| Election Name: | 1974 United States Senate election in Florida |
| Country: | Florida |
| Flag Year: | 1900 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1968 United States Senate election in Florida |
| Previous Year: | 1968 |
| Next Election: | 1980 United States Senate election in Florida |
| Next Year: | 1980 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1974 |
| Image1: | Richardbernardstone.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Richard Stone |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 781,031 |
| Percentage1: | 43.38% |
| Nominee2: | Jack Eckerd |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 736,674 |
| Percentage2: | 40.91% |
| Image3: | 3x4.svg |
| Nominee3: | John Grady |
| Party3: | American Independent Party |
| Popular Vote3: | 282,659 |
| Percentage3: | 15.70% |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Edward Gurney |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Richard Stone |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1974 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Senator Edward Gurney, a Republican, declined to seek a second term after being indicted for taking bribes in return for his influence with the Federal Housing Administration. The primary for the Republican nomination pitted Eckerd drug store owner Jack Eckerd against Florida Public Service Commissioner Paula 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. Representative Bill Gunter and Secretary of State of Florida Richard 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 of George Wallace's American Independent Party, performed very well for a third-party candidate. 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. Stone served only one term in the Senate and would be defeated by Gunter in the Democratic primary in 1980.
The Democratic primary consisted of a large field of 11 candidates.[1]
The Republican primary was a smaller affair than its Democratic counterpart with two candidates.[1]