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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1978/Governor/Texas
      1978·Governor·Texas

      Texas Governor

      Winner
      REP
      William P. Clements
      50.0%1,183,839 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      John Hill
      49.2%1,166,979 votes
      Margin
      R+0.7
      2,369,764 total votes
      3 candidates2,369,764 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      William P. ClementsREP✓
      		REP1,183,83950.0%
      John HillDEM
      		DEM1,166,97949.2%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH18,9460.8%

      Seat History

      Governor in Texas

      2022
      Greg AbbottREP
      R+10.9
      2018
      Greg AbbottREP
      R+13.3
      2014
      Greg AbbottREP
      R+20.4
      2010
      Rick PerryREP
      R+12.7
      2006
      Rick PerryREP
      R+9.2
      2002
      Rick PerryREP
      R+17.9
      1998
      George W. BushREP
      R+37.1
      1994
      George W. BushREP
      R+7.6
      1990
      Ann RichardsDEM
      D+2.5
      1986
      William P. ClementsREP
      R+6.7
      1982
      Mark WhiteDEM
      D+7.3
      1974
      Dolph BriscoeDEM
      D+30.3
      1972
      Dolph BriscoeDEM
      D+2.9
      1970
      Preston W SmithDEM
      D+7.2
      View all Governor history for Texas →

      Candidates

      John HillREP
      Record0W-5L
      Avg MarginD+5.9
      Career1978-2008
      State House / Governor
      Full profile →
      William P. ClementsREP
      Record2W-1L
      Avg MarginR+0.0
      Career1978-1986
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in Texas, 1978

      US Senate1 contest →US House24 contests →
      ← All 1978 Governor races1978 overviewTexas profileAll elections