1980Final results
1980 election for Texas's 5th District
U.S. House · Texas
Jim Mattox (D) won with 51.0% of the vote, defeating Tom Pauken (R) by 2.2 points.
Jim MattoxDemocrat · winner
51.0%70,892
Tom PaukenRepublican
48.8%67,848
139,035 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.
Jim MattoxTom Pauken
$534.6K
Raised by the campaign
$385.5K
$544.5K
Spent by the campaign
$394.6K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980