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This is the 1996 race. The latest: 2026 →

1996Final resultsSpecial election

1996 special election for Texas's 25th District

U.S. House · Texas

Ken Bentsen (D) won with 34.0% of the vote, defeating Dolly Madison McKenna (R) by 17.0 points.

Ken BentsenDemocrat · winner
34.0%43,701
Dolly Madison McKennaRepublican
17.1%21,898
Beverley ClarkDemocrat
16.9%21,699
Brent PerryRepublican
13.0%16,737
John DevineRepublican
7.1%9,070
John M. SanchezRepublican
7.0%8,984
Ken G. MathisRepublican
2.8%3,649
Ron "rc" MeinkeRepublican
0.8%997
Lloyd W. OliverRepublican
0.6%827
Dotty Quinn CollinsRepublican
0.4%561
Jerry FreiwirthSocialist Workers
0.2%270
128,393 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

EvenD+43.71988D+14.61992D+7.31994D+2.11996 specialD+14.61996 runoffD+16.51998

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.

Ken BentsenDolly Madison McKenna
$1.7M
Raised by the campaign
$648.9K
$1.7M
Spent by the campaign
$649.7K
$41.8K
Cash on hand
-$724

Other candidates' campaigns: Brent Perry $332.8K · John M. Sanchez $174.8K · John Devine $87.9K · Ken G. Mathis $42.4K · Ron "rc" Meinke $41.4K · Beverley Clark $8.6K.

Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.

Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996

The candidates

Ken Bentsen (D)Dolly Madison McKenna (R)Beverley Clark (D)Brent Perry (R)John Devine (R)John M. Sanchez (R)

Also on the ballot: Ken G. Mathis (Republican), 2.8%; Ron "rc" Meinke (Republican), 0.8%; Lloyd W. Oliver (Republican), 0.6%; Dotty Quinn Collins (Republican), 0.4%; Jerry Freiwirth (Socialist Workers), 0.2%