TX | Democratic | D+66.2 |
| DONLEY, TX | Democratic | D+2.7 |
| DUVAL, TX | Democratic | D+75.1 |
| EASTLAND, TX | Democratic | D+18.2 |
| ECTOR, TX | Republican | R+1.5 |
| EDWARDS, TX | Democratic | D+12.0 |
| EL PASO, TX | Democratic | D+41.5 |
| ELLIS, TX | Democratic | D+14.2 |
| ERATH, TX | Democratic | D+19.0 |
| FALLS, TX | Democratic | D+27.3 |
| FANNIN, TX | Democratic | D+42.0 |
| FAYETTE, TX | Democratic | D+26.8 |
| FISHER, TX | Democratic | D+59.9 |
| FLOYD, TX | Democratic | D+4.0 |
| FOARD, TX | Democratic | D+42.0 |
| FORT BEND, TX | Democratic | D+14.0 |
| FRANKLIN, TX | Democratic | D+40.0 |
| FREESTONE, TX | Democratic | D+21.7 |
| FRIO, TX | Democratic | D+50.2 |
| GAINES, TX | Democratic | D+8.2 |
| GALVESTON, TX | Democratic | D+33.3 |
| GARZA, TX | Democratic | D+18.0 |
| GILLESPIE, TX | Republican | R+27.1 |
| GLASSCOCK, TX | Democratic | D+5.7 |
| GOLIAD, TX | Democratic | D+23.3 |
| GONZALES, TX | Democratic | D+33.3 |
| GRAY, TX | Republican | R+23.2 |
| GRAYSON, TX | Democratic | D+19.7 |
| GREGG, TX | Democratic | D+1.4 |
| GRIMES, TX | Democratic | D+34.5 |
| GUADALUPE, TX | Democratic | D+2.0 |
| HALE, TX | Democratic | D+0.1 |
| HALL, TX | Democratic | D+38.6 |
| HAMILTON, TX | Democratic | D+15.5 |
| HANSFORD, TX | Republican | R+21.3 |
| HARDEMAN, TX | Democratic | D+33.0 |
| HARDIN, TX | Democratic | D+46.5 |
| HARRIS, TX | Democratic | D+19.5 |
| HARRISON, TX | Democratic | D+24.7 |
| HARTLEY, TX | Republican | R+9.3 |
| HASKELL, TX | Democratic | D+48.3 |
| HAYS, TX | Democratic | D+37.6 |
| HEMPHILL, TX | Republican | R+6.7 |
| HENDERSON, TX | Democratic | D+19.6 |
| HIDALGO, TX | Democratic | D+47.4 |
| HILL, TX | Democratic | D+20.4 |
| HOCKLEY, TX | Democratic | D+3.3 |
| HOOD, TX | Democratic | D+0.4 |
| HOPKINS, TX | Democratic | D+39.8 |
| HOUSTON, TX | Democratic | D+36.4 |
| HOWARD, TX | Democratic | D+17.7 |
| HUDSPETH, TX | Democratic | D+41.8 |
| HUNT, TX | Democratic | D+15.1 |
| HUTCHINSON, TX | Republican | R+14.2 |
| IRION, TX | Democratic | D+34.6 |
| JACK, TX | Democratic | D+31.6 |
| JACKSON, TX | Democratic | D+14.6 |
| JASPER, TX | Democratic | D+48.8 |
| JEFF DAVIS, TX | Democratic | D+19.3 |
| JEFFERSON, TX | Democratic | D+51.3 |
| JIM HOGG, TX | Democratic | D+77.3 |
| JIM WELLS, TX | Democratic | D+58.4 |
| JOHNSON, TX | Democratic | D+12.6 |
| JONES, TX | Democratic | D+32.2 |
| KARNES, TX | Democratic | D+31.5 |
| KAUFMAN, TX | Democratic | D+22.0 |
| KENDALL, TX | Republican | R+23.0 |
| KENEDY, TX | Democratic | D+64.4 |
| KENT, TX | Democratic | D+44.6 |
| KERR, TX | Republican | R+25.1 |
| KIMBLE, TX | Democratic | D+6.1 |
| KING, TX | Democratic | D+2.9 |
| KINNEY, TX | Democratic | D+27.6 |
| KLEBERG, TX | Democratic | D+38.0 |
| KNOX, TX | Democratic | D+40.4 |
| LA SALLE, TX | Democratic | D+61.0 |
| LAMAR, TX | Democratic | D+38.1 |
| LAMB, TX | Democratic | D+9.8 |
| LAMPASAS, TX | Democratic | D+18.8 |
| LAVACA, TX | Democratic | D+25.5 |
| LEE, TX | Democratic | D+39.1 |
| LEON, TX | Democratic | D+26.7 |
| LIBERTY, TX | Democratic | D+30.2 |
| LIMESTONE, TX | Democratic | D+25.3 |
| LIPSCOMB, TX | Republican | R+25.5 |
| LIVE OAK, TX | Democratic | D+17.2 |
| LLANO, TX | Democratic | D+13.6 |
| LOVING, TX | Democratic | D+5.6 |
| LUBBOCK, TX | Republican | R+14.2 |
| LYNN, TX | Democratic | D+26.2 |
| MADISON, TX | Democratic | D+36.4 |
| MARION, TX | Democratic | D+39.5 |
| MARTIN, TX | Democratic | D+21.8 |
| MASON, TX | Democratic | D+15.7 |
| MATAGORDA, TX | Democratic | D+26.7 |
| MAVERICK, TX | Democratic | D+67.2 |
| MCCULLOCH, TX | Democratic | D+34.5 |
| MCLENNAN, TX | Democratic | D+6.7 |
| MCMULLEN, TX | Republican | R+9.7 |
| MEDINA, TX | Democratic | D+17.5 |
| MENARD, TX | Democratic | D+34.1 |
| MIDLAND, TX | Republican | R+26.4 |
| MILAM, TX | Democratic | D+43.6 |
| MILLS, TX | Democratic | D+18.9 |
| MITCHELL, TX | Democratic | D+41.9 |
| MONTAGUE, TX | Democratic | D+29.9 |
| MONTGOMERY, TX | Republican | R+2.2 |
| MOORE, TX | Republican | R+7.0 |
| MORRIS, TX | Democratic | D+58.9 |
| MOTLEY, TX | Republican | R+8.5 |
| NACOGDOCHES, TX | Democratic | D+18.6 |
| NAVARRO, TX | Democratic | D+26.2 |
| NEWTON, TX | Democratic | D+66.0 |
| NOLAN, TX | Democratic | D+35.0 |
| NUECES, TX | Democratic | D+34.4 |
| OCHILTREE, TX | Republican | R+38.9 |
| OLDHAM, TX | Democratic | D+3.3 |
| ORANGE, TX | Democratic | D+51.8 |
| PALO PINTO, TX | Democratic | D+19.3 |
| PANOLA, TX | Democratic | D+35.9 |
| PARKER, TX | Democratic | D+9.1 |
| PARMER, TX | Republican | R+7.3 |
| PECOS, TX | Democratic | D+26.0 |
| POLK, TX | Democratic | D+29.0 |
| POTTER, TX | Republican | R+3.3 |
| PRESIDIO, TX | Democratic | D+56.5 |
| RAINS, TX | Democratic | D+32.4 |
| RANDALL, TX | Republican | R+23.5 |
| REAGAN, TX | Democratic | D+12.8 |
| REAL, TX | Democratic | D+5.7 |
| RED RIVER, TX | Democratic | D+49.5 |
| REEVES, TX | Democratic | D+47.2 |
| REFUGIO, TX | Democratic | D+35.2 |
| ROBERTS, TX | Republican | R+20.7 |
| ROBERTSON, TX | Democratic | D+47.6 |
| ROCKWALL, TX | Republican | R+7.8 |
| RUNNELS, TX | Democratic | D+29.7 |
| RUSK, TX | Democratic | D+13.8 |
| SABINE, TX | Democratic | D+39.8 |
| SAN AUGUSTINE, TX | Democratic | D+46.3 |
| SAN JACINTO, TX | Democratic | D+30.9 |
| SAN PATRICIO, TX | Democratic | D+31.2 |
| SAN SABA, TX | Democratic | D+36.0 |
| SCHLEICHER, TX | Democratic | D+27.4 |
| SCURRY, TX | Democratic | D+9.8 |
| SHACKELFORD, TX | Democratic | D+23.7 |
| SHELBY, TX | Democratic | D+52.1 |
| SHERMAN, TX | Republican | R+16.0 |
| SMITH, TX | Democratic | D+3.4 |
| SOMERVELL, TX | Democratic | D+23.7 |
| STARR, TX | Democratic | D+81.2 |
| STEPHENS, TX | Democratic | D+17.3 |
| STERLING, TX | Democratic | D+10.0 |
| STONEWALL, TX | Democratic | D+40.4 |
| SUTTON, TX | Democratic | D+23.8 |
| SWISHER, TX | Democratic | D+45.8 |
| TARRANT, TX | Democratic | D+8.2 |
| TAYLOR, TX | Democratic | D+4.1 |
| TERRELL, TX | Democratic | D+43.4 |
| TERRY, TX | Democratic | D+11.5 |
| THROCKMORTON, TX | Democratic | D+34.6 |
| TITUS, TX | Democratic | D+47.6 |
| TOM GREEN, TX | Democratic | D+17.4 |
| TRAVIS, TX | Democratic | D+47.3 |
| TRINITY, TX | Democratic | D+41.4 |
| TYLER, TX | Democratic | D+52.1 |
| UPSHUR, TX | Democratic | D+31.1 |
| UPTON, TX | Democratic | D+16.7 |
| UVALDE, TX | Democratic | D+26.5 |
| VAL VERDE, TX | Democratic | D+30.9 |
| VAN ZANDT, TX | Democratic | D+21.8 |
| VICTORIA, TX | Democratic | D+7.0 |
| WALKER, TX | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| WALLER, TX | Democratic | D+34.2 |
| WARD, TX | Democratic | D+20.7 |
| WASHINGTON, TX | Democratic | D+3.9 |
| WEBB, TX | Democratic | D+66.7 |
| WHARTON, TX | Democratic | D+30.1 |
| WHEELER, TX | Democratic | D+0.4 |
| WICHITA, TX | Democratic | D+11.3 |
| WILBARGER, TX | Democratic | D+23.8 |
| WILLACY, TX | Democratic | D+48.8 |
| WILLIAMSON, TX | Democratic | D+29.7 |
| WILSON, TX | Democratic | D+26.7 |
| WINKLER, TX | Democratic | D+8.5 |
| WISE, TX | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| WOOD, TX | Democratic | D+18.3 |
| YOAKUM, TX | Republican | R+9.9 |
| YOUNG, TX | Democratic | D+17.2 |
| ZAPATA, TX | Democratic | D+59.0 |
| ZAVALA, TX | Democratic | D+79.0 |
presidential baselinePresident 1988R+12.6Senate 1988D+19.2vs. baselineD+31.8
Texas's 1988 Senate race ran 31.8 points more Democratic than the presidential race on the same ballot.
Texas's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +14.5% |
| 1978 | −0.5% |
| 1982 | +18.1% |
| 1984 | −17.1% |
| 1988 | +19.2% |
| 1990 | −22.8% |
| 1994 | −22.5% |
| 1996 | −10.8% |
| 2000 | −32.8% |
| 2002 | −12.0% |
| 2006 | −25.6% |
| 2008 | −12.0% |
| 2012 | −15.8% |
| 2014 | −27.2% |
| 2018 | −2.6% |
| 2020 | −9.6% |
| 2024 | −8.5% |
Same ballot, 1988TX
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1988 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.