The 1996 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Phil Gramm won re-election to a third term.

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1996 United States Senate election in Texas

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Nominee Phil Gramm Victor Morales Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 3,027,680 2,428,776 Percentage 54.78% 43.94%

County results Gramm:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Morales:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Phil Gramm Republican Elected U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Republican

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Morales, who never ran for public 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.^[1][2]

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%.^[3]

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.

• 1996 United States Senate elections