When Texas last had a Democratic senator
The gist
Texas last sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1988, when incumbent Lloyd Bentsen won reelection.
Democrats have lost every statewide race since 1994, and 2026 tests that streak.
How it unfolded
- 1960Lyndon Johnson is reelected to the Senate seat now held by John Cornyn while also running successfully for vice president.
- 1988Then-incumbent Sen. Lloyd Bentsen wins reelection, the last Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas.
- 1993Bentsen resigns to become U.S. treasury secretary and is replaced by Bob Krueger, a Democrat who later loses a special election for the seat.