1980Final results
1980 election for Texas's 21st District
U.S. House · Texas
Tom Loeffler (R) won with 76.5% of the vote, defeating Joe Sullivan (D) by 53.7 points.
Tom LoefflerRepublican · winner
76.5%196,424
Joe SullivanDemocrat
22.8%58,425
William RiceLibertarian
0.7%1,895
256,744 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1980
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Joe SullivanTom Loeffler
$45.4K
Raised by the campaign
$401.5K
$45.4K
Spent by the campaign
$318.7K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980