1988Final results
1988 election for U.S. Senate in Texas
U.S. Senate · Texas
Lloyd Bentsen (D) won with 59.2% of the vote, defeating Beau Boulter (R) by 19.2 points.
Lloyd BentsenDemocrat · winner
59.2%3,149,806
Beau BoulterRepublican
40.0%2,129,228
Jeff DaiellLibertarian
0.8%43,989
5,323,606 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 1988
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.
Lloyd BentsenBeau Boulter
$8.3M
Raised by the campaign
$1.3M
$8.8M
Spent by the campaign
$1.4M
$86.7K
Cash on hand
$4K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988