1996Final resultsSpecial election
1996 special election for Texas's 18th District
U.S. House · Texas
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) won with 77.1% of the vote, defeating Larry White (R) by 66.9 points.
Sheila Jackson LeeDemocrat · winner
77.1%106,111
Larry WhiteRepublican
10.1%13,956
Jerry BurleyRepublican
5.7%7,877
George A. YoungRepublican
3.9%5,332
Mike LamsonDemocrat
3.2%4,412
137,688 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 1996
Races before and after
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Sheila Jackson LeeLarry White
$487.9K
Raised by the campaign
$129.6K
$474.6K
Spent by the campaign
$124.2K
$66.4K
Cash on hand
$6K
Other candidates' campaigns: George A. Young $27.4K · Jerry Burley $25.5K · Mike Lamson $12.8K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Sheila Jackson Lee (D)Larry White (R)Jerry Burley (R)
Also on the ballot: George A. Young (Republican), 3.9%; Mike Lamson (Democrat), 3.2%