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1966 United States Senate elections

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1966 United States Senate elections

← 1964 November 8, 1966 1968 →

35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate
51 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Mike Mansfield Everett Dirksen
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 3, 1961 January 3, 1959
Leader's seat Montana Illinois
Seats before 67 33
Seats after 64 36
Seat change Decrease 3 Increase 3
Popular vote 12,971,141[1] 13,654,168[1]
Percentage 48.1% 50.6%
Seats up 20 15
Races won 17 18

1966 United States Senate special election in South Carolina1966 United States Senate special election in Virginia1966 United States Senate election in Alabama1966 United States Senate election in Alaska1966 United States Senate election in Arkansas1966 United States Senate election in Colorado1966 United States Senate election in Delaware1966 United States Senate election in Georgia1966 United States Senate election in Idaho1966 United States Senate election in Illinois1966 United States Senate election in Iowa1966 United States Senate election in Kansas1966 United States Senate election in Kentucky1966 United States Senate election in Louisiana1966 United States Senate election in Maine1966 United States Senate election in Massachusetts1966 United States Senate election in Michigan1966 United States Senate election in Minnesota1966 United States Senate election in Mississippi1966 United States Senate election in Montana1966 United States Senate election in Nebraska1966 United States Senate election in New Hampshire1966 United States Senate election in New Jersey1966 United States Senate election in New Mexico1966 United States Senate election in North Carolina1966 United States Senate election in Oklahoma1966 United States Senate election in Oregon1966 United States Senate election in Rhode Island1966 United States Senate election in South Carolina1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota1966 United States Senate election in Tennessee1966 United States Senate election in Texas1966 United States Senate election in Virginia1966 United States Senate election in West Virginia1966 United States Senate election in Wyoming
Results of the elections:
     Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     No election
Rectangular inset (S. C. and Va.): both seats up for election

Majority Leader before election

Mike Mansfield
Democratic

Elected Majority Leader

Mike Mansfield
Democratic

The 1966 United States Senate elections were elections on November 8, 1966, for the United States Senate which occurred midway through the second (and only full) term of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The 33 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. With divisions in the Democratic base over the Vietnam War, and with the traditional mid-term advantage of the party not holding the presidency, the Republicans took three Democratic seats, thereby breaking Democrats' 2/3rds supermajority. Despite Republican gains, the balance remained overwhelmingly in favor of the Democrats, who retained a 64–36 majority. Democrats were further reduced to 63–37, following the death of Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968.

These were also the first elections held after the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Upon Edward Brooke's election in Massachusetts, he became the first African-American U.S. Senator elected after the end of Reconstruction and the first-ever popularly elected, as Reconstruction ended before the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. As of 2024, this is the most recent Senate election cycle in which no House incumbents were elected to the Senate and the last time any state elected different parties to each Senate seat in a double barrel election.

Results summary

[edit]
64 36
Democratic Republican
Parties Total
Democratic Republican Other
Last elections (1964) 68 32 0 100
Before these elections 67 33 0 100
Not up 47 18 0 65
Up 20 15 35
Class 2 (1960→1966) 18 15 33
Special: Class 1 1 0 1
Special: Class 3 1 0 1
Incumbent retired 1 2 3
Held by same party 0 2 2
Replaced by other party Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Republican 1
Result 0 3 0 3
Incumbent ran 19 13 32
Won re-election 15 13 28
Lost re-election Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Republican 1
Lost renomination,
but held by same party
2 0 2
Lost renomination,
and party lost
Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Republican 1
Result 17 15 0 32
Total elected 17 18 0 35
Net gain/loss Decrease3 Increase3 Steady 3
Nationwide vote 12,358,323 13,169,332 271,245 25,798,900
Share 48.10% 50.64% 1.26% 100%
Result 64 36 0 100

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

Gains, losses, and holds

[edit]

Retirements

[edit]

Two Republicans and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election.

State Senator Replaced by
Massachusetts Leverett Saltonstall Edward Brooke
Oregon Maurine Neuberger Mark Hatfield
Wyoming Milward Simpson Clifford Hansen

Defeats

[edit]

Three Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election and one Democrat sought election to finish the unexpired term but lost in the primary election.

State Senator Replaced by
Illinois Paul Douglas Charles H. Percy
South Carolina (special) Donald S. Russell Fritz Hollings
Tennessee Ross Bass Howard Baker
Virginia A. Willis Robertson William Spong Jr.

Post-election changes

[edit]
State Senator Replaced by
New York Robert F. Kennedy Charles Goodell

Change in composition

[edit]

Before the elections

[edit]
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
Ala.
Ran
D49
Alaska
Ran
D50
Ark.
Ran
Majority → D51
Ga.
Ran
D60
Okla.
Ran
D59
N.C.
Ran
D58
N.M.
Ran
D57
N.H.
Ran
D56
Mont.
Ran
D55
Miss.
Ran
D54
Minn.
Ran
D53
La.
Ran
D52
Ill.
Ran
D61
Ore.
Retired
D62
R.I.
Ran
D63
S.C. (sp)
Ran
D64
Tenn.
Ran
D65
Va. (reg)
Ran
D66
Va. (sp)
Ran
D67
W.Va.
Ran
R33
Wyo.
Retired
R32
Texas
Ran
R31
S.D.
Ran
R21
Idaho
Ran
R22
Iowa
Ran
R23
Kan.
Ran
R24
Ky.
Ran
R25
Maine
Ran
R26
Mass.
Retired
R27
Mich.
Ran
R28
Neb.
Ran
R29
N.J.
Ran
R30
S.C.
Ran
R20
Del.
Ran
R19
Colo.
Ran
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10

After the elections

[edit]
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
Ala.
Re-elected
D49
Alaska
Re-elected
D50
Ark.
Re-elected
Majority → D51
Ga.
Re-elected
D60
R.I.
Re-elected
D59
Okla.
Re-elected
D58
N.C.
Re-elected
D57
N.M.
Re-elected
D56
N.H.
Re-elected
D55
Mont.
Re-elected
D54
Miss.
Re-elected
D53
Minn.
Elected[a]
D52
La.
Re-elected
D61
S.C. (sp)
Hold
D62
Va. (reg)
Hold
D63
Va. (sp)
Elected[a]
D64
W.Va.
Re-elected
R36
Tenn.
Gain
R35
Ore.
Gain
R34
Ill.
Gain
R33
Wyo.
Hold
R32
Texas
Re-elected
R31
S.D.
Re-elected
R21
Idaho
Re-elected
R22
Iowa
Re-elected
R23
Kan.
Re-elected
R24
Ky.
Re-elected
R25
Maine
Re-elected
R26
Mass.
Hold
R27
Mich.
Elected[a]
R28
Neb.
Re-elected
R29
N.J.
Re-elected
R30
S.C. (reg)
Re-elected
R20
Del.
Re-elected
R19
Colo.
Re-elected
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10
Key
D# Democratic
R# Republican

Race summaries

[edit]

Special elections during the 89th Congress

[edit]

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1966 or before January 3, 1967; ordered by election date, then state.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
South Carolina
(Class 3)
Donald S. Russell Democratic 1965 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost nomination.
New senator elected November 6, 1966.
Democratic hold.
Virginia
(Class 1)
Harry F. Byrd Jr. Democratic 1965 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected November 6, 1966.
  • Green tickY Harry F. Byrd Jr. (Democratic) 53.3%
  • Lawrence M. Traylor (Republican) 37.4%
  • John W. Carter (Independent) 7.9%

Elections leading to the next Congress

[edit]

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1967; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Alabama John Sparkman Democratic 1946 (special)
1948
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Alaska Bob Bartlett Democratic 1958 (New seat)
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas John L. McClellan Democratic 1942
1948
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Colorado Gordon Allott Republican 1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Delaware J. Caleb Boggs Republican 1960 Incumbent re-elected.
Georgia Richard Russell Jr. Democratic 1932 (special)
1936
1942
1948
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Idaho Leonard B. Jordan Republican 1962 (Appointed)
1962 (special)
Incumbent re-elected.
Illinois Paul Douglas Democratic 1948
1954
1960
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Iowa Jack Miller Republican 1960 Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas James B. Pearson Republican 1962 (Appointed)
1962 (special)
Incumbent re-elected.
Kentucky John Sherman Cooper Republican 1946 (special)
1948 (Lost)
1952 (special)
1954 (Lost)
1956 (special)
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Louisiana Allen J. Ellender Democratic 1936
1942
1948
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Maine Margaret Chase Smith Republican 1948
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Massachusetts Leverett Saltonstall Republican 1944 (special)
1948
1954
1960
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Michigan Robert P. Griffin Republican 1966 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected.
Minnesota Walter Mondale DFL 1964 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected.
  • Green tickY Walter Mondale (DFL) 53.9%
  • Robert A. Forsythe (Republican) 45.2%
Mississippi James Eastland Democratic 1942
1948
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Montana Lee Metcalf Democratic 1960 Incumbent re-elected.
Nebraska Carl Curtis Republican 1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
New Hampshire Thomas J. McIntyre Democratic 1962 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
New Jersey Clifford P. Case Republican 1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
New Mexico Clinton Anderson Democratic 1948
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina B. Everett Jordan Democratic 1958 (Appointed)
1958 (special)
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Oklahoma Fred R. Harris Democratic 1964 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Fred R. Harris (Democratic) 53.7%
  • Pat J. Patterson (Republican) 46.3%
Oregon Maurine Neuberger Democratic 1960 (special)
1960
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Winner delayed term until January 10, 1967, in order to finish his term as Governor of Oregon.
Rhode Island Claiborne Pell Democratic 1960 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina Strom Thurmond Republican 1954 (write-in)[b]
1954 (Appointed)
1956 (Resigned)
1956 (special)
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Strom Thurmond (Republican) 62.2%
  • Bradley Morrah (Democratic) 37.8%
South Dakota Karl Mundt Republican 1948
1948 (Appointed)
1954
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Karl Mundt (Republican) 66.3%
  • Donn H. Wright (Democratic) 33.7%
Tennessee Ross Bass Democratic 1964 (special) Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Texas John Tower Republican 1961 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia A. Willis Robertson Democratic 1946 (Appointed)
1948
1954
1960
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Incumbent resigned December 30, 1966 to give successor preferential seniority.
Winner seated December 31, 1966.
  • Green tickY William Spong Jr. (Democratic) 58.6%
  • James P. Ould Jr. (Republican) 33.5%
  • F. Lee Hawthorne (Conservative) 7.9%
West Virginia Jennings Randolph Democratic 1958 (special)
1960
Incumbent re-elected.
Wyoming Milward Simpson Republican 1962 (special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.

Closest races

[edit]

Nine races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State Party of winner Margin
South Carolina (special) Democratic 2.7%
Oregon Republican (flip) 3.5%
Wyoming Republican 3.6%
New Mexico Democratic 6.2%
Montana Democratic 6.4%
Kansas Republican 7.0%
Oklahoma Democratic 7.4%
New Hampshire Democratic 8.1%
Minnesota Democratic/DFL 8.7%

There is no tipping point state, as the Arkansas, Georgia, and Louisiana races were all unopposed.

Alabama

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee John Sparkman John Grenier
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 482,138 313,018
Percentage 60.07% 39.00%

County results
Sparkman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Grenier:      60-70%

U.S. senator before election

John Sparkman
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Sparkman
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat John Sparkman was easily reelected to a fourth full term. Republican challenger John Grenier received 39% of the vote, the best result that a challenger to Sparkman had ever received to that date, presaging the rise of the Republican party in Alabama after decades of Democratic dominance.

1966 United States Senate election in Alabama[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John J. Sparkman (Incumbent) 482,138 60.07
Republican John Grenier 313,018 39.00
Independent Julian E. Elgin 7,444 0.93
None Scattering 8 0.00
Majority 169,120 21.07
Turnout 802,608
Democratic hold

Alaska

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Alaska

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1970 (special) →
 
Nominee Bob Bartlett Lee McKinley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 49,289 15,961
Percentage 75.54% 24.46%

Results by state house district
Bartlett:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Bartlett
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Bartlett
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Bob Bartlett was reelected to his third (a second full) term in a landslide, defeating Republican candidate Lee McKinley in a rematch of the 1960 election.

1966 United States Senate election in Alaska[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Bartlett (Incumbent) 49,289 75.54
Republican Lee L. McKinley 15,961 24.46
Majority 33,328 51.08
Turnout 65,250
Democratic hold

Arkansas

[edit]
Senator John L. McClellan

Incumbent Democrat John L. McClellan was reelected unopposed to a fifth term in office.

1966 United States Senate election in Arkansas[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John L. McClellan (Incumbent) Unopposed 100
Democratic hold

Colorado

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Gordon Allott Roy Romer
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 368,307 266,198
Percentage 58.02% 41.93%

County results
Allott:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Romer:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Gordon Allott
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Gordon Allott
Republican

Republican incumbent Gordon Allott was reelected to a third term, defeating Democratic state senator and future governor Roy Romer.

1966 United States Senate election in Colorado[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gordon L. Allott (Incumbent) 368,307 58.02
Democratic Roy Romer 266,198 41.93
Write-In Walter Cranson 332 0.05
Majority 102,109 16.09
Turnout 634,837
Republican hold

Delaware

[edit]
Delaware election

← 1960
1972 →
 
Nominee J. Caleb Boggs James M. Tunnell Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 97,268 67,263
Percentage 59.12% 40.88%

County Results
Boggs:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election

J. Caleb Boggs
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

J. Caleb Boggs
Republican

Republican incumbent J. Caleb Boggs won reelection to a second term over Democratic candidate James M. Tunnell Jr., whose father had served in the Senate in the 1940s.

1966 United States Senate election in Delaware[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Caleb Boggs (Incumbent) 97,268 59.12
Democratic James M. Tunnell Jr. 67,263 40.88
Majority 30,005 18.24
Turnout 164,531
Republican hold

Georgia

[edit]
1966 Democratic Senate primary election in Georgia

← 1960 September 14, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Richard Russell Jr. Harry Hyde
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 596,209 61,922
Percentage 90.59% 9.41%

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

U.S. senator before election

Richard Russell Jr.
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Richard Russell Jr.
Democratic

Democratic incumbent Richard Russell Jr. was reelected unopposed to a sixth full term (and seventh overall.)

1966 United States Senate election in Georgia[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Russell Jr. (Incumbent) 631,002 99.95
None Scattering 328 0.05
Majority 630,674 99.90
Turnout 631,330
Democratic hold

Idaho

[edit]
Idaho election

 
Nominee Len Jordan Ralph Harding
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 139,819 112,637
Percentage 55.38% 44.62%

County Results
Jordan:      50–60%      60–70%
Harding:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Leonard B. Jordan
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Leonard B. Jordan
Republican

Republican incumbent Leonard B. Jordan won reelection a full term, having previously served out the unexpired term of the late Henry Dworshak. He defeated Democratic Congressman Ralph R. Harding.

1966 United States Senate election in Idaho[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leonard B. Jordan (Incumbent) 139,819 55.38
Democratic Ralph R. Harding 112,637 44.62
Majority 27,182 10.76
Turnout 252,456
Republican hold

Illinois

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
Turnout71.56%
 
Nominee Charles Percy Paul Douglas
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,100,449 1,678,147
Percentage 54.95% 43.90%

County results

Percy:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Douglas:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Paul Douglas
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Charles H. Percy
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Paul Douglas, seeking a fourth term in the United States Senate, faced off against Republican Charles H. Percy, a businessman and the 1964 Republican nominee for Governor of Illinois. Also running was Robert Sabonjian (I), Mayor of Waukegan. A competitive election ensued, featuring campaign appearances by former Vice-President Richard M. Nixon on behalf of Percy.[2] Ultimately, Percy ended up defeating Senator Douglas by a fairly wide margin, allowing him to win what would be the first of three terms in the Senate.

1966 United States Senate election in Illinois[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Charles H. Percy 2,100,449 54.95 +9.75%
Democratic Paul H. Douglas (Incumbent) 1,678,147 43.90 −10.73%
Independent Robert Sabonjian 41,965 1.10
Write-ins 2,163 0.05
Majority 422,302 11.05 +1.61%
Turnout 3,822,724
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Iowa

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Jack Miller E.B. Smith
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 522,339 324,114
Percentage 60.92% 37.80%

County results
Miller:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

U.S. senator before election

Jack Miller
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Jack Miller
Republican

Republican incumbent Jack Miller was reelected to a second term, defeating Democrat Elbert B. Smith, who had previously run for the state's other Senate seat in 1962.

1966 United States Senate election in Iowa[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Miller (Incumbent) 522,339 60.91
Democratic E. B. Smith 324,114 37.80
Constitution Robert D. Dilley 3,826 0.45
Peace Independent Charles H. Day 3,050 0.36
Iowa Herbert F. Hoover 2,085 0.24
Prohibition Verne Higens 2,081 0.24
None Scattering 1 0.00
Majority 198,225 23.11
Turnout 857,496
Republican hold

Kansas

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1962 (special) November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee James B. Pearson James Floyd Breeding
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 350,077 303,223
Percentage 52.15% 45.17%

County results
Pearson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Breeding:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

James B. Pearson
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

James B. Pearson
Republican

Incumbent Republican James B. Pearson won reelection to a full term, having previously served out the unexpired term of Andrew Frank Schoeppel following Schoeppel's death. He defeated Democratic Congressman James Floyd Breeding.

1966 United States Senate election in Kansas[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James B. Pearson (Incumbent) 350,077 52.15
Democratic James Floyd Breeding 303,223 45.17
Prohibition Earl F. Dodge 9,364 1.39
Conservative George W. Snell 7,103 1.06
None Scattering 1,578 0.24
Majority 46,854 6.98
Turnout 671,345
Republican hold

Kentucky

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee John Sherman Cooper John Y. Brown Sr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 483,805 266,079
Percentage 64.52% 35.48%

County results
Cooper:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90%
Brown:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

John Sherman Cooper
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Sherman Cooper
Republican

Republican incumbent John Sherman Cooper won reelection over Democrat John Y. Brown Sr., an attorney and former Congressman.

1966 United States Senate election in Kentucky[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Sherman Cooper (Incumbent) 483,805 64.52
Democratic John Young Brown Sr. 266,079 35.48
Majority 217,726 29.04
Turnout 749,884
Republican hold

Louisiana

[edit]
Senator Allen J. Ellender

Incumbent Democrat Allen J. Ellender was elected unopposed to a sixth term.

1966 United States Senate election in Louisiana[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Allen J. Ellender (Incumbent) 437,695 100.00
Democratic hold

Maine

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Maine

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Margaret Chase Smith Elmer H. Violette
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 188,291 131,136
Percentage 58.93% 41.04%

County results
Smith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Violette:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Margaret Chase Smith
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Margaret Chase Smith
Republican

Republican incumbent Margaret Chase Smith won reelection to a fourth term over Democrat Elmer H. Violette, a state legislator and future judge of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

1966 United States Senate election in Maine[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Margaret Chase Smith (Incumbent) 188,291 58.93
Democratic Elmer H. Violette 131,136 41.04
None Scattering 108 0.03
Majority 57,155 17.89
Turnout 319,535
Republican hold

Massachusetts

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Edward Brooke Endicott Peabody
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,213,473 774,761
Percentage 60.68% 38.74%


U.S. senator before election

Leverett Saltonstall
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Edward Brooke
Republican

Republican State Attorney General Edward Brooke defeated his challengers. Republican incumbent, Leverett Saltonstall, was retiring after serving for 22 years. Brooke was the first black U.S. senator elected since Reconstruction.

Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Endicott Peabody[c] 320,967 50.35%
Democratic John F. Collins[d] 265,016 41.85
Democratic Thomas Boylston Adams[e] 51,435 8.07
General election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Edward Brooke[f] 1,213,473 60.68% +4.49%
Democratic Endicott Peabody 774,761 38.74 −4.72%
Socialist Labor Lawrence Gilfedder[g] 6,790 0.34 +0.10%
Prohibition Mark R. Shaw[h] 4,833 0.24 +0.12%
Majority 438,712 21.94
Turnout 1,999,857
Republican hold

Michigan

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Robert P. Griffin G. Mennen Williams
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,363,530 1,069,484
Percentage 55.90% 43.85%

County results
Griffin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Williams:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Robert P. Griffin
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert P. Griffin
Republican

Republican incumbent Robert P. Griffin won reelection to a full term, having initially been appointed to the seat following the death of Patrick V. McNamara six months earlier. He defeated Democratic former Governor G. Mennen Williams.

1966 United States Senate election in Michigan[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert P. Griffin (Incumbent) 1,363,808 55.88
Democratic G. Mennen Williams 1,070,484 43.86
Socialist Labor Ralph M. Muncy 6,166 0.25
None Scattering 185 0.01
Majority 293,324 12.02
Turnout 2,440,643
Republican hold

Minnesota

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Walter Mondale Robert Forsythe
Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Popular vote 685,840 574,868
Percentage 53.94% 45.21%

County results
Mondale:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Forsythe:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Walter Mondale
Democratic (DFL)

Elected U.S. Senator

Walter Mondale
Democratic (DFL)

Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Walter Mondale, who had originally been appointed in 1964 to replace Hubert Humphrey after Humphrey was elected Vice President of the United States, defeated Republican challenger Robert A. Forsythe, to win a full term.

Democratic primary[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Walter F. Mondale (Incumbent) 410,841 90.97
Democratic (DFL) Ralph E. Franklin 40,785 9.03
Republican primary[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert A. Forsythe 211,282 81.19
Republican Henry A. Johnsen 48,941 18.81
General election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Walter F. Mondale (Incumbent) 685,840 53.94
Republican Robert A. Forsythe 574,868 45.21
Socialist Workers Joseph Johnson 5,487 0.43
Industrial Government William Braatz 5,231 0.41
Majority 110,972 8.73
Turnout 1,271,426
Democratic (DFL) hold

Mississippi

[edit]
Mississippi election

← 1960
1972 →
 
Nominee James O. Eastland Prentiss Walker
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 258,248 105,150
Percentage 65.56% 26.70%

 
Nominee Clifton R. Whitley
Party Mississippi Freedom Democratic
Popular vote 30,502
Percentage 7.74%

County Result
Eastland:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Walker:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election

James O. Eastland
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

James O. Eastland
Democratic

Incumbent James Eastland, who first entered the Senate in 1941, faced the opposition of Prentiss Walker, the state's first Republican congressman since Reconstruction.[9][10]

Walker, who voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ran on the right of Eastland and solely focused on the white vote, accusing him of not being hard enough in opposing integration and being friendly with President Johnson, accusations to which Eastland partisans opposed the fact Walker nominated a black constituent, Marvell Lang, to the Air Force Academy.[11][12][13] He proudly announced he went to a meeting of the Americans for the Preservation of the White Race, a Ku Klux Klan front, enabling Eastland to proudly announce he was opposed by both the Klan and the AFL-CIO.[13]

Eastland cast the civil rights movement with the tar of Communism and Black Power and raised the bloody shirt of Reconstruction against the candidacy of Walker.[12] He was supported by segregationists Tom Brady, George Wallace and Leander Perez.[13]

Most of the White voters stayed with Eastland, and Walker ironically won African-Americans in southwestern Mississippi who wanted to cast a protest vote against Eastland.[9]

Years later, Wirt Yerger, the chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party in the 1960s, said that Walker's decision to relinquish his House seat after one term for the vagaries of a Senate race against Eastland was "very devastating" to the growth of the GOP in Mississippi.[14]

Reverend Clifton Whitley also ran for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.[12][15] A sore-loser law was invoked against Whitley, who ran in the Democratic primary, and he only won one week before the election, thereby preventing to enter any serious campaign or fundraising.[13]

1966 United States Senate election in Mississippi[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James O. Eastland (Incumbent) 258,248 65.56
Republican Prentiss Walker 105,150 26.69
Independent Clifton R. Whitley 30,502 7.74
Majority 153,098 38.87
Turnout 393,900
Democratic hold

Montana

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Lee Metcalf Tim Babcock
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 138,166 121,697
Percentage 53.17% 46.83%

County results
Metcalf:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Babcock:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Lee Metcalf
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Lee Metcalf
Democratic

Incumbent United States senator Lee Metcalf, who was first elected to the Senate in 1960, ran for re-election. He won the Democratic primary uncontested, and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Tim Babcock, the Republican nominee and the Governor of Montana. Though the race remained close, Metcalf was able to expand on his 1960 margin of victory, and defeated Babcock to win a second term.

Democratic Party primary[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lee Metcalf (Incumbent) 73,975 100.00
Total votes 73,975 100.00
Republican Primary[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim M. Babcock 54,828 100.00
Total votes 54,828 100.00
1966 United States Senate election in Montana[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lee Metcalf (Incumbent) 138,166 53.17 +2.44%
Republican Tim M. Babcock 121,697 46.83 −2.44%
Majority 16,469 6.34 +4.87%
Turnout 259,863
Democratic hold Swing

Nebraska

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Carl Curtis Frank B. Morrison
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 296,116 187,950
Percentage 61.04% 38.75%

County results
Curtis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Morrison:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Carl Curtis
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Carl Curtis
Republican

The incumbent Republican Carl Curtis was re-elected to a third term, defeating outgoing Democratic Governor Frank B. Morrison.

1966 United States Senate election in Nebraska[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carl Curtis (Incumbent) 296,116 61.04
Democratic Frank B. Morrison 187,950 38.74
None Scattering 1,032 0.21
Majority 108,166 23.30
Turnout 485,098
Republican hold

New Hampshire

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1962 (special) November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Thomas J. McIntyre Harrison R. Thyng
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 123,888 105,241
Percentage 54.03% 45.90%

County results

McIntyre:      50–60%      60–70%

Thyng:      50–60%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Thomas J. McIntyre
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Thomas J. McIntyre
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Thomas J. McIntyre was reelected to a full term, having previously won a 1962 special election to serve out the unexpired term of the late Styles Bridges. He defeated U.S. Air Force General Harrison Thyng.

1966 United States Senate election in New Hampshire[1][17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas J. McIntyre (Incumbent) 123,888 54.03
Republican Harrison R. Thyng 105,241 45.90
Independent Helen Bliss 108 0.05
Write-in 68 0.03
Majority 18,647 8.13
Turnout 229,305
Democratic hold

New Jersey

[edit]
New Jersey election

← 1960
1972 →
 
Nominee Clifford P. Case Warren W. Wilentz
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,278,843 788,021
Percentage 60.02% 36.98%

County results
Case:      50-60%      60-70%
Wilentz:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Clifford P. Case
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Clifford P. Case
Republican

Republican incumbent Clifford P. Case was reelected to a third term in a landslide over Democratic Middlesex County Attorney Warren W. Wilentz.

1966 United States Senate election in New Jersey[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Clifford P. Case (Incumbent) 1,278,843 60.02
Democratic Warren W. Wilentz 788,021 36.98
Conservative Robert Lee Schlachter 53,606 2.52
Socialist Labor Julius Levin 10,218 0.48
Majority 490,822 23.04
Turnout 2,130,688
Republican hold

New Mexico

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in New Mexico

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Clinton Anderson Anderson Carter
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 137,205 120,988
Percentage 53.14% 46.86%

County results
Anderson:      50–60%      60–70%
Carter:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Clinton Anderson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Clinton Anderson
Democratic

Democratic incumbent Clinton Anderson was reelected to a fourth term over Republican candidate Anderson Carter.

1966 United States Senate election in New Mexico[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clinton Anderson (Incumbent) 137,205 53.14
Republican Anderson Carter 120,988 46.86
Majority 16,217 7.28
Turnout 258,193
Democratic hold

North Carolina

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee B. Everett Jordan John Shallcross
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 501,440 400,502
Percentage 55.59% 44.40%

County results
Everett:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Shallcross:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

B. Everett Jordan
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

B. Everett Jordan
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat B. Everett Jordan was reelected to a second full term (and third overall), defeating Republican challenger John Shallcross.

1966 United States Senate election in North Carolina[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic B. Everett Jordan (Incumbent) 501,440 55.59
Republican John S. Shallcross 400,502 44.40
Write-In Donald R. Badgley 36 0.00
Majority 100,938 11.19
Turnout 901,978
Democratic hold

Oklahoma

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1964 (special) November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Fred R. Harris Pat J. Patterson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 343,157 295,585
Percentage 53.72% 46.28%

County results
Harris:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Patterson:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Fred R. Harris
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Fred R. Harris
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Fred R. Harris was reelected to a full term, having won a special election two years earlier to complete Robert S. Kerr's unexpired term. He defeated Republican candidate Pat Patterson.

1966 United States Senate election in Oklahoma[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred R. Harris (Incumbent) 343,157 53.72
Republican Pat H. Patterson 295,585 46.28
Majority 47,572 7.44
Turnout 638,742
Democratic hold

Oregon

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1960 November 6, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Mark Hatfield Robert B. Duncan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 354,391 330,374
Percentage 51.75% 47.25%

County results

Hatfield:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Duncan:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Maurine Neuberger
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Mark Hatfield
Republican

Incumbent Senator Maurine Brown Neuberger did not seek re-election. Held during the escalation of United States involvement of the Vietnam War, the race was between Republican candidate and incumbent Governor of Oregon Mark Hatfield, who opposed the war, and Democratic congressman Robert B. Duncan, who supported the war. In an unusual move, Oregon's other Senator, Democrat Wayne Morse, who also opposed the war, crossed party lines to endorse Hatfield, who won in a close election, his first of five terms in the United States Senate.

In March 1960, first-term U.S. senator Richard L. Neuberger died in office. Despite calls to appoint his widow, Maurine Brown Neuberger, to the position, Governor Mark Hatfield instead appointed Oregon Supreme Court justice Hall S. Lusk to fill the position until a November special election. Hatfield stated that he intended to have appointed Neuberger, but that he wanted to appoint someone who would be focused on completing the remaining eight months of the term and not running in the regular-term Senate election as Neuberger had announced she would.[18] Some observers noted that Hatfield, a Republican, though required by state law to appoint someone of the same political party as the late Senator Neuberger, did not want to give the other party the political advantage of incumbency.[18][19]

Neuberger went on to win the special election over former Oregon governor Elmo Smith,[19] but despite the urging of Oregon congressman Robert B. Duncan,[20] she chose not to run for a second term in 1966, citing health issues, poor relations with Oregon's senior Senator Wayne Morse, and the burden of fundraising.[19] Duncan also urged fellow Oregon congressperson Edith Green to run for the post, but Green also declined.[20]

On the seventh anniversary of his inauguration as Oregon's 29th governor, Hatfield announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination.[21] In his announcement, Hatfield focused on the economic achievements in the state since his election, citing record-high employment and the creation of 138,000 jobs.[22] Hatfield was considered vulnerable on the subject of the Vietnam War, which he opposed, in contrast with 75% of Oregonians, who favored the war.[23] Hatfield's views on the war had been strongly affected by his own experiences: as a U.S. Navy ensign in World War II, he had been among the first to walk through the devastation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima; in a later assignment in Vietnam, he saw first-hand how imperialism led to incredible disparity, with countless Vietnamese living in poverty next to opulent French mansions.[23] The war issue gave Hatfield competition from several minor candidates on the right, but Hatfield nonetheless won by a wide margin, besting his nearest competitor, conservative evangelist Walter Huss, by a nearly 6–1 margin.[24]

Republican primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1966[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Hatfield 174,280 75.18
Republican Walter Huss 31,368 13.53
Republican Jim Bacaloff 19,547 8.43
Republican George Altvater 6,637 2.86
Total votes 231,832 100.00

In March 1966, Duncan announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, which was quickly endorsed by Neuberger.[26] In his speech announcing his candidacy, Duncan reiterated his strong support for President Lyndon B. Johnson's escalation of the Vietnam War with its goal of stopping Communist expansion in Asia.[26] Duncan's strong announcement exposed a rift among Oregon Democrats, including Oregon's senior Senator Wayne Morse, a leading anti-war voice,[26] and Duncan's House colleague, Edith Green. Green had urged Duncan to run, but Duncan's hawkish statement troubled her.[27] Soon after Duncan announced his candidacy, Howard Morgan, a former member of the Federal Power Commission, announced he was running as an anti-war option to Duncan. Morgan had the support of Morse and Green (though Green's endorsement did not come until the final week of the campaign),[27][28][29] and Duncan had the endorsement of most of the party organization and the major newspapers in the state. When the results were announced, Duncan won by a nearly 2–1 margin in one of the first elections in which the Vietnam War was a central issue.[30]

Democratic primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1966[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert B. Duncan 161,189 62.20
Democratic Howard Morgan 89,174 34.41
Democratic Gilbert L. Meyer 8,788 3.39
Total votes 259,151 100.00

The general election was now set up between two participants whose views on the Vietnam War were in direct opposition to many in their party: Duncan, a pro-war Democrat and Hatfield, an anti-war Republican.[20][32] With more than three-quarters of Oregonians sharing his view on the war, Duncan used the issue to attack Hatfield, stating that the outcome of the war would determine "whether Americans will die in the buffalo grass of Vietnam or the rye grass of Oregon."[23][33] Duncan also stressed that his election was necessary to provide a pro-Government voice for Oregon to counteract the anti-war views of Senator Morse.[33] Morse, who had strongly supported Duncan's rival in the primary, now went across party lines and threw his support to Hatfield, though he did not campaign for him.[20][33]

Hatfield, whose popularity as Governor had made him the favorite in the race, soon found his campaign in trouble. Morse's support backfired among many Republicans; Morse had left their party in 1952 to join the Democrats a few years later, and many worried that Hatfield would follow the same path.[34][35] At a June conference of governors of all 50 states, Hatfield was the lone dissenter on a resolution expressing support for the war, calling the resolution a "blank check" for President Johnson's conduct of the war.[33][36] By the middle of the summer, fueled by the departure of Republican hawks (such as former Oregon State Treasurer and 1962 Senate candidate Sig Unander who wholeheartedly endorsed Duncan), and with a strong majority of voters in the state already registered as Democrats, Duncan surged to a lead in most polls.[34]

While Hatfield did not back away from his war stance, he sought to focus his campaign on other issues, chiefly focusing on the Johnson administration's economic policies that, in Hatfield's view, had created a recession that was creating unemployment in Oregon's timber industry.[20][34] As the election neared in early fall, Hatfield had pulled even with Duncan with momentum on his side.[34] Hatfield won in 27 of Oregon's 36 counties en route to a solid but narrow 52%-48% victory.[37][38] In his victory speech, Hatfield maintained that the vote was not a referendum on the war and that "neither Hanoi nor Washington should misread the results."[37]

1966 United States Senate election in Oregon[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Hatfield 354,391 51.75
Democratic Robert B. Duncan 330,374 48.25
Total votes 684,765 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

Hatfield would be re-elected to five more terms, most comfortably, before retiring from the Senate in 1996. Duncan sought revenge against Morse in the Democratic primary of the 1968 Senate election, but came in second in a close three-way primary that he might have won had not a third candidate drawn off some anti-Morse votes.[20] After Morse's loss to Bob Packwood in the 1968 general election, Duncan and Morse again squared off for the Democratic nomination in the 1972 Senate election to face Hatfield. Morse won again, and lost to Hatfield in the general election.[20] In 1974, Duncan was re-elected to the House of Representatives. He served three terms before being defeated in the Democratic primary by Ron Wyden in 1980.[20][40]

Rhode Island

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Claiborne Pell Ruth M. Briggs
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 219,331 104,838
Percentage 67.66% 32.34%

County results
Pell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Claiborne Pell
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Claiborne Pell
Democratic

Democratic incumbent Claiborne Pell was reelected to a second term over Republican challenger Ruth M. Briggs.

1966 United States Senate election in Rhode Island[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Claiborne Pell (Incumbent) 219,331 67.66
Republican Ruth M. Briggs 104,838 32.34
Majority 114,493 35.32
Turnout 324,169
Democratic hold

South Carolina

[edit]

There were two elections, due to the death of Olin D. Johnston in 1965.

South Carolina (regular)

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in South Carolina

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Strom Thurmond Bradley Morrah
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 271,297 164,955
Percentage 62.19% 37.81%

County results

Thurmond:      50-59%      60-69%      70-79%

Morrah:      50-59%

U.S. senator before election

Strom Thurmond
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Strom Thurmond
Republican

Incumbent Strom Thurmond, who had switched parties from Democratic to Republican in 1964, easily defeated state senator Bradley Morrah in the general election.

The two Democrats who could have defeated Thurmond competed against each other in the special election to serve the remaining two years of Olin D. Johnston's six-year term. As a result, little known state senator Bradley Morrah of Greenville won the South Carolina Democratic Party primary election on June 14 against John Bolt Culbertson to become the nominee in the general election.

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Bradley Morrah 167,401 55.9
John Bolt Culbertson 131,870 44.1

Senator Strom Thurmond faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election.

Morrah faced an uphill struggle against Senator Thurmond because the Democratic resources were primarily poured into the special election to help Fritz Hollings and in the gubernatorial contest for Robert Evander McNair. Furthermore, Thurmond refused to debate Morrah and Thurmond boasted of the endorsements he received from Southern Democratic senators Richard Russell Jr., John C. Stennis, and Herman Talmadge. Morrah was easily dispatched by Thurmond in the general election and he also lost re-election to his state senate seat. He would never again hold public office, which was a routine occurrence for Thurmond's opponents.

1966 South Carolina election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Strom Thurmond (Incumbent) 271,297 62.2 +62.2%
Democratic Bradley Morrah 164,955 37.8 −62.2%
Majority 106,342 24.4 −75.6%
Turnout 436,252 49.1% −6.3%
Republican hold

South Carolina (special)

[edit]
1966 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

← 1962 November 8, 1966 1968 →
 
Nominee Ernest Hollings Marshall Parker
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 223,790 212,032
Percentage 51.35% 48.65%

County results
Hollings:      50–60%      60–70%
Parker:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election

Donald S. Russell
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

The election resulted from the death of Senator Olin D. Johnston in 1965. Then-Governor Donald S. Russell entered in a prearranged agreement with Lieutenant Governor Robert Evander McNair in which Russell would resign his post so that he could be appointed Senator. However, former Governor Fritz Hollings won the Democratic primary election and went on to beat Republican state senator Marshall Parker in the general election to fill the remaining two years of the unexpired term.

In the 1962 gubernatorial election, Donald S. Russell had stated that he would serve out a full term and not seek a higher office. However, midway through his term he resigned from the governorship so that he could be appointed to the United States Senate. Russell faced a challenge in the Democratic primary from former Governor Fritz Hollings, who had lost to Olin D. Johnston in the 1962 primary for the same Senate seat. On June 14, the South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary election and Hollings scored a comfortable victory over Russell to become the Democratic nominee.

Democratic Primary
Candidate Votes %
Fritz Hollings 196,405 60.8%
Donald S. Russell (Incumbent) 126,595 39.2%

The South Carolina Republican Party was in the beginning stages of becoming a major political party in South Carolina politics. It had few elected officials in the state and when state senator Marshall Parker from Oconee County sought the Republican nomination, he did not face any opposition.

Parker faced an uphill battle in winning the Senate seat. First, the state was dominated by the Democratic Party and any Republican politician faced a tough time seeking election. However, there was hope for Republicans because Barry Goldwater had won the state in the 1964 presidential election. Nevertheless, most of the resources of the Republican party were allocated for Strom Thurmond's re-election campaign and Joseph O. Rogers Jr.'s unsuccessful gubernatorial election bid. In spite of these challenges, Parker was able to kept the race close and almost unseated Hollings in the general election.

South Carolina special election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Fritz Hollings 223,790 51.3 −5.9%
Republican Marshall Parker 212,032 48.7 +5.9%
Majority 11,758 2.6 −11.8%
Turnout 435,822 49.1% +2.2%
Democratic hold

Hollings's first Senate victory was also his closest and he was easily re-elected in 1968 (full term), 1974, 1980, and 1986, with somewhat tougher races in 1992 and 1998, although neither with a margin as narrow as that of his initial election. He eventually became seventh longest-serving senator in history (just behind Robert Byrd, Thurmond, Ted Kennedy, Daniel Inouye, Carl Hayden and John C. Stennis). He and Thurmond were also the longest-serving Senate duo. Because of this, despite his length of service, Hollings spent 36 years as the junior Senator, even though - with his penultimate term - he had gained seniority of all but four of his colleagues - Byrd, Thurmond, Inouye and Kennedy. Hollings went on to become a nationally important political figure, e.g., serving as Chairman of the Budget committee.

South Dakota

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Karl E. Mundt Donn H. Wright
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 150,517 76,563
Percentage 66.28% 33.72%

County results
Mundt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Wright:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Karl E. Mundt
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Karl E. Mundt
Republican

Incumbent Republican Karl Mundt was reelected to a fourth term over Democratic state legislator Donn Wright.

1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Karl E. Mundt (Incumbent) 150,517 66.28
Democratic Donn H. Wright 76,563 33.72
Majority 73,954 32.56
Turnout 227,080
Republican hold

Tennessee

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1964 (special) November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Howard Baker Frank G. Clement
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 483,063 383,843
Percentage 55.72% 44.27%

County results
Baker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Clement:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election

Ross Bass
Democratic

Elected Senator

Howard Baker
Republican

Republican Howard Baker won the U.S. Senate election in Tennessee, he defeated the Democratic nominee, Frank G. Clement.

General election[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Howard Baker 483,063 55.72
Democratic Frank G. Clement 383,843 44.27
None Write-Ins 55 0.01
Majority 99,220 10.45
Turnout 866,961
Republican gain from Democratic

Texas

[edit]
Texas election

 
Nominee John Tower Waggoner Carr
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 842,501 643,855
Percentage 56.42% 43.12%

County results
Tower:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Carr:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%

U.S. senator before election

John Tower
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Tower
Republican

Incumbent Republican John Tower was reelected to a second term, defeating Democratic State Attorney General Waggoner Carr.

1966 United States Senate election in Texas[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Tower (Incumbent) 841,501 56.39
Democratic Waggoner Carr 643,855 43.15
Constitution James Baker Holland 6,778 0.45
None Scattering 45 0.00
Majority 197,646 13.24
Turnout 1,492,179
Republican hold

Virginia

[edit]

There were two elections, due to the resignation of Harry F. Byrd Sr. in 1965.

Virginia (regular)

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Virginia

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee William B. Spong Jr. James P. Ould Jr. F. Lee Hawthorne
Party Democratic Republican Conservative
Popular vote 429,855 245,681 58,251
Percentage 58.57% 33.48% 7.94%

County and independent city results
Spong:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Ould:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election

A. Willis Robertson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

William B. Spong Jr.
Democratic

Democratic State Senator William B. Spong Jr. narrowly defeated incumbent A. Willis Robertson in the Democratic primary, than defeated Republican James P. Ould Jr. and Independent F. Lee Hawthorne.

1966 United States Senate election in Virginia[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William B. Spong Jr. 429,855 58.57 −22.70%
Republican James P. Ould Jr. 245,681 33.48 +33.48%
Independent F. Lee Hawthorne 58,251 7.94
Write-ins 92 0.01 −0.17%
Majority 184,174 25.10 −41.93%
Turnout 733,879
Democratic hold

Virginia (special)

[edit]
1966 United States Senate special election in Virginia

← 1964 November 8, 1966 1970 →
 
Nominee Harry F. Byrd Jr. Lawrence M. Traylor John W. Carter
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Popular vote 389,028 272,804 57,692
Percentage 53.30% 37.38% 7.90%

County and Independent City Results
Byrd:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Traylor:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election

Harry F. Byrd Jr.
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Harry F. Byrd Jr.
Democratic

Incumbent Senator Harry F. Byrd Sr. had resigned the previous year for health reasons, and his son Harry F. Byrd Jr. had been appointed to replace him. Byrd defeated Republican Lawrence M. Traylor and independent candidate John W. Carter, and was able to finish the rest of his father's term.

1966 United States Senate special election in Virginia[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Harry F. Byrd Jr. (Incumbent) 389,028 53.30 −10.50%
Republican Lawrence M. Traylor 272,804 37.38 +18.35%
Independent John W. Carter 57,692 7.90
Independent J.B. Brayman 10,180 1.39 −1.91%
Write-ins 135 0.02 +0.01%
Majority 116,224 15.92 −28.85%
Turnout 729,839
Democratic hold

West Virginia

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in West Virginia

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Jennings Randolph Francis J. Love
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 292,325 198,891
Percentage 59.51% 40.49%

County results
Randolph:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Love:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Jennings Randolph
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Jennings Randolph
Democratic

1966 United States Senate election in West Virginia[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jennings Randolph (Incumbent) 292,325 59.51
Republican Francis J. Love 198,891 40.49
Majority 93,434 19.02
Turnout 491,216
Democratic hold

Wyoming

[edit]
1966 United States Senate election in Wyoming

← 1962 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Clifford Hansen Teno Roncalio
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 63,548 59,141
Percentage 51.80% 48.20%

County results
Hansen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Roncalio:      50–60%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Milward Simpson
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Clifford Hansen
Republican

1966 United States Senate election in Wyoming[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Clifford Hansen 63,548 51.80
Democratic Teno Roncalio 59,141 48.20
Majority 4,407 3.60
Turnout 122,689
Republican hold

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Appointee elected
  2. ^ Senator Strom Thurmond was originally elected as a Democrat in 1954, but as a write-in candidate, a special election in 1956 and 1960 before switching to a Republican in 1964.
  3. ^ Governor of Massachusetts from January 3, 1963 to January 7, 1965.[3]
  4. ^ Mayor of Boston since 1960.
  5. ^ Academician and business executive of the Adams political family, running as an anti-war candidate.
  6. ^ Chairman of the Boston Finance Commission from 1961 to 1962 and Massachusetts Attorney General since 1962.[4]
  7. ^ Candidate for Lt. Governor in 1948. Ran for Governor in 1952 and 1954. Ran for Senate in 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1970.[5]
  8. ^ Candidate for U.S. senator from Massachusetts in 1946, 1952, 1958, 1969, 1962, and 1970. He was also the party's candidate for governor of Massachusetts in 1948 and again in 1956. In 1964 he served as Prohibition Party candidate for vice-president of the United States.

References

[edit]
  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 ab ac ad ae af Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1967). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1966" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 38 43, 48.
  2. ^ Perlstein, Rick. Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America. New York: Scribner, 2008. Print.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Endicott Peabody". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Edward W. Brooke III". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Lawrence Gilfedder". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "MN US Senate - DFL Primary Race - Sep 13, 1966". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  7. ^ "MN US Senate - R Primary Race - Sep 13, 1966". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  8. ^ "MN US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1966". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Nation: Choosing Up". Time. June 17, 1966. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  10. ^ "Our Campaigns - MS US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1966". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  11. ^ Danielson, Chris. "Right Turn? The Republican Party and African-American Politics in Post-1965 Mississippi". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ a b c Asch, Chris Myers (February 1, 2011). The Senator and the Sharecropper: The Freedom Struggles of James O. Eastland and Fannie Lou Hamer. Univ of North Carolina Press. pp. 238–242. ISBN 9780807878057.
  13. ^ a b c d Annis, J. Lee (July 21, 2016). Big Jim Eastland: The Godfather of Mississippi. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781496806154.
  14. ^ The Journal of Mississippi History. Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 1985. p. 256.
  15. ^ "Whitley, Clifton". crdl.usg.edu. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, August 16, 1966". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  17. ^ "NH US Senate, 1966". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Oregon Justice, Democrat, gets Neuberger's seat in U. S. Senate" (PDF). The New York Times. March 16, 1960. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  19. ^ a b c "Women in Congress: Maurine B. Neuberger, Senator from Oregon". United States Congress. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h Mapes, Jeff (April 30, 2011). "Bob Duncan and his three losing—but history-making—U.S. Senate races". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  21. ^ "Hatfield seeks seat in Senate". The Register-Guard. January 12, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  22. ^ "Hatfield announces his candidacy for the Senate" (PDF). The New York Times. January 13, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c Walth, Brent (December 29, 1996). "Mark of distinction". The Oregonian.
  24. ^ "Oregon: one war foe loses, another wins". The Miami News. May 25, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "Unofficial Totals of Primary Election". The Register-Guard. May 26, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  26. ^ a b c Abell, Ron (March 2, 1966). "Duncan joins Senate race". The Register-Guard. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  27. ^ a b Duscha, Julius (May 24, 1966). "Oregon anti-war candidate gains Rep. Green's support". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  28. ^ Abell, Ron (March 11, 1966). "Morgan joins Senate race". The Register-Guard. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  29. ^ "Supporter of Viet war wins Oregon primary". The Rochester Sentinel. May 25, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  30. ^ Davies, Lawrence E (May 25, 1966). "Vietnam critic defeated" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  31. ^ "Oregon US Senate Democratic Primary Race, May 24, 1966". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  32. ^ Balmer, Donald G. (June 1967). "The 1966 Election in Oregon". The Western Political Quarterly. 20 (2): 593–601. doi:10.2307/446088. JSTOR 446088.
  33. ^ a b c d Johnson, Robert David (2006). Congress and the Cold War. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-521-82133-9.
  34. ^ a b c d Turner, Wallace (November 6, 1966). "Hatfield stages Oregon recovery" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  35. ^ Evans, Rowland; Robert Novak (October 5, 1966). "Oregon vote won't be Viet Nam referendum". The Free Lance Star. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  36. ^ "Governors back Viet action". The Register-Guard. July 8, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  37. ^ a b "Hatfield, McCall win". The Register-Guard. November 9, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  38. ^ "Hatfield defeats Duncan in Oregon" (PDF). The New York Times. November 9, 1966. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  39. ^ "Oregon US Senate Race, Nov 8, 1966". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  40. ^ "Five-Term Congressman is Defeated in Oregon". The New York Times. May 21, 1980. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  41. ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015–2016, Election Returns by State. ISBN 9781506368993.

Sources

[edit]
  • Massachusetts Race details at ourcampaigns.com
  • "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: 1967, pp. 16, 41.
  • Bass, Jack; Marilyn W. Thompson (1998). Ol' Strom: An Unauthorized Biography of Strom Thurmond. Longstreet. pp. 222–223.
  • "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: 1967, pp. 16, 41.
  • "South Carolina's New Senator". Time. April 30, 1965. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2008.