# Lloyd Bentsen: Last Texas Democrat in Senate

> Texas Democrats last elected to Senate until James Talarico's win.
- Title: Lloyd Bentsen: Last Texas Democrat in Senate | Shortify
- Summary: Texas Democrats last elected to Senate until James Talarico's win. Lloyd Bentsen, the last Texas Democrat elected to the U.S.
- Keywords: lloyd bentsen, texas democrat, u.s. senate, james talarico, ken paxton, george h.w. bush, michael dukakis, dan quayle, senate finance committee, north american free trade agreement, federal assault weapons ban, Houstonchronicle
- Source: Houstonchronicle — https://houstonchronicle.com/explained/article/lloyd-bentsen-democrat-senate-texas-22514630.php
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lloyd bentsen, texas democrat, u.s. senate, james talarico, ken paxton, george h.w. bush, michael dukakis, dan quayle, senate finance committee, north american free trade agreement, federal assault weapons ban, news
## Who was Lloyd Bentsen?
Lloyd Bentsen was the last Texas Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate before James Talarico's win this week.
## Bentsen's political rise
Bentsen served as a Hidalgo County judge in 1946, became a U.S. congressman, and later ran for Senate.
## Bentsen's Senate victory
Bentsen defeated Texas' leading liberal voice, Ralph Yarborough, in a 1970 Democratic primary.
## Bentsen's Senate career
Bentsen held the Senate seat for 22 years, chaired the Senate Finance Committee, and later worked on economic policy.
## Bentsen's vice presidential run
Bentsen was Michael Dukakis' vice presidential running mate in the 1988 election.
## Bentsen's iconic moment
Bentsen famously said, 'Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.'

> Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.
## Bentsen's legacy
Bentsen died in Houston in 2006 and is buried at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
## Key takeaway

Lloyd Bentsen, the last Texas Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate, died in 2006; James Talarico became the new senator this week.