| Election Name: | 1984 United States Senate election in Texas |
| Country: | Texas |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1978 United States Senate election in Texas |
| Previous Year: | 1978 |
| Next Election: | 1990 United States Senate election in Texas |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
| Election Date: | November 6, 1984 |
| Image1: | File:PhilGramm (1).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Phil Gramm |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,111,348 |
| Percentage1: | 58.55% |
| Nominee2: | Lloyd Doggett |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,202,557 |
| Percentage2: | 41.45% |
| Map Size: | 310px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | John Tower |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Phil Gramm |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1984 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 6, 1984. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Tower decided to retire, instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican Phil Gramm won the open seat.
The primary was 45% Hispanic, but included many moderate to conservative voters. Hance positioned himself as the most moderate to conservative candidate, who co-sponsored President Ronald Reagan's tax package.[1] Doggett was the more liberal candidate, attacking Reaganomics and getting endorsements from the Texas teachers' union and Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower.[2] Doggett's campaign manager was James Carville.[3] Krueger was seen as the front runner and was a moderate who supported the state's oil and gas industry, but had close ties with the Hispanic community because he was Spanish-speaking.[4] Hance attacked both Krueger and Doggett for supporting amnesty for illegal aliens and supporting gay rights.[5] The initial primary was extremely close between the top three candidates. Each candidate got 31% of the electorate. Hance ranked first, only 273 votes ahead of Doggett and 1,560 votes ahead of Krueger.
Since no candidate passed the 50% threshold, Hance and Doggett qualified for the run-off election. Hance fired his pollster despite ranking first.[6] Krueger endorsed fellow U.S. Congressman Hance, saying "Ultimately, the quality of one's public service depends upon the character that one displays in filling an office."[7] [8] In the June election, Doggett very narrowly defeated Hance by just 1,345 votes.
Initial election on May 5, 1984
Run-off election on June 2, 1984
The primary was a multimillion-dollar contest.[9] Gramm recently switched parties in 1983, but he was a conservative who supported Reaganomics. Gramm spent $4 million.[10]
Doggett received 89% of the black vote.