1878 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election

The previous lieutenant governor, Richard B. Hubbard had ascended to the governorship following the resignation of Richard Coke, who left the office to become U. S. Senator in 1876. This shuffling of the executive had left the office vacant since December 1876 with no incumbent to run in the race.

Following the end of Reconstruction in the South, the Democratic party became the dominant political party in the state. On election day, November 5, 1878, Democratic nominee Joseph D. Sayers won the election handedly. Sayers was sworn in as the 12th lieutenant governor of Texas on January 21, 1879.

• Joseph D. Sayers, chairman of the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee, former state senator from the 26th district (Democrat)^[2]
• James S. Rains, civil war veteran (Greenback)^[3]
• Richard Allen, former state representative from the 14th district (Republican)^[4]

Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1878^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph D. Sayers	158,850	68.28
	Greenback	James S. Rains	50,388	21.66
	Republican	Richard Allen	23,001	9.89
	Write-in		408	0.18
Total votes			232,647	100.00
	Democratic hold