Texas Senate election, 1960

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Looking at the Texas Senate results in 1960, with LBJ getting 58% to John Tower's 41%, I'm kind of surprised, given LBJ's popularity and influence in the state that allowed him to narrowly carry it for JFK the same night. Also Johnson received 66.2% in 1948 and 84.6% in 1954. What could explain that downturn? Nixon coattails on presidential level?

No doubt such performance helped Tower to actually win later that year in special election (also given bad split between TX Democrats with liberal wing being at best very lukewarm about Blakley). 

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Looking at the Texas Senate results in 1960, with LBJ getting 58% to John Tower's 41%, I'm kind of surprised, given LBJ's popularity and influence in the state that allowed him to narrowly carry it for JFK the same night. Also Johnson received 66.2% in 1948 and 84.6% in 1954. What could explain that downturn? Nixon coattails on presidential level?

No doubt such performance helped Tower to actually win later that year in special election (also given bad split between TX Democrats with liberal wing being at best very lukewarm about Blakley). 

Increased Republican turnout, probably.

[Nichlemn]

Probably joining the national ticket. See how Ryan did relatively worse this year.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Probably joining the national ticket. See how Ryan did relatively worse this year.

On the other hand, Biden was reelected 58-42 in 2002, and 64-36 in 2008. But then again, in 2008 he was up against Christine O'Donnell.

[RogueBeaver]

Plus Texas wasn't at all happy about LBJ joining the ticket. In its most extreme form, the Adolphus riot.

[Nichlemn]

Probably joining the national ticket. See how Ryan did relatively worse this year.

On the other hand, Biden was reelected 58-42 in 2002, and 64-36 in 2008. But then again, in 2008 he was up against Christine O'Donnell.

Biden joined the national ticket from a state that would have strongly favoured the ticket anyway. 

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

LBJ intentionally made it that way. He stole TX in the Presidential and took away Senate votes.

[MATTROSE94]

If LBJ was not picked as Kennedy's running mate, he would have most likely been re-elected by an even greater margin, probably with at least 60% of the vote or more. Likewise, if Kennedy did not pick LBJ as his running mate, Nixon would have had a better shot at winning Texas and possibly North and South Carolina. You then would have had a President Nixon in 1961.

[Beet]

Could it have anything to do with Coke Stevenson supporting Tower?

[MATTROSE94]

Could it have anything to do with Coke Stevenson supporting Tower?

That is possible, as Coke Stevenson was still widely popular in 1960, despite being out of office for over a decade.