1996Final resultsSpecial election
1996 special election for Texas's 3rd District
U.S. House · Texas
Sam Johnson (R) won with 73.0% of the vote, defeating Lee Cole (D) by 48.5 points.
Sam JohnsonRepublican · winner
73.0%142,325
Lee ColeDemocrat
24.4%47,654
John DavisLibertarian
2.6%5,045
195,026 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: 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.
Lee ColeSam Johnson
$7.3K
Raised by the campaign
$713.7K
$8K
Spent by the campaign
$625.1K
$0
Cash on hand
$158.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Nov 5, 1996; FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996