1974 United States Senate elections

← 1972 November 5, 1974 1976 →
← 1968 1980 →
34 of the 100 seats in theUnited States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Mike Mansfield Hugh Scott Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1961 September 24, 1969 Leader's seat Montana Pennsylvania Seats before 57 41 Seats after 61[a] 37 Seat change 4[a] 4 Popular vote 22,544,761[1] 16,145,793[1][b] Percentage 55.2% 39.6% Seats up 20 14 Races won 24[a] 10   Third party Fourth party   Party Independent Conservative Seats before 1 1 Seats after 1[c] 1 Seat change Popular vote 199,108[1] 822,584[1] Percentage 0.5% 2.0% Seats up 0 0 Races won 0 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain     Republican gain      Democratic hold     Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Mike Mansfield Democratic ElectedMajority Leader Mike Mansfield Democratic

The1974 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, with the 34 seats ofClass 3 contested in regular elections. They occurred in the wake of theWatergate scandal,Richard M. Nixon's resignation from the presidency, andGerald Ford's subsequentpardon of Nixon. Economic issues, specificallyinflation andstagnation, were also a factor that contributed to Republican losses.^[2] As an immediate result of the November 1974 elections,Democrats made a net gain of three seats from theRepublicans, as they defeated Republican incumbents in Colorado and Kentucky and picked up open seats in Florida and Vermont, while Republicans won the open seat in Nevada. Following the elections, at the beginning of the94th U.S. Congress, the Democratic caucus controlled 60 seats (as well as one independent), and the Republican caucus controlled 38 seats (as well as oneConservative).

Democrats gained an additional seat, bringing the net pick-up to four seats, in 1975, when DemocratJohn A. Durkin won adisputed election in New Hampshire that was unintentionally held after the1974 election resulted in two recounts and an extended dispute in the Senate. Durkin's Senate term began in September 1975, following his victory in that election. As of 2023^[update], this is the most recent election in which a Democrat has been elected Senator from Idaho.

Several other Republican incumbents won very close races;Milton Young of North Dakota won reelection against DemocratWilliam L. Guy by only 186 votes andHenry Bellmon of Oklahoma won reelection against DemocratEd Edmondson by half a percent of the vote.Bob Dole of Kansas survived the closest election of his career against Democratic Rep.William Roy, a race undoubtedly made close due to Dole's close association with Nixon as chairman of theRepublican National Committee. It was the closest the Democrats have come to winning a Senate election in Kansas sinceGeorge McGill won re-election in1932.

Parties							Total
		Democratic	Republican	Conservative	Independent	Other
Last elections (1972)		56	42	1	1	0	100
Before these elections		57	41	1	1	0	100
Not up		41	23	1	1	—	66
Up Class 3 (1968→1974)		20	14	0	0	—	34
Incumbent retired		3	4	—	—	—	7
	Held by same party	2	1	—	—	—	3
	Replaced by other party	3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats[a] 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	—	4
	Result	5	2	0	0	0	7
Incumbent ran		17[d]	10	—	—	—	27
	Won re-election	15	8	—	—	—	23
	Lost re-election	2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats		—	—	—	2
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	2	0	—	—	—	2
	Result	19	8	0	0	0	27
Total elected		24	10	0	0	0	34
Net gain/loss		4	4				4
Nationwide vote		22,544,761	16,145,793[b]	822,584	199,108	1,098,146	40,810,392
	Share	55.24%	39.56%	2.02%	0.49%	2.69%	100%
Result		61	37	1	1	0	100

Source: Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives^[1]

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

Two Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

One Republican appointee did not seek to finish the term following the contested election and one Democrat was elected on September 16, 1975.

After the January 4, 1974 appointment in Ohio.

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1975; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

In fourteen races the margin of victory was under 10%.

Illinois was the tipping point state with a margin of 25%.

1974 Democratic Senate primary election in Alabama

← 1968 August 6, 1974 1978 (special) →

Nominee James B. Allen John Taylor Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 572,584 118,848 Percentage 82.81% 17.19%

County results Allen:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

Democratic United States senatorJames Allen won re-election to a second term, faced no Republican opponent in the general election, defeating Prohibition Party nominee Alvin Abercrombie.

Alaska election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Mike Gravel C. R. Lewis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 54,361 38,914 Percentage 58.28% 41.72%

Results by borough and census area Results by state house district Results by borough and census area Gravel:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Lewis:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Mike Gravel Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Mike Gravel Democratic

Incumbent DemocratMike Gravel won re-election to a second term over Republican State Senator Clyde "C.R." Lewis.

Arizona election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Barry Goldwater Jonathan Marshall Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 320,396 229,523 Percentage 58.26% 41.74%

County results Goldwater:     50–60%     60–70% Marshall:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Barry Goldwater Republican Elected U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater Republican

Incumbent RepublicanBarry Goldwater decided to run for reelection to a fourth term, after returning to the U.S. Senate in 1968 following his failed Presidential run in 1964 againstLyndon B. Johnson. Goldwater defeated Democratic Party nominee philanthropist Jonathan Marshall in the general election.

Arkansas election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Dale Bumpers John H. Jones Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 461,056 82,026 Percentage 84.90% 15.10%

County Results Bumpers:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. senator before election J. William Fulbright Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers Democratic

Incumbent DemocratJ. William Fulbright lost renomination toGovernor of ArkansasDale Bumpers. Bumpers then won the general election easily.

1974 U.S. Senate general election in Arkansas^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dale Bumpers	461,056	84.90	25.75
	Republican	John H. Jones	82,026	15.10	25.75
Majority			379,030	69.80
Total votes			93,275	100.00
Turnout			543,082	28.24
	Democratichold		Swing

California election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Alan Cranston H. L. Richardson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 3,693,160 2,210,267 Percentage 60.52% 36.22%

County results Cranston:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Richardson:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election Alan Cranston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Alan Cranston Democratic

Incumbent DemocratAlan Cranston won re-election to a second term over RepublicanH. L. Richardson, California State Senator.

Colorado election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Gary Hart Peter Dominick Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 471,691 325,508 Percentage 57.23% 39.50%

County results Hart:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Dominick:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Peter Dominick Republican Elected U.S. Senator Gary Hart Democratic

Incumbent RepublicanPeter H. Dominick ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Democratic challengerGary Hart, the campaign manager forGeorge McGovern in 1972.

Connecticut election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Abraham Ribicoff James Brannen III Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 690,820 372,055 Percentage 63.68% 34.29%

County results Municipality results Ribicoff:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Brannen:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Abraham Ribicoff Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Abraham Ribicoff Democratic

Incumbent DemocratAbraham Ribicoff won re-election to a third term over Republican challenger James Brannen III.

Florida election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Richard Stone Jack Eckerd Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 781,031 736,674 Percentage 43.38% 40.91%   Nominee John Grady Party American Independent Popular vote 282,659 Percentage 15.70%

County results Stone:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Eckerd:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Grady:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election Edward Gurney Republican Elected U.S. Senator Richard Stone Democratic

Incumbent RepublicanEdward Gurney declined to seek a second term after being indicted for taking bribes in return for hisinfluence with theFederal Housing Administration.

The primary for the Republican nomination pittedEckerd drug store ownerJack Eckerd againstFlorida Public Service CommissionerPaula Hawkins. Eckerd won handily, receiving approximately 67.5% of the vote.

The Democratic primary, however, was a crowded field with eleven candidates vying for the nomination. Because no candidate received a majority of the votes,U.S. RepresentativeBill Gunter andSecretary of State of FloridaRichard Stone advanced to a run-off election. Stone won by a small margin of 1.68%.

Thus, Eckerd and Stone faced off in the general election. John Grady, a family physician and member ofGeorge Wallace'sAmerican Independent Party, performed exceptionally well for a third party candidate. Grady may have split the conservative vote, allowing for Stone to win. On election day, Stone received 43.38% of the vote, Eckerd garnered 40.91% of the vote, and Grady acquired 15.7% of the vote.

Georgia election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Herman Talmadge Jerry R. Johnson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 627,376 246,865 Percentage 71.76% 28.24%

County results Talmadge:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. senator before election Herman Talmadge Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Herman Talmadge Democratic

Incumbent DemocratHerman Talmadge won re-election to a fourth term over Republican challenger Jerry Johnson.

Hawaii election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Daniel Inouye James Kimmel Party Democratic People's Popular vote 207,454 42,767 Percentage 82.91% 17.09%

County results Inouye:     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Daniel Inouye Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye Democratic

Incumbent DemocratDaniel Inouye won re-election to a third term over Populist challenger James D. Kimmel.

Idaho election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Frank Church Robert L. Smith Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 145,140 109,072 Percentage 56.07% 42.14%

County results Church:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Smith:     50-60%     60-70%

U.S. senator before election Frank Church Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Frank Church Democratic

Incumbent DemocratFrank Church won re-election to a fourth term in office, defeating Republican Bob Smith.

Illinois election

← 1970 (special) 1980 →
Turnout	49.35%
Nominee Adlai Stevenson III George Burditt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,811,496 1,084,884 Percentage 62.15% 37.22%
County Results Stevenson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Burditt:     50–60%     60–70%
U.S. senator before election Adlai Stevenson III Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S. SenatorAdlai Stevenson III, who was first elected in a special election in 1970, was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating RepublicanGeorge Burditt by a large margin of nearly 800,000 votes.

Indiana election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Birch Bayh Richard Lugar Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 889,269 814,117 Percentage 50.73% 46.44%

Results by county Bayh:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70% Lugar:     40–50%     50–60%     60-70%

U.S. senator before election Birch Bayh Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Birch Bayh Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S. SenatorBirch Bayh was re-elected to a third consecutive term in office, defeating Mayor of IndianapolisRichard Lugar.

Iowa election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee John Culver David M. Stanley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 462,947 420,546 Percentage 52.04% 47.28%

County results Culver:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Stanley:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

U.S. senator before election Harold E. Hughes Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John C. Culver Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S. SenatorHarold E. Hughes retired instead of seeking a second term. This open seat was won by five-term U.S. RepresentativeJohn C. Culver, defeating Republican State RepresentativeDavid M. Stanley. Culver defeated Stanley by a margin of nearly five points.

Kansas election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Bob Dole William R. Roy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 403,983 390,451 Percentage 50.85% 49.15%

County results Dole:     50–60%     60–70% Roy:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Bob Dole Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Dole Republican

U.S. SenatorBob Dole was first elected in 1968 afterFrank Carlson retired by a margin of 60-39% over his Democratic opponent. However, in 1974 he faced a closer challenge as he sought a second term. Dole was closely associated withRichard Nixon as chairman of theRepublican National Committee from 1971-1972. Dole himself even admitted he was "prepared to lose" the election toWilliam R. Roy, aTopeka physician and two-term Representative from Kansas's 2nd Congressional District. Roy's advertisements contrasted Dole, "who put loyalty to Nixon and his party ahead of loyalty to his state," with Roy, a moderate and former Republican whom they described as "a respected voice for Kansas." Roy's campaign to be the first Democratic Senator from Kansas in decades received an enthusiastic response, and he led in polling for months. "I could go to any event and feel likeCaesar coming back to Rome," Roy said. Still, Dole's campaign capitalized on the issue of abortion rights, which was fresh on voters minds in the wake of theRoe v. Wade decision. Roy himself had performed abortions as a physician, and Dole used this to build momentum and overtake Roy in polling.^[10]

In the end, Dole narrowly prevailed over Roy by 15,533 votes in the closest election of his 35-year Congressional career.

Kentucky election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Wendell Ford Marlow Cook Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 398,887 328,260 Percentage 53.56% 44.08%

County results Ford:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Cook:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

U.S. senator before election Marlow Cook Republican Elected U.S. Senator Wendell Ford Democratic

Incumbent Republican U.S. SenatorMarlow Cook ran for a second term in office but was defeated by Democratic Governor of KentuckyWendell Ford.

1974 Democratic Senate primary election in Louisiana

← 1968 August 17, 1974 1980 →

Nominee Russell B. Long Sherman A. Bernard Annie Smart Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Popular vote 520,606 131,540 44,341 Percentage 74.75% 18.89% 6.37%

Parish results Long:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Russell Long Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Russell Long Democratic

Incumbent Democratic SenatorRussell B. Long was unopposed for re-election to a sixth term in office.

Maryland election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Charles Mathias Barbara Mikulski Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 503,223 374,663 Percentage 57.32% 42.68%

County results Mathias:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Mikulski:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Charles Mathias Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles Mathias Republican

Incumbent RepublicanCharles Mathias won re-election to a second term. As a Republican representing heavily-Democratic Maryland, Mathias faced a potentially difficult re-election bid for the 1974 election. State Democrats nominatedBarbara Mikulski, then aBaltimore City Councilwoman who was well-known to residents in her city as asocial activist, but with limited name recognition in the rest of the state.^[12] Mathias was renominated by Republicans, fending off a primary election challenge from conservative doctor Ross Pierpont. Pierpont was never a substantial threat to Mathias, whose lack of competition was due in part to fallout from the Watergate scandal.^[13][14]

As an advocate forcampaign finance reform, Mathias refused to accept any contribution over $100 to "avoid the curse of big money that has led to so much trouble in the last year".^[15] However, he still managed to raise over $250,000, nearly five times Mikulski's total. Ideologically, Mikulski and Mathias agreed on many issues, such as closing tax loopholes and easing taxes on themiddle class. On two issues, however, Mathias argued to reform Congress and the U.S. tax system to address inflation and corporate price fixing, contrary to Mikulski.^[12] In retrospect,The Washington Post felt the election was "an intelligent discussion of state, national, and foreign affairs by two smart, well-informed people".^[16]

Missouri election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Thomas Eagleton Thomas B. Curtis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 735,433 480,900 Percentage 60.07% 39.28%

County Results Eagleton:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Curtis:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%

U.S. senator before election Thomas Eagleton Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thomas Eagleton Democratic

Thomas Eagleton was first elected in 1968, defeating incumbent U.S. senatorEdward V. Long in an upset three-way primary victory. He then defeated Republican RepresentativeThomas B. Curtis by just over two percentage points. Eagleton served as the initial vice presidential nominee forGeorge McGovern's campaign against incumbentRichard Nixon in1972. However, Eagleton resigned from the ticket and was replaced bySargent Shriver after reports surfaced that Eagleton had received electroshock therapy for clinical depression. McGovern, who was trailing Nixon badly in the polls, requested Eagleton's resignation.^[18]

Despite negative publicity from his vice presidential nomination withdrawal, Eagleton cruised to re-election in a rematch over Curtis, taking over 60% of the vote. This would be Eagleton's largest victory margin for U.S. Senate. In 1980, he faced a close re-election battle againstGene McNary, winning by only about 5 percentage points.

Nevada election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Paul Laxalt Harry Reid Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 79,605 78,981 Percentage 47.0% 46.6%   Nominee Jack C. Doyle Party Independent American Party (Nevada) Popular vote 10,887 Percentage 6.42%

County results Laxalt:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Reid:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Alan Bible Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt Republican

Incumbent DemocratAlan Bible decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican nomineePaul Laxalt won the open seat.

FormerGovernorPaul Laxalt won by less than 700 votes, becoming one of the few bright spots in a bad year for Republicans. He beatLieutenant GovernorHarry Reid. Reid would succeed Laxalt twelve years later.

New Hampshire election

← 1968 1975 (special) →

Nominee Louis C. Wyman John A. Durkin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 110,926 110,924 Percentage 49.66% 49.66%

County results Municipality results Wyman:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Durkin:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     90-100% No Data/Vote:

U.S. senator before election Norris Cotton Republican Elected U.S. Senator Louis C. Wyman (Disputed) Republican

The New Hampshire election resulted in the longest contested election for the U.S. Congress in United States history.

In 1973, then-incumbent senatorNorris Cotton announced he would not seek re-election. Republican strategists admitted that it would be tough for their party to hold on to the seat.^[19]

The campaign of 1974 pitted DemocratJohn A. Durkin, who had served as New Hampshire's Insurance Commissioner and as Attorney General, against RepublicanLouis C. Wyman, a conservative, widely known member of theUnited States House of Representatives fromNew Hampshire's 1st congressional district. As Wyman was the more experienced politician, he was predicted by many to win handily.^[20]

On election day, Wyman won with a margin of just 355 votes.^{[citation needed]} Durkin immediately demanded a recount, which, completed November 27, 1974, declared Durkin the winner by a margin of 10 votes. RepublicanGovernorMeldrim Thomson Jr. awarded Durkin a provisional certificate of election. However, Wyman demanded another recount in which he prevailed by two votes.

Wyman promptly appealed to the New Hampshire State Ballot Law Commission. Durkin tried to defeat the appeal in the New Hampshire courts. The state ballot commission conducted its own partial recount and announced on December 24, 1974, that Wyman had won by just two votes. Governor Thomson rescinded Durkin’s certificate, and awarded a new credential to Wyman.

Senator Cotton resigned on December 31, 1974, and Governor Thomson appointed Wyman to fill the remainder of the term, which would expire January 3, 1975.

The election contest was not settled, however, and eventually anew election would be called in 1975.

New York election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Jacob Javits Ramsey Clark Barbara A. Keating Party Republican Democratic Conservative Alliance Liberal Popular vote 2,340,188 1,973,781 822,584 Percentage 45.32% 38.23% 15.93%

County results Javits:     40–50%     50–60% Clark:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Jacob Javits Republican Elected U.S. Senator Jacob Javits Republican

Incumbent Republican U.S. SenatorJacob Javits won against Democratic challengerRamsey Clark in a three way election.

North Carolina election

← 1968 November 5, 1974 1980 →

Nominee Robert Morgan William Stevens Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 633,647 386,720 Percentage 61.6% 37.6%

County results Morgan:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Stevens:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Sam Ervin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Robert Morgan Democratic

Incumbent DemocratSam Ervin chose to retire. The general election was fought between the Democratic nomineeRobert Morgan and the Republican nomineeWilliam Stevens.

North Dakota election

← 1968 1980 →

Nominee Milton R. Young William L. Guy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 114,852 114,675 Percentage 48.45% 48.37%

County results Young:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Guy:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Milton R. Young Republican Elected U.S. Senator Milton R. Young Republican