1974 United States Senate election in Vermont explained

Election Name:1974 United States Senate election in Vermont
Country:Vermont
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1968 United States Senate election in Vermont
Previous Year:1968
Next Election:1980 United States Senate election in Vermont
Next Year:1980
Image1:Patrick Leahy 1979 congressional photo.jpg
Nominee1:Patrick Leahy
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:70,629
Percentage1:49.47%
Nominee2:Richard Mallary
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:66,223
Percentage2:46.38%
Map Size:219px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:George Aiken
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Patrick Leahy
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1974 United States Senate election in Vermont took place on November 5, 1974. The incumbent Republican Senator, George Aiken, did not run for re-election to another term in the United States Senate. The Democratic nominee, Patrick Leahy, the state's attorney of Chittenden County, defeated Republican nominee, Rep. Richard W. Mallary, to become Aiken's successor. This election also included Liberty Union Party candidate Bernie Sanders, who won 4.1% of the vote.

This election marked the first time in Vermont's history that it elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate, the last remaining U.S. state to do so. Leahy remained the only Democrat ever elected to the Senate from Vermont until 2022, when he retired and was succeeded by Peter Welch. The last non-Republican elected to the Senate from Vermont before 1974 was Lawrence Brainerd, a Free Soil Party member chosen in 1854 by an anti-slavery coalition of the Vermont General Assembly to fill a brief vacancy in this same seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senate Race Enters Final Week; No Surprises Likely. The Times Argus. September 3, 1974. May 25, 2022.