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The 1968 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate. Held on November 5, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. They coincided with the presidential election of the same year. The Republicans picked up five net seats in the Senate. This saw Republicans win a Senate seat in Florida for the first time since Reconstruction.

Republicans would gain another seat after the election when Alaska Republican Ted Stevens was appointed to replace Democrat Bob Bartlett, reducing Democrats' majority to 57–43.

Results summary

58 42
Democratic Republican
Parties Total
Democratic Republican Conservative Other
Last elections (1966) 64 36 0 0 100
Before these elections 63 37 0 0 100
Not up 40 26 0 0 66
Up
Class 3 (1962→1968)
23 11 0 0 34
Incumbent retired 3 3 6
Held by same party 1 2 3
Replaced by other party Decrease1 Republican replaced by Increase1 Democrat
Decrease2 Democrats replaced by Increase2 Republicans
3
Result 2 4 0 0 6
Incumbent ran 20 8 28
Won re-election 13 7 20
Lost re-election Decrease4 Democrats replaced by Increase4 Republicans 4
Lost renomination,
but held by same party
2 0 2
Lost renomination,
and party lost
Decrease1 Republican replaced by Increase1 Democrat
Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Republican
2
Result 16 12 0 0 28
Total elected 18 16 0 0 34
Net gain/loss Decrease5 Increase5 Steady Steady 5
Nationwide vote 24,976,660 23,588,832[b] 1,139,402 989,058 50,693,952
Share 49.27% 46.53% 2.25% 1.95% 100%
Result 58[a] 42 0 0 100

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives[1]

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Three Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

State Senator Replaced by
Alabama J. Lister Hill James Allen
Arizona Carl Hayden Barry Goldwater
Florida George Smathers Edward Gurney
Iowa Bourke B. Hickenlooper Harold Hughes
Kansas Frank Carlson Bob Dole
Kentucky Thruston Ballard Morton Marlow Cook

Defeats

One Republican and seven Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

State Senator Replaced by
Alaska Ernest Gruening Mike Gravel
California Thomas Kuchel Alan Cranston
Maryland Daniel Brewster Charles Mathias
Missouri Edward V. Long Thomas Eagleton
Ohio Frank Lausche William B. Saxbe
Oklahoma Mike Monroney Henry Bellmon
Oregon Wayne Morse Bob Packwood
Pennsylvania Joseph S. Clark Jr. Richard Schweiker

Post-election changes

One Democrat died on December 11, 1968, and a Republican was appointed on December 24, 1968.

State Senator Replaced by
Alaska
(Class 2)
Bob Bartlett Ted Stevens
Illinois
(Class 3)
Everett Dirksen Ralph Tyler Smith

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the September 10, 1968 appointment in New York.

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41
Ala.
Retired
D42
Ak. (cl. 3)
Ran
D43
Ariz.
Retired
D44
Ark.
Ran
D45
Conn.
Ran
D46
Fla.
Retired
D47
Ga.
Ran
D48
Hawaii
Ran
D49
Idaho
Ran
D50
Ind.
Ran
Majority → D51
La.
Ran
D60
S.C.
Ran
D59
Pa.
Ran
D58
Ore.
Ran
D57
Okla.
Ran
D56
Ohio
Ran
D55
N.C.
Ran
D54
Nev.
Ran
D53
Mo.
Ran
D52
Md.
Ran
D61
S.D.
Ran
D62
Wash.
Ran
D63
Wisc.
Ran
R37
Vt.
Ran
R36
Utah
Ran
R35
N.D.
Ran
R34
N.Y. (cl. 3)
Ran
R33
N.H.
Ran
R32
Ky.
Ran
R31
Kan.
Retired
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27
Calif.
Ran
R28
Colo.
Ran
R29
Ill.
Ran
R30
Iowa
Retired
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1
N.Y. (cl. 1)
Gain
R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

After the general elections

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41
Ala.
Hold
D42
Ak. (cl. 3)
Hold
D43
Ark.
Re-elected
D44
Conn.
Re-elected
D45
Ga.
Re-elected
D46
Hawaii
Re-elected
D47
Idaho
Re-elected
D48
Ind.
Re-elected
D49
La.
Re-elected
D50
Mo.
Hold
Majority → D51
Nev.
Re-elected
R41
Ore.
Gain
R42
Pa.
Gain
D58
Iowa
Gain
D57
Calif.
Gain
D56
Wisc.
Re-elected
D55
Wash.
Re-elected
D54
S.D.
Re-elected
D53
S.C.
Re-elected
D52
N.C.
Re-elected
R40
Okla.
Gain
R39
Ohio
Gain
R38
Md.
Gain
R37
Fla.
Gain
R36
Ariz.
Gain
R35
Vt.
Re-elected
R34
Utah
Re-elected
R33
N.D.
Re-elected
R32
N.Y. (cl. 3)
Re-elected
R31
N.H.
Re-elected
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27
Colo.
Re-elected
R28
Ill.
Re-elected
R29
Kan.
Hold
R30
Ky.
Hold
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

Beginning of the next Congress

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41 D42 D43 D44 D45 D46 D47 D48 D49 D50
Majority → D51
R41 R42 R43
Ak. (cl. 2)
Gain
D57 D56 D55 D54 D53 D52
R40 R39 R38 R37 R36 R35 R34 R33 R32 R31
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican

Race summary

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1969; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Alabama J. Lister Hill Democratic 1938 (Appointed)
1938
1944
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Alaska Ernest Gruening Democratic 1958
1962
Incumbent lost renomination, then ran as a write-in candidate but lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Arizona Carl Hayden Democratic 1926
1932
1938
1944
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Arkansas J. William Fulbright Democratic 1944
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
California Thomas Kuchel Republican 1953 (Appointed)
1954 (special)
1956
1962
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Colorado Peter H. Dominick Republican 1962 Incumbent re-elected.
Connecticut Abraham Ribicoff Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected.
Florida George Smathers Democratic 1950
1956
1962
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Georgia Herman Talmadge Democratic 1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Hawaii Daniel Inouye Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Daniel Inouye (Democratic) 83.4%
  • Wayne C. Thiessen (Republican) 15.0%
Idaho Frank Church Democratic 1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Illinois Everett Dirksen Republican 1950
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana Birch Bayh Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected.
Iowa Bourke B. Hickenlooper Republican 1944
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Kansas Frank Carlson Republican 1950 (special)
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY Bob Dole (Republican) 60.1%
  • William I. Robinson (Democratic) 38.7%
Kentucky Thruston Ballard Morton Republican 1956
1962
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Incumbent resigned December 16, 1968 to give successor preferential seniority.
Winner appointed December 17, 1968.
Louisiana Russell B. Long Democratic 1948 (special)
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Maryland Daniel Brewster Democratic 1962 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Missouri Edward V. Long Democratic 1960 (Appointed)
1960 (special)
1962
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Incumbent resigned December 27, 1968 to give successor preferential seniority.
Winner appointed December 28, 1968.
Nevada Alan Bible Democratic 1954 (special)
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
New Hampshire Norris Cotton Republican 1954 (special)
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
New York Jacob Javits Republican 1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina Sam Ervin Democratic 1954 (special)
1954 (Appointed)
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Sam Ervin (Democratic) 60.6%
  • Robert V. Somers (Republican) 39.4%
North Dakota Milton Young Republican 1945 (Appointed)
1946 (special)
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Ohio Frank Lausche Democratic 1956
1962
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Oklahoma Mike Monroney Democratic 1950
1956
1962
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Oregon Wayne Morse Democratic 1944
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Pennsylvania Joseph S. Clark Jr. Democratic 1956
1962
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
South Carolina Fritz Hollings Democratic 1966 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
South Dakota George McGovern Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected.
Utah Wallace F. Bennett Republican 1950
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont George Aiken Republican 1940 (special)
1944
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Warren Magnuson Democratic 1944 (Appointed)
1944
1950
1956
1962
Incumbent re-elected.
Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected.

Closest races

Fifteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State Party of winner Margin
Oregon Republican (flip) 0.4%
Iowa Democratic (flip) 0.6%
Missouri Democratic 2.2%
Ohio Republican (flip) 3.0%
Indiana Democratic 3.5%
Kentucky Republican 3.8%
California Democratic (flip) 4.9%
Oklahoma Republican (flip) 5.5%
Pennsylvania Republican (flip) 6.1%
Illinois Republican 6.4%
Alaska Democratic 7.7%
Utah Republican 7.9%
Connecticut Democratic 8.6%
Maryland Republican (flip) 8.7%
Nevada Democratic 9.6%

Arkansas was the tipping point state with a margin of 18.3%.

Alabama

1968 U.S. Senate election in Alabama[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Allen 638,774 69.71
Republican Perry O. Hooper Sr. 201,227 21.96
National Democratic (Ala.) Robert Schwenn 76,299 8.33
Majority 437,547 47.75
Turnout 916,300
Democratic hold

Alaska

Democrat Ernest Gruening had served as one of the state's inaugural senators alongside Democrat Bob Bartlett since 1959. He was re-elected in a landslide victory in 1962. In 1968, he was challenged by former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, Mike Gravel, who ran on a campaign of youth.[3] Gravel upset Gruening in the Democratic primary with just under 53% of the vote to 47% for Gruening.

Gravel faced former Anchorage Mayor Republican Elmer E. Rasmuson in the general election, while Gruening ran a write-in campaign. Gravel won a three-way race with 45% of the vote to 37% for Rasmuson, with incumbent Gruening scoring 17%.

1968 U.S. Senate election in Alaska[1][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Gravel 36,527 45.13
Republican Elmer E. Rasmuson 30,286 37.42
Write-in Ernest Gruening (Incumbent) 14,118 17.44
Majority 6,241 7.71
Turnout 80,931
Democratic hold

Two months after the election, on December 11, 1968, the other Alaskan senator, Democrat Bob Bartlett, died. Republican Ted Stevens, who lost the Republican primary to Rasmuson for this seat, was then appointed to that other seat.

Arizona

Incumbent Democrat Carl Hayden did not run for re-election to an eighth term, with his long-time staff member Roy Elson running as the Democratic Party nominee to replace him. Elson beat State Treasurer of Arizona Bob Kennedy in the primary.

Democratic primary, September 10, 1968[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roy Elson 95,231 62.78
Democratic Bob Kennedy 41,397 27.29
Democratic Dick Herbert 15,061 9.93
Turnout 151,689 43.18

Elson was defeated by a wide margin, however, by former U.S. senator and Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. Prior to Goldwater's election, the seat had been held for decades by the Democratic Party under Carl Hayden, and would remain under Republican Party control until 2020. Elson had previously challenged U.S. senator Paul Fannin in 1964, when Goldwater vacated his seat to run for President against Lyndon B. Johnson.

Arizona general election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Barry Goldwater 274,607 57.22
Democratic Roy Elson 205,338 42.78
Majority 69,269 14.44
Turnout 479,945 78.08
Republican gain from Democratic

Arkansas

1968 U.S. Senate election in Arkansas[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. William Fulbright (Incumbent) 349,965 59.15
Republican Charles T. Bernard 241,731 40.85
Majority 108,234 18.30
Turnout 591,696
Democratic hold

California

California was generally considered to be a Republican stronghold throughout the early 1900s. Until 1959, Republicans controlled most government offices as well as both houses of state government. However, Pat Brown was elected governor in 1958 and ushered in a wave of Democratic success.

Along with California Secretary of State Frank M. Jordan, incumbent U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel was one of the last Republicans elected from California at the state or U.S. Senate level. Kuchel had been re-elected by a wide margin in 1962, winning every county in the state, and was the Minority Whip for the Republican Party.

However, in 1968 he faced a primary challenge from California Superintendent of Public Instruction Max Rafferty, who ran to the right of moderate Kuchel. In an upset, Rafferty defeated Kuchel in the primary, 50-47%.

In the Democratic primary, former California State Controller Alan Cranston won the primary with 58% of the vote.

Despite Richard Nixon's concurrent win in the presidential election (as well as in the state of California), Cranston defeated Rafferty on election day with just under 52% of the vote, flipping the state's other senate seat to the Democrats. Rafferty took just under 47% of the vote. Cranston would serve until 1993 in the senate.

1968 U.S. Senate election in California[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Cranston 3,615,261 51.78
Republican Max Rafferty 3,275,679 46.91
Peace and Freedom Paul Jacobs 91,254 1.31
Majority 339,582 4.87
Turnout 6,982,194
Democratic gain from Republican

Colorado

1968 U.S. Senate election in Colorado[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Peter H. Dominick (Incumbent) 459,952 58.55
Democratic Stephen L. R. McNichols 325,584 41.45
Majority 134,368 17.10
Turnout 785,536
Republican hold

Connecticut

1968 U.S. Senate election in Connecticut[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abraham Ribicoff (Incumbent) 655,043 54.29
Republican Edwin H. May Jr. 551,455 45.71
None Scattering 39 0.00
Majority 103,588 8.58
Turnout 1,206,537
Democratic hold

Florida

1968 U.S. Senate election in Florida[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edward J. Gurney 1,131,499 55.90
Democratic LeRoy Collins 892,637 44.10
Majority 238,862 11.80
Turnout 2,024,136
Republican gain from Democratic

Georgia

1968 U.S. Senate election in Georgia[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herman Talmadge (Incumbent) 885,093 77.50
Republican E. Earl Patton 256,796 22.49
Write-in Write-Ins 95 0.01
Majority 628,297 55.01
Turnout 1,141,984
Democratic hold

Talmadge sought another term to the Senate and was easily re-elected. The election was notable for the Georgia Republican Party, as it marked the first U.S. Senate election where it fielded a candidate. Patton lost by over 50% to Talmadge.

Hawaii

1968 U.S. Senate election in Hawaii[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel Inouye (Incumbent) 189,248 83.40
Republican Wayne C. Thiessen 34,008 14.99
Peace and Freedom Oliver M. Lee 3,671 1.62
Majority 155,240 68.41
Turnout 226,927
Democratic hold

Idaho

1968 U.S. Senate election in Idaho[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank Church (Incumbent) 173,482 60.26
Republican George V. Hansen 114,394 39.74
Majority 59,088 20.52
Turnout 287,876
Democratic hold

Illinois

Incumbent Republican and Minority Leader Everett Dirksen won re-election to his fourth term over William G. Clark (D), the Illinois Attorney General.

1968 U.S. Senate election in Illinois[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett Dirksen (Incumbent) 2,358,947 53.01
Democratic William G. Clark 2,073,242 46.59
Socialist Labor Louis Fisher 17,542 0.39
Independent Write-in candidates 26 0.00
Invalid or blank votes
Total votes 4,449,757 100.00
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Republican hold

Indiana

Incumbent Democrat Birch Bayh was elected in 1962, defeating incumbent Republican Homer E. Capehart by around 11,000 votes. In 1970, he ran for re-election and faced Republican State Representative William Ruckelshaus in the general election.

Ruckelshaus ran a close race but Bayh was ultimately re-elected by a two-point margin. This would actually be Bayh's largest vote percentage in an election to the U.S. Senate. In 1974, he won a narrow majority of the vote over Republican Richard Lugar though he did increase his margin of victory. He was defeated in his re-election bid in 1980 by future Vice President Dan Quayle.

Birch Bayh's son Evan Bayh would also serve in the U.S. Senate from 1999 to 2011.

1968 U.S. Senate election in Indiana[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Birch Bayh (Incumbent) 1,060,456 51.65
Republican William Ruckelshaus 988,571 48.15
Prohibition L. Earl Malcolm 2,844 0.14
Socialist Workers Ralph Levitt 1,247 0.06
Majority 71,885 3.50
Turnout 2,053,118
Democratic hold

Iowa

Four-term Republican Bourke B. Hickenlooper retired. Two-term Democratic Governor of Iowa Harold Hughes was elected senator in a close race against Republican state senator David M. Stanley.

1968 U.S. Senate election in Iowa[1][8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harold Hughes 574,884 50.25
Republican David M. Stanley 568,469 49.69
Prohibition Uerne M. Higens 727 0.06
None Scattering 6 0.00
Majority 6,415 0.56
Turnout 1,144,086 41.52
Democratic gain from Republican

Kansas

1968 U.S. Senate election in Kansas[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Dole 490,911 60.08
Democratic William I. Robinson 315,911 38.66
Prohibition Joseph Fred Hyskell 10,262 1.26
None Scattering 12 0.00
Majority 175,000 21.42
Turnout 817,096
Republican hold

Kentucky

1968 U.S. Senate election in Kentucky[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marlow Cook 484,260 51.36
Democratic Katherine Peden 448,960 47.62
American Independent Duane F. Olsen 9,645 1.02
Majority 35,300 3.74
Turnout 942,865
Republican hold

Louisiana

Senator Russell B. Long
1968 U.S. Senate election in Louisiana[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russell B. Long (Incumbent) 518,586 100.00
Democratic hold

Maryland

Incumbent Democrat Daniel Brewster was originally elected in 1962 over Republican Representative Edward Tylor Miller. He won the Democratic primary and faced Republican Representative Charles Mathias in the general election. However, Democrat George P. Mahoney ran in the election under the American Independent Party. Mahoney, who ran against the Civil Rights movement, had previously been the Democratic nominee for governor in 1966 losing to Spiro Agnew. Hyman A. Pressman ran an independent campaign which allowed Republican Agnew to carry the heavily Democratic state with 49.5% of the vote.

Similarly, Mahoney ran a well-funded campaign in 1968 and Brewster was defeated in the general election. Mathias won just 48% of the vote to 39% for Brewster (and 13% for Mahoney), similarly elected to Agnew. Mathias would nonetheless have no trouble being re-elected in 1974 and 1980 (when he won the city of Baltimore). Mathias is the last Republican to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate.

1968 U.S. Senate election in Maryland[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Mathias 541,893 47.78
Democratic Daniel B. Brewster (Incumbent) 443,667 39.12
American Independent George P. Mahoney 148,467 13.09
Majority 98,226 8.66
Turnout 1,134,027
Republican gain from Democratic

Missouri

Incumbent U.S. Senator Edward V. Long ran for re-election but faced two primary challengers in Lieutenant Governor Thomas Eagleton and former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury W. True Davis Jr., who each ran strong campaigns. Eagleton won the primary with 37% of the vote.

In the general election, Eagleton faced Republican Representative Thomas B. Curtis and won a close-fought election with 51% of the vote to 49% for Curtis. Eagleton would be re-elected over Curtis again in 1974.

1968 U.S. Senate election in Missouri[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas Eagleton 880,113 51.01
Republican Thomas B. Curtis 845,144 48.99
Majority 34,969 2.02
Turnout 1,725,257
Democratic hold

Nevada

1968 U.S. Senate election in Nevada[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Bible (Incumbent) 83,622 54.76
Republican Edward Fike 69,083 45.24
Majority 14,539 9.52
Turnout 152,705
Democratic hold

New Hampshire

1968 U.S. Senate election in New Hampshire[1][9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Norris Cotton (Incumbent) 170,163 59.29
Democratic John W. King 116,816 40.70
Write-in 10 0.00
Majority 53,347 18.59
Turnout 286,989
Republican hold

New York

Incumbent Republican Jacob Javits won against Democratic challenger Paul O'Dwyer and Conservative Party challenger James L. Buckley in a three-way election.

While Javits did not face any challengers for the Republican nomination, he did face a minor one when seeking the Liberal Party of New York's nomination.

Democratic Party Primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul O'Dwyer 275,877 36.14
Democratic Eugene Nickerson 257,639 33.75
Democratic Joseph Y. Resnick 229,893 30.11
Total votes 763,409 100.00
Liberal Party Primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Jacob Javits (Incumbent) 10,277 72.14
Liberal Murray Baron 3,969 27.86
Total votes 14,246 100.00
General election results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jacob Javits (Incumbent) 2,810,836
Liberal Jacob Javits 458,936
Republican + Liberal Party Jacob Javits 3,269,772 49.68
Democratic Paul O'Dwyer 2,150,695 32.68
Conservative James L. Buckley 1,139,402 17.31
Peace and Freedom Herman Ferguson 8,775 0.13
Socialist Labor John Emanuel 7,964 0.12
Socialist Workers Hedda Garza 4,979 0.08
Majority 1,119,113 17.00
Turnout 6,581,551 39.22
Republican hold

North Carolina

The general election was fought between the Democratic incumbent Sam Ervin and the Republican nominee Robert Somers. Ervin won re-election to a third full term, with over 60% of the vote.

The first round of the Primary Election was held on May 4, 1968.[13] The runoff for the Republican Party candidates took place on June 1.[14]

1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate Democratic primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Ervin (incumbent) 499,392 82.12
Democratic Charles Pratt 60,362 9.90
Democratic John Gathings 48,357 7.95
Turnout 608,111
Republican primary – First round
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Somers 48,351 36.63
Republican J. L. Zimmerman 43,644 33.06
Republican B. E. Sweatt 40,023 30.32
Turnout 132,018
1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election – Second round
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Somers 8,816 60.59
Republican J. L. Zimmerman 5,734 39.41
Turnout 14,550
1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Ervin (Incumbent) 870,406 60.56
Republican Robert Somers 566,834 39.44
Majority 303,572 21.12
Turnout 901,978
Democratic hold

North Dakota

North Dakota Republican Milton Young, sought and received re-election to his fifth term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Herschel Lashkowitz, the mayor of Fargo, North Dakota since 1954.[1][15]

Only Young filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic candidate was Herschel Lashkowitz of Fargo, North Dakota, who was serving as the mayor of the city since 1954. Young and Lashkowitz won the primary elections for their respective parties.

One independent candidate, Duane Mutch of Larimore, North Dakota, also filed before the deadline. Mutch was later a state senator for the North Dakota Republican Party in the North Dakota Senate from 1959 to 2006 for District 19. He ran as an independent when he did not receive his party's nomination.

1968 U.S. Senate election in North Dakota
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Milton R. Young (incumbent) 154,968 64.79
Democratic–NPL Herschel Lashkowitz 80,815 33.79
Independent Duane Mutch 3,393 1.42
Turnout 239,176
Republican hold

Ohio

1968 U.S. Senate election in Ohio[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William B. Saxbe 1,928,964 51.53
Democratic John J. Gilligan 1,814,152 48.47
None Write-Ins 4 0.00
Majority 114,812 3.06
Turnout 3,743,120
Republican gain from Democratic

Oklahoma

Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Mike Monroney was running for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican former Governor Henry Bellmon.

1968 Oklahoma U.S. Senate Election[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henry Bellmon 470,120 51.7
Democratic Mike Monroney (Incumbent) 419,658 46.2
American Independent George Washington 19,341 2.1
Majority 50,462 5.55
Turnout 909,119
Republican gain from Democratic

Oregon

Incumbent Democrat Wayne Morse was seeking a fifth term, but narrowly lost re-election to 36-year-old Republican State Representative Bob Packwood race.[17]

The Democratic primary was held May 28, 1968.[18] Morse defeated former Representative Robert B. Duncan, former U.S. Congressman from Oregon's 4th congressional district (1963–1967), and Phil McAlmond, millionaire and former aide to opponent Robert B. Duncan.

1968 Democratic Senate primary in Oregon[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wayne Morse (Incumbent) 185,091 49.03
Democratic Robert B. Duncan 174,795 46.30
Democratic Phil McAlmond 17,658 4.68
Total votes 377,544 100.00
General election results[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Packwood 408,646 50.20
Democratic Wayne Morse (Incumbent) 405,353 49.80
Total votes 813,999 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

Pennsylvania

Incumbent Democrat Joseph Clark sought re-election to another term, but was defeated by Republican nominee Richard Schweiker, member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Pennsylvania results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Schweiker 2,399,762 51.90
Democratic Joseph Clark (Incumbent) 2,117,662 45.80
Constitution Frank W. Gaydosh 96,742 2.09
Socialist Labor Benson Perry 7,198 0.16
Socialist Workers Pearl Chertov 2,743 0.06
Other Other 111 0.00
Majority 282,100 6.10
Turnout 4,624,218
Republican gain from Democratic

South Carolina

Incumbent Democrat Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican state senator Marshall Parker in a rematch of the election two years earlier, to win his second (his first full) term.

Hollings faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats, and avoided a primary election. Marshall Parker, the state senator from Oconee County in the Upstate, was persuaded by South Carolina Republicans to enter the race, and he did not face a primary challenge.

After a close election loss to Fritz Hollings in 1966, the Republicans felt that Parker might have a chance at defeating Hollings by riding Nixon's coattails in the general election. However, the Republicans did not provide Parker with the financial resources to compete, and he subsequently lost by a bigger margin to Hollings than two years prior.

1968 South Carolina U.S. Senate Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fritz Hollings (incumbent) 404,060 61.9
Republican Marshall Parker 248,780 38.1
Write-in Write-Ins 15 0.0
Majority 155,280 23.8
Turnout 652,855 76.5
Democratic hold

South Dakota

1968 U.S. Senate election in South Dakota[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George McGovern (Incumbent) 158,961 56.79
Republican Archie M. Gubbrud 120,951 43.21
Majority 38,010 13.58
Turnout 279,912
Democratic hold

Utah

1968 U.S. Senate election in Utah[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wallace F. Bennett (Incumbent) 225,075 53.68
Democratic Milton N. Weilenmann 192,168 45.83
Peace and Freedom Utah Phillips 2,019 0.48
Majority 32,907 7.85
Turnout 419,262
Republican hold

Vermont

Incumbent Republican George Aiken ran successfully for re-election to another term in the United States Senate; he was unopposed.

Republican primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Aiken (Incumbent) 42,248 72.8
Republican William K. Tufts 15,786 27.2
Republican Other 28 0.0
Total votes 58,062 100.0
Democratic primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Write-In George Aiken (Incumbent) 1,534 61.8
Write-In Philip H. Hoff 400 18.2
Democratic Other 438 20.0
Total votes 2,192 100.0
1968 U.S. Senate election in Vermont[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Aiken (Incumbent) 94,738 60.2
Democratic George Aiken (Incumbent) 62,416 39.7
Independent George Aiken (Incumbent) 43 0.0
Republican + Democratic + Independent George Aiken (Incumbent) 157,197 99.9
N/A Other 178 0.1
Total votes 157,375 100.0
Republican hold

Washington

1968 U.S. Senate election in Washington[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Warren G. Magnuson (Incumbent) 796,183 64.41
Republican Jack Metcalf 435,894 35.26
New Party Irwin R. Hogenauer 2,762 0.22
Socialist Workers Debbie Leonard 1,224 0.10
Majority 360,289 29.15
Turnout 1,236,063
Democratic hold

Wisconsin

Incumbent Democrat Gaylord A. Nelson (U.S. senator since 1963) defeated Republican State Senator Jerris Leonard.

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gaylord Nelson (Incumbent) 1,020,931 61.69
Republican Jerris Leonard 633,910 38.31
Write-in Write-ins 20 0.00
Majority 387,021 23.38
Turnout 1,654,861
Democratic hold

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Reflecting the result of the November 1968 elections, only. Following those elections, upon the death of Alaska Democratic Senator Bob Bartlett and subsequent appointment of Republican Ted Stevens, the partisan balance at the beginning of the 91st United States Congress stood at 57–43 in favor of the Democrats.
  2. ^ a b The Liberal Party in New York nominated Jacob Javits, a Republican, but the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives did not tabulate their votes, totaling 458,936, into the national Republican total.[1]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (July 1, 1969). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1968" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 54.
  2. ^ "Milton Weilenmann - Obituary". www.legacy.com. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Warren Weaver Jr. (July 2, 1971). "Impetuous Senator: Maurice Robert Gravel" (fee required). The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - AK US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "AZ US Senate - D Primary Race - Sep 10, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  6. ^ "AZ US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  7. ^ "1968 Senatorial General Election Results - Illinois".
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns - IA US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968".
  9. ^ "NH US Senate, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "NY US Senate - D Primary Race - Jun 18, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  11. ^ "NY US Senate - L Primary Race - Jun 18, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  12. ^ "NY US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  13. ^ "NC US Senate - D Primary Race - May 04, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  14. ^ "NC US Senate - R Runoff Race - Jun 01, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  15. ^ "Lashkowitz's storied tenure". Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  16. ^ "OK US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "OR US Senate" – via OurCampaigns.com.
  18. ^ a b "OR US Senate - D Primary" – via OurCampaigns.com.
  19. ^ a b "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  20. ^ "General Election Results - U.S. senator - 1914-2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2015.

References

  • "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume II. Columbia, SC: 1969, p. 19.
  • Kalk, Bruce H. (2001). The Origins of the Southern Strategy: Two-Party Competition in South. Lexington Books. p. 86.