1996Final resultsSpecial election
1996 special election for Texas's 6th District
U.S. House · Texas
Joe Barton (R) won with 77.1% of the vote, defeating Janet Carroll "skeet" Richardson (IND) by 64.3 points.
Joe BartonRepublican · winner
77.1%160,800
Janet Carroll "skeet" RichardsonIndependent
12.8%26,713
Catherine A. AndersonLibertarian
6.9%14,456
Doug WilliamsConstitution
3.1%6,547
208,516 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.
Janet Carroll "skeet" RichardsonJoe Barton
$154.6K
Raised by the campaign
$1.3M
$154.6K
Spent by the campaign
$890.5K
$0
Cash on hand
$539.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Joe Barton (R)Janet Carroll "skeet" Richardson (I)Catherine A. Anderson (L)
Also on the ballot: Doug Williams (Constitution), 3.1%