Thanks! Mapping 1982 now. Know any reasons why Clements lost?
I wasn't here then, but it looks like the difference in turnout was the key.
John Hill defeated Governor Dolph Briscoe in the 1978 Democratic primary. 1.8 million voted. Clements narrowly defeated Hill in the general election, when 2.3 million voted. Clements did not receive a majority because of La Raza Unida and Socialist Workers candidates who received about 20,000 votes total. I don't think Briscoe ever voted for a Democratic after that, so many of his supporters would be willing to vote for Clements, or not vote. And it looks like voters did not yet realize that there was an election in November. At one time, the Democratic Primary would outdraw the general election by a wide margin, particularly in mid-term elections (1976 was the first even year that Texas did not have a gubernatorial election because of the switch to a 4-year term).
In 1982, 3.3 million voted, and there wasn't a divisive Democratic primary. In 1976, you would have Jimmy Carter hurting Democratic turnout, and in 1982, Reagan was not yet the popular force he was later on. Clements was pretty gruff, and not a natural politician.
By 1986, Phill Gramm had switched parties and been elected senator, so many Democras would realize that maybe they weren't Democrats after all. Mark White had also pushed education reform, and "No Pass, No Play" was not particularly popular if your football team lost a few star players. The economy in Texas was not so good at the time because of the crash in oil prices.
