| Election Name: | 1978 United States Senate election in Texas |
| Country: | Texas |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1972 United States Senate election in Texas |
| Previous Year: | 1972 |
| Next Election: | 1984 United States Senate election in Texas |
| Next Year: | 1984 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 1978 |
| Image1: | File:John Tower 1978 (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | John Tower |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,151,376 |
| Percentage1: | 49.79% |
| Nominee2: | Bob Krueger |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,139,149 |
| Percentage2: | 49.26% |
| Map Size: | 310px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | John Tower |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John Tower |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1978 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Tower narrowly won re-election to a fourth term. This is the closest that a Texas Democrat has come to defeating a Republican incumbent U.S. Senator.[1]
Senator Tower was unopposed for re-nomination.
Krueger and Christie had contrasting styles, and many voters were undecided until late in the campaign.[2]
Krueger held a narrow lead in the polls late in the race, although the race was considered to be a 'toss-up.' On the issues, Tower attacked Krueger for voting for a constitutional amendment that would have granted U.S. senators to the District of Columbia, while Krueger attacked Tower for being an ineffective representative and a drunk. As a result of the charge, Tower refused to shake Krueger's hand at a joint appearance.[3]
Republicans celebrated the result in this election year as the 'best in a century' despite the narrow win. One analysis in the New York Times cites the growing urban middle-class voters in Houston who migrated from the Northeast as the reason for Tower being able to pull ahead and win.[4]