Texas had thirty seats in the House, apportioned according to the 1990 United States census.

Incumbent Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee ran for re-election.

Incumbent Democrat Henry B. González opted to retire rather than run for re-election.

He initially planned to retire prior to the end of his term, which would have led to the calling of a special election,[3][4] but he ended up serving the entire remainder of his term.

Incumbent Democrat Frank Tejeda died on January 30, 1997, from pneumonia while being treated for a brain tumor.

[7] This prompted a special election to be held, which fellow Democrat Ciro Rodriguez won in a runoff.

Incumbent Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson ran for re-election.