1968Final results
1968 primary for Texas House District 45
Texas House of Representatives · Texas
L. Dewitt Hale (D) won with 19.3% of the vote, defeating Frances Tarlton Farenthold (D) by 6.1 points.
L. Dewitt HaleDemocrat · winner · incumbent
19.3%29,582
Joe SalemDemocrat · winner
14.9%22,821
Frances Tarlton FarentholdDemocrat
13.2%20,192
A. C. Coke WilliamsonDemocrat
10.9%16,762
Carlos TruanDemocrat
10.9%16,698
Abel ChapaDemocrat
8.5%13,024
Bill SmithDemocrat
5.5%8,498
Raymond B. RidgwayDemocrat
5.1%7,811
Harry F. PorterDemocrat
4.8%7,395
Jack K. PedigoDemocrat
4.7%7,230
William Patrick McKenneyDemocrat
1.6%2,420
Bob MainDemocrat
0.7%1,027
153,460 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
L. Dewitt Hale (D)Joe Salem (D)Frances Tarlton Farenthold (D)A. C. Coke Williamson (D)Carlos Truan (D)Abel Chapa (D)Bill Smith (D)Raymond B. Ridgway (D)
Also on the ballot: Harry F. Porter (Democrat), 4.8%; Jack K. Pedigo (Democrat), 4.7%; William Patrick McKenney (Democrat), 1.6%; Bob Main (Democrat), 0.7%