Clements ran for reelection in 1982 , but was defeated by Democratic Attorney General Mark Wells White by more than 327,000 votes because of sagging economic indicators and weak support from minority voters , who historically support Democratic candidates . Clements was also damaged politically by the Ixtoc I oil spill disaster ; the rig that failed was owned by SEDCO , but leased to Permargo ( a Mexican drilling firm ) , which had an exploration contract with Pemex , despite his shares in SEDCO being held in blind trust at the time ; his opponent , White , as attorney general , led the state 's lawsuit against SEDCO . White received 1,697,870 votes ( 53.2 percent ) to Clements 's 1,465,537 ( 45.9 percent ) . In addition , the Republican down-ballot candidates were all defeated in 1982 , including George Strake Jr. , a Houston businessman who had been Clements 's former secretary of state . Strake ran for lieutenant governor against the incumbent Democrat , Bill Hobby . After the 1982 campaign , Strake was named to replace Chet Upham of Mineral Wells as the Republican state chairman , a position that he filled from 1983 to 1988
Ixtoc I oil spill
Ixtoc I oil spill
Bill Clements