Candidates • Michael Bird (Libertarian) •
Phil Gramm, incumbent U.S. senator since 1985 (Republican) • John Huff (Natural Law) •
Victor Morales, teacher and U.S. Navy veteran (Democratic)
Campaign Morales, who never ran for statewide office before, pulled a major upset in the primary by defeating three politicians: U.S. Congressman
John Wiley Bryant, U.S. Congressman
Jim Chapman, and former
State Supreme Court litigator John Odam. In the March run-off, he defeated Bryant with 51% of the vote. He became the first minority in Texas history to become a United States Senate nominee from either major party. Despite having no staff, raising only $15,000, and not accepting any special interest money he obtained 2.5 million votes. Gramm previously ran for President earlier in the year, but lost to fellow U.S. Senator
Bob Dole in the Republican presidential primary. Gramm was the heavy favorite. A September poll showed Gramm leading 50% to 40%. A late October poll showed him leading with 53% to 31%. Exit Polls showed that Gramm performed well with Anglos (68% to 31%), while Morales won African Americans (79% to 19%) and Latinos (79% to 20%) respectively.
Results == See also ==