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

[2] State Senator Eddie Bernice Johnson chaired the redistricting subcommittee and drew maps with the intention of creating minority-majority districts in Dallas for herself to run in.

[3][4] This drew the ire of representatives Martin Frost and John Wiley Bryant, whose districts would become considerably more White and Republican-leaning as a result.

The Texas Legislature sided with Johnson's plan and adopted new congressional districts during a special session in 1991.

Incumbent Democrat Jim Chapman ran for re-election unopposed.

Incumbent Republican Steve Bartlett resigned in 1991 after he was elected Mayor of Dallas.

[9] This prompted a special election to be held, which fellow Republican Sam Johnson won in a runoff.

Incumbent Democrat Kika de la Garza ran for re-election.

[11] State Senator Eddie Bernice Johnson, the first African American woman ever elected to public office from Dallas, ran in the open race.