1974 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania explained

Election Name:1974 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Country:Pennsylvania
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1968 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Previous Year:1968
Next Election:1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Next Year:1980
Election Date:November 5, 1974
Nominee1:Richard Schweiker
Image1:File:RichardSchweiker.jpg
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,843,317
Percentage1:53.00%
Nominee2:Peter Flaherty
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,596,121
Percentage2:45.89%
Map Size:260px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Richard Schweiker
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Richard Schweiker
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1974 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker was re-elected to a second term over Democratic mayor of Pittsburgh Peter F. Flaherty. This election was the first time since 1938 that an incumbent Republican Senator was re-elected to this seat.

Democratic primary

Candidates

General election

Candidates

Campaign

In the general election campaign, Schweiker faced popular Pittsburgh mayor Peter Flaherty. Both candidates, as highlighted by a New York Times article, "[took] firm stands against inflation, recession, big spending by the Federal Government and abortion on demand."[1] Schweiker, who was endorsed by the AFL–CIO, distanced himself from the Richard Nixon administration, specifically the Watergate scandal, by emphasizing his early calls for Nixon's resignation and the fact that he was on Nixon's "enemies list."[1]

In the end, Schweiker won re-election with 53% of the popular vote, with Flaherty winning 45.9%. Schweiker carried 53 of Pennsylvania's counties, a decrease from the 59 counties he carried in the 1968 election. Flaherty had a strong showing in Allegheny County, which contains his home town of Pittsburgh, which Schweiker had won in 1968. The final election results represented a political divide between the eastern and western portions of the state, Schweiker in the east and Flaherty in the west, with the exception of Flaherty's slim 4,491 vote victory in Philadelphia.[1]

Results

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Sundquist, Renée M. Lamis ; with a foreword by James L.. The realignment of Pennsylvania politics since 1960 : two-party competition in a battleground state. 2009. Pennsylvania State University Press. University Park, Pa.. 978-0271034195. 100–102.