The 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas occurred on November 7, 1972, to elect the members of the state of Texas's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Texas had twenty-four seats in the House, up one from the 1960s, apportioned according to the 1970 United States census.[1]
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All 24 Texas seats to the United States House of Representatives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Texas Democrats maintained their governmental trifecta after the 1970 elections.[2] This gave the Democrats full control over the redistricting process.[3] The Texas Legislature enacted its redistricting plan in 1971.[4] Residents of the 6th, 13th, 16th, and 19th congressional districts challenged the constitutionality of the maps in White v. Weiser, but the Supreme Court stayed the case until after the 1972 elections.[5]
These elections occurred simultaneously with the United States Senate elections of 1972, the United States House elections in other states, the presidential election, and various state and local elections.
Democrats maintained their majority of U.S. House seats from Texas, but Republicans gained one seat, putting their majority at twenty out of twenty-four seats.[6] This cycle saw the election of Barbara Jordan, the first African American elected to the House from Texas, and the first African American woman ever elected to the House.[7]
Overview
edit| 1972 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas[8] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats before | Seats after | +/– | |
| Democratic | 2,032,183 | 70.42% | 20 | 20 | - | |
| Republican | 835,185 | 28.94% | 3 | 4 | +1 | |
| Socialist Workers | 17,412 | 0.60% | 0 | 0 | - | |
| American Independent | 1,169 | 0.04% | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Totals | 2,885,949 | 100.00% | 23 | 24 | +1 | |
Congressional districts
edit| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas 1 | Wright Patman | Democratic | 1928 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Wright Patman (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 2 | John Dowdy | Democratic | 1952 | Incumbent retired. New member elected. Democratic hold. |
√ Charles Wilson (Democratic) 73.8% Charles O. Brightwell (Republican) 26.2% |
| Texas 3 | James M. Collins | Republican | 1968 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ James M. Collins (Republican) 73.3% George A. Hughes Jr. (Democratic) 26.7% |
| Texas 4 | Ray Roberts | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Ray Roberts (Democratic) 70.2% James Russell (Republican) 29.8% |
| Texas 5 | Earle Cabell | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent lost re-election. New member elected. Republican gain. |
√ Alan Steelman (Republican) 55.7% Earle Cabell (Democratic) 44.3% |
| Texas 6 | Olin E. Teague | Democratic | 1946 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Olin E. Teague (Democratic) 72.6% Carl Nigliazzo (Republican) 27.4% |
| Texas 7 | William Reynolds Archer Jr. | Republican | 1970 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ William Reynolds Archer Jr. (Republican) 82.3% Jim Brady (Democratic) 17.7% |
| Texas 8 | Robert C. Eckhardt | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Robert C. Eckhardt (Democratic) 64.6% Lewis Emerich (Republican) 34.7% Susan Ellis (Socialist Workers) 0.7% |
| Texas 9 | Jack Brooks | Democratic | 1952 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Jack Brooks (Democratic) 66.2% Randolph C. Reed (Democratic) 33.8% |
| Texas 10 | J. J. Pickle | Democratic | 1963 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ J. J. Pickle (Democratic) 91.2% Mellissa Singler (Socialist Workers) 8.8% |
| Texas 11 | William R. Poage | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ William R. Poage (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 12 | Jim Wright | Democratic | 1954 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Jim Wright (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 13 | Bob Price Redistricted from the 18th district |
Republican | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Bob Price (Republican) 54.8% Graham B. Purcell Jr. (Democratic) 45.2% |
| Graham B. Purcell Jr. | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent lost re-election. Democratic loss. | ||
| Texas 14 | John Andrew Young | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ John Andrew Young (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 15 | Kika de la Garza | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Kika de la Garza (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 16 | Richard C. White | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Richard C. White (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 17 | Omar Burleson | Democratic | 1946 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Omar Burleson (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 18 | None (district created) | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain. |
√ Barbara Jordan (Democratic) 80.6% Paul Merritt (Republican) 18.2% Emmanuel Barrera (Socialist Workers) 1.2% | ||
| Texas 19 | George H. Mahon | Democratic | 1934 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ George H. Mahon (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 20 | Henry B. Gonzalez | Democratic | 1961 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Henry B. Gonzalez (Democratic) 96.9% Steve Wattenmaker (Socialist Workers) 3.1% |
| Texas 21 | O. C. Fisher | Democratic | 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ O. C. Fisher (Democratic) 56.8% Doug Harlan (Republican) 43.2% |
| Texas 22 | Robert R. Casey | Democratic | 1958 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Robert R. Casey (Democratic) 70.2% Jim Griffin (Republican) 29.0% Frank Peto (Independent) 0.8% |
| Texas 23 | Abraham Kazen | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Abraham Kazen (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Texas 24 | None (district created) | New seat. New member elected. Democratic gain. |
√ Dale Milford (Democratic) 65.1% Courtney G. Roberts (Republican) 34.9% | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Historical Apportionment Data (1910-2020)". Census.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ Texas State Historical Association (1971). Texas Almanac, 1972-1973. The Dallas Morning News. p. 525.
- ^ Davies, David Martin (October 19, 2021). "50 years ago, a battle over redistricting changed Texas". Texas Standard. Texas Public Radio. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "History". redistricting.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Texas State Historical Association (1973). Texas Almanac, 1974-1975. The Dallas Morning News. p. 641.
- ^ Texas State Historical Association (1973). Texas Almanac, 1974-1975. The Dallas Morning News. p. 540.
- ^ Wallis, Jay (May 20, 2020). "Houston's Barbara Jordan became the first black woman elected into the Texas State Senate". wfaa.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Guthrie, Benjamin; Jennings, W. Pat (March 15, 1973). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). pp. 43–44.