Elections / 1988 · Senate · TX
The Democratic candidate won Texas's Senate seat D+19.2.
Texas, 1988. Candidate results and statewide totals below. The presidential race shared this ballot.
Texas — 1988 Senate result
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976–2024 Senate returns (party-classified by literal ballot party).
Democratic (D)
3,149,806
59.2%
Republican (R)
2,129,228
40.0%
All others
43,989
0.8%
Margin
D+19.2
Candidates
Statewide candidate totals — MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1988 Senate returns.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyd Bentsen | DDemocrat | 3,149,806 | 59.2% |
| Beau Boulter | RRepublican | 2,129,228 | 40.0% |
| Jeff Daiell | OLibertarian | 43,989 | 0.8% |
Texas's Senate margins
Every contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +14.5% |
| 1978 | −0.5% |
| 1982 | +18.1% |
| 1984 | −17.1% |
| 1988 | +19.2% |
| 1990 | −22.8% |
| 1994 | −22.5% |
| 1996 | −10.8% |
| 2000 | −32.8% |
| 2002 | −12.0% |
| 2006 | −25.6% |
| 2008 | −12.0% |
| 2012 | −15.8% |
| 2014 | −27.2% |
| 2018 | −2.6% |
| 2020 | −9.6% |
| 2024 | −8.5% |