Monopoly Politics Texas 2000

30 seats: 13R, 17D R 55

Texas Democrats pulled off a great partisan coup in the 1991-92 redistricting, packing eight Republican incumbents into heavily Republican districts – all among the most strongly Republican districts in the nation – and winning 21 of the remaining 22 seats. But the state's eroding Democratic performance led to Republican gains in 1994 and 1996. These gains stopped in 1998, but that may be misleading -– few potentially vulnerable Democrats faced serious competition, although Charles Stenholm beat a well-financed challenger. The potential vulnerability of several Democrats and the struggle for the growing Latino vote could make 2000 a watershed election. Republicans may finally turn their majority in votes into a majority of seats in 2000 and must eagerly be awaiting redistricting in 2001. Seven incumbents face no major party opposition in 2000. (NOTE: Several U.S. House districts were changed in 1996, but with minor political impact.)
 
  1. Max Sandlin (D), 1996Vulnerable
 '98: 59'96: 52['94: D 55'92: D 100] R 54
 
  2. Jim Turner (D), 1996Vulnerable
 '98: 58'96: 52['94: D 55'92: D 56] R 54
 
  3. Sam Johnson (R), 1991Landslide
 '98: 91 U'96: 73'94: 91 U'92: 86 U¯R 67
 
  4. Ralph Hall (D),1980Comfortable*
 '98: 58'96: 64'94: 59'92: 58 R 64
 
  5. Pete Sessions (R), 1996Comfortable*
 '98: 56'96: 53['94: D 50'92: D 59] R 53
 
  6. Joe Barton (R), 1984Uncontested
 '98: 73'96: 77'94: 76'92: 72¯R 66
 
  7. OPEN [Bill Archer, R, 1970]Landslide
 ['98: 93 U'96: 81'94: 100'92: 100] R 71
 
  8. Kevin Brady (R), 1996Uncontested
 '98: 93 U'96: 59['94: R 92'92: R 77] R 73
 
  9. Nick Lampson (D), 1996Win
 '98: 64'96: 53['94: R 52'92: D 54] R 51
 
  10. Lloyd Doggett (D), 1994Comfortable
 '98: 85'96: 56'94: 56['92: D 68] D 54
 
  11. Chet Edwards (D), 1990Comfortable*
 '98: 83 U'96: 57'94: 59'92: 67 R 57
 
  12. Kay Granger (R), 1996Landslide*
 '98: 62'96: 58['94: D 69'92: D 63] R 53
 
  13. Mac Thornberry (R), 1994Landslide
 '98: 68'96: 67'94: 55['92: D 60]­R 60
 
  14. Ron Paul (R), 1996Win
 '98: 55'96: 51['94: D 56'92: D 68] R 57
 
  15. Ruben Hinojosa (D), 1996Uncontested
 '98: 58'96: 62['94: D 59'92: D 60] D 61
 
  16. Silvestre Reyes (D), 1996Landslide
 '98: 88 U'96: 71['94: D 57'92: D52] D 64
 
  17. Charles Stenholm (D), 1978Vulnerable
 '98: 54'96: 52'94: 54'92: 66 R 60
 
  18. Sheila Jackson Lee (D), 1994Landslide
 '98: 90 U'96: 77'‘94: 73['92: D 65] D 74
 
  19. Larry Combest (R), 1984Uncontested
 '98: 84'96: 80'94: 100'92: 77­R 73
 
  20. Charlie Gonzalez (D), 1998Uncontested
 '98: 63['96: D 64'94: D 63'92: D 100]­D 60
 
  21. Lamar Smith (R), 1980Landslide
 '98: 91 U'96: 76'94: 90 U'92: 72 R 69
 
  22. Tom DeLay (R), 1984Landslide
 '98: 65'96: 68'94: 74'92: 69¯R 61
 
  23. Henry Bonilla (R), 1992Landslide*
 '98: 64'96: 62'94: 63'92: 59 D 51
 
  24. Martin Frost (D), 1978Comfortable
 '98: 58'96: 56'94: 53'92: 60­D 54
 
  25. Ken Bentsen (D), 1994Comfortable*
 '98: 58'96: 57'94: 52['92: D 56] D 52
 
  26. Richard Armey (R), 1984Landslide
 '98: 88 U'96: 74'94: 76'92: 73¯R 69
 
  27. Solomon Ortiz (D), 1982Landslide
 '98: 63'96: 65'94: 59'92: 56­D 58
 
  28. Ciro Rodriguez (D), 1997Uncontested
 '98: 91 U '97: 67['96: D 75
 		'94: D 71
 		'92: D 87]
 		 D 63
 
 
  29. Gene Green (D), 1992Landslide
 '98: 93 U'96: 68'94: 73'92: 65­D 62
 
  30. E. Bernice Johnson (D), 1992Uncontested
 '98: 72'96: 55  '94: 73'92: 72 D 70