1978 Texas Senate election

Democrats had controlled the Texas Senate since the 1872 elections.^[1] Long a part of the Solid South, Republicans had gained a foothold in the state in the past two decades, electing U.S. Senator John Tower in 1961 and electing Richard Nixon with 66% of the vote in 1972, but these gains rarely made much impact in downballot, local races. Democrats had controlled every statewide office since the end of Reconstruction and controlled large supermajorities in the legislature. Even these small numbers were an improvement from the past two decades, however, such as after the 1964 election when they held a single seat in the House and none in the Senate.^[2]

1977 31st district special election

← 1976 December 10, 1977 1980 →

Nominee Bob Price Bob Simpson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 15,199 14,958 Percentage 50.40% 49.60%

County results Price:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Simpson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Texas Senator before election Max Sherman Democratic Party Elected Texas Senator Bob Price Republican Party

Democrat Max Sherman resigned in September 1977, and a special election was called, to be held concurrently with the November general election. No candidate received a majority of the vote, so a runoff was held in December.^[3] Former Republican Congressman Bob Price narrowly won the runoff, flipping the seat.^[4]