| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate elections |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1966 United States Senate elections |
| Previous Year: | 1966 |
| Next Election: | 1970 United States Senate elections |
| Next Year: | 1970 |
| Seats For Election: | 34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 51 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| 1Blank: | Seats up |
| 2Blank: | Races won |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Image1: | Mike mansfield cropped.jpg |
| Leader1: | Mike Mansfield |
| Leader Since1: | January 3, 1961 |
| Leaders Seat1: | Montana |
| Seats Before1: | 63 |
| Seats After1: | 58 |
| Seat Change1: | 5 |
| Popular Vote1: | 24,976,660 |
| Percentage1: | 49.3% |
| 1Data1: | 23 |
| 2Data1: | 18 |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Leader2: | Everett Dirksen |
| Leader Since2: | January 3, 1959 |
| Leaders Seat2: | Illinois |
| Seats Before2: | 37 |
| Seats After2: | 42 |
| Seat Change2: | 5 |
| Popular Vote2: | 23,588,832 |
| Percentage2: | 46.5% |
| 1Data2: | 11 |
| 2Data2: | 16 |
| Map Size: | 320px |
| Majority Leader | |
| Before Election: | Mike Mansfield |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Mike Mansfield |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
The 1968 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate. Held on November 5, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. They coincided with the presidential election of the same year. The Republicans picked up five net seats in the Senate. This saw Republicans win a Senate seat in Florida for the first time since Reconstruction.
Republicans would gain another seat after the election when Alaska Republican Ted Stevens was appointed to replace Democrat Bob Bartlett, reducing Democrats' majority to 57–43.
This is the earliest round of Senate elections in which a first-elected member is still alive (Bob Packwood, R-OR).
| 58 | 42 | |
| Democratic | Republican |
| Parties | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Conservative | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last elections (1966) | 64 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Before these elections | 63 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not up | 40 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Up | 23 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incumbent retired | 3 | 3 | — | — | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | — | — | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat< | --IA--> 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans | — | — | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incumbent ran | 20 | 8 | — | — | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | 7 | — | — | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Democrats replaced by 4 Republicans< | --MD, OK, OR, PA--> | — | — | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat< | --CA--> 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | 16 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total elected | 18 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain/loss | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationwide vote | 24,976,660 | 23,588,832 | 1,139,402 | 989,058 | 50,693,952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share | 49.27% | 46.53% | 2.25% | 1.95% | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | 58 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives[1]
Three Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.
One Republican and seven Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.
One Democrat died on December 11, 1968, and a Republican was appointed on December 24, 1968.
After the September 10, 1968 appointment in New York.
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| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Key: |
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In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1969; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | ||||||
| Alabama | Democratic | 1938 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap | ||||
| Alaska | Democratic | 1958 1962 | Incumbent lost renomination, then ran as a write-in candidate but lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap | ||||
| Arizona | Democratic | 1926 1932 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Arkansas | Democratic | 1944 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| California | Republican | 1953 1954 1956 1962 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Colorado | Republican | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Connecticut | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Florida | Democratic | 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Georgia | Democratic | 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Hawaii | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Idaho | Democratic | 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Illinois | Republican | 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Indiana | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Iowa | Republican | 1944 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Kansas | Republican | 1950 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. | nowrap | ||||
| Kentucky | Republican | 1956 1962 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. Incumbent resigned December 16, 1968 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed December 17, 1968. | nowrap | ||||
| Louisiana | Democratic | 1948 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Maryland | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Missouri | Democratic | 1960 1960 1962 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. Incumbent resigned December 27, 1968 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed December 28, 1968. | nowrap | ||||
| Nevada | Democratic | 1954 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| New Hampshire | Republican | 1954 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| New York | Republican | 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| North Carolina | Democratic | 1954 1954 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| North Dakota | Republican | 1945 1946 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Ohio | Democratic | 1956 1962 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Oklahoma | Democratic | 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Oregon | Democratic | 1944 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Democratic | 1956 1962 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | ||||
| South Carolina | Democratic | 1966 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| South Dakota | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Utah | Republican | 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Vermont | Republican | 1940 1944 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Washington | Democratic | 1944 1944 1950 1956 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
| Wisconsin | Democratic | 1962 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | ||||
Fifteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:
| State | Party of winner | Margin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 0.4% | |
| Iowa | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic (flip) | 0.6% | |
| Missouri | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 2.2% | |
| Ohio | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 3.0% | |
| Indiana | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 3.5% | |
| Kentucky | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 3.8% | |
| California | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic (flip) | 4.9% | |
| Oklahoma | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 5.5% | |
| Pennsylvania | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 6.1% | |
| Illinois | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 6.4% | |
| Alaska | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 7.7% | |
| Utah | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 7.9% | |
| Connecticut | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 8.6% | |
| Maryland | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 8.7% | |
| Nevada | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 9.6% |
Arkansas was the tipping point state with a margin of 18.3%.
| Election Name: | Alabama election |
| Country: | Alabama |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Alabama |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Alabama |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | JamesAllenVA.jpg |
| Nominee1: | James B. Allen |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 638,744 |
| Percentage1: | 69.99% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 201,227 |
| Percentage2: | 22.05% |
| Image3: | Blank2x3.svg |
| Nominee3: | Robert P. Schwenn |
| Party3: | National Democratic Party of Alabama |
| Popular Vote3: | 72,699 |
| Percentage3: | 7.97% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Alabama.
See also: List of United States senators from Alabama.
After electing Republicans post-Reconstruction, Alabama had historically voted Democratic in local, state, and presidential elections from the 1870s until the 1960s with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. However, in 1948 Alabama did not support the Democratic ticket for the first time in nearly 100 years, voting for Strom Thurmond, who ran a third-party campaign. Democrats lost ground due to the unpopularity of the Civil Rights Act among white voters, who at the time comprised nearly the entire electorate. In 1964, Barry Goldwater became the first Republican to win the state of Alabama since Ulysses Grant, while the state elected Republicans to its congressional delegation for the first time since the turn of the century. Goldwater voted against the Civil Rights Act, which boosted his popularity in Southern states.
In 1962, J. Lister Hill ran for re-election to this seat to a fifth term but faced an unusually close race against Republican James D. Martin, who came within 1% of unseating the incumbent. In 1968, Republicans looked to build upon their momentum but faced a challenge when Lieutenant Governor James B. Allen, a staunch conservative, was nominated by the Democratic Party. Republicans also failed to capitalize on the candidacy of liberal Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey due to the third-party candidacy of Governor George Wallace limiting Republican support. Allen defeated Republican Perry Hooper by a wide margin in the general election and faced little opposition in 1978.
| Election Name: | Alaska election |
| Country: | Alaska |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Alaska |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Alaska |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Mikegravel.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Mike Gravel |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 36,527 |
| Percentage1: | 45.13% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 30,286 |
| Percentage2: | 37.42% |
| Image3: | Senator Ernest Gruening (D-AK) (croppedmore).jpg |
| Nominee3: | Ernest Gruening (write-in) |
| Party3: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote3: | 14,118 |
| Percentage3: | 17.44% |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Alaska.
See also: List of United States senators from Alaska and 1968 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska. Democrat Ernest Gruening had served as one of the state's inaugural senators alongside Democrat Bob Bartlett since 1959. He was re-elected in a landslide victory in 1962. In 1968, he was challenged by former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives, Mike Gravel, who ran on a campaign of youth.[2] Gravel upset Gruening in the Democratic primary with just under 53% of the vote to 47% for Gruening.
Gravel faced former Anchorage Mayor Republican Elmer E. Rasmuson in the general election, while Gruening ran a write-in campaign. Gravel won a three-way race with 45% of the vote to 37% for Rasmuson, with incumbent Gruening scoring 17%.
Two months after the election, on December 11, 1968, the other Alaskan senator, Democrat Bob Bartlett, died. Republican Ted Stevens, who lost the Republican primary to Rasmuson for this seat, was then appointed to that other seat.
| Election Name: | Arizona election |
| Country: | Arizona |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Arizona |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Arizona |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Barry Goldwater photo1962.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Barry Goldwater |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 274,607 |
| Percentage1: | 57.22% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 205,338 |
| Percentage2: | 42.78% |
| Map Size: | 210px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Arizona.
See also: List of United States senators from Arizona. Incumbent Democrat Carl Hayden did not run for re-election to an eighth term, with his long-time staff member Roy Elson running as the Democratic Party nominee to replace him. Elson beat State Treasurer of Arizona Bob Kennedy in the primary.
Elson was defeated by a wide margin, however, by former U.S. senator and Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. Prior to Goldwater's election, the seat had been held for decades by the Democratic Party under Carl Hayden, and would remain under Republican Party control until 2020. Elson had previously challenged U.S. senator Paul Fannin in 1964, when Goldwater vacated his seat to run for President against Lyndon B. Johnson.
| Election Name: | Arkansas election |
| Country: | Arkansas |
| Flag Year: | 1924 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Arkansas |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | JWFulbright.jpg |
| Nominee1: | J. William Fulbright |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 349,965 |
| Percentage1: | 59.15% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 241,731 |
| Percentage2: | 40.85% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Arkansas.
See also: List of United States senators from Arkansas.
J. William Fulbright was first elected in 1944 against token Republican opposition. He ran unopposed in 1950 and won by large margins in 1956 and 1962, but he saw his vote percentage slip in the latter. In the wake of Civil Rights legislation, which many southern whites opposed, Fulbright was re-elected in 1968 but by the smallest margin of his career. He faced Charles T. Bernard and won with just over 59% of the vote. Arkansas would not elect a Republican to this seat until 2010 with John Boozman's election.
| Election Name: | California election |
| Country: | California |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in California |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in California |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Alan Cranston, 1963.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Alan Cranston |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,680,352 |
| Percentage1: | 51.82% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 3,329,148 |
| Percentage2: | 46.87% |
| Map Size: | 260px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in California.
See also: List of United States senators from California and 1968 United States House of Representatives elections in California. California was generally considered to be a Republican stronghold throughout the early 1900s. Until 1959, Republicans controlled most government offices as well as both houses of state government. However, Pat Brown was elected governor in 1958 and ushered in a wave of Democratic success.
Along with California Secretary of State Frank M. Jordan, incumbent U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel was one of the last Republicans elected from California at the state or U.S. Senate level. Kuchel had been re-elected by a wide margin in 1962, winning every county in the state, and was the Minority Whip for the Republican Party.
However, in 1968 he faced a primary challenge from California Superintendent of Public Instruction Max Rafferty, who ran to the right of moderate Kuchel. In an upset, Rafferty defeated Kuchel in the primary, 50-47%.
In the Democratic primary, former California State Controller Alan Cranston won the primary with 58% of the vote.
Despite Richard Nixon's concurrent win in the presidential election (as well as in the state of California), Cranston defeated Rafferty on election day with just under 52% of the vote, flipping the state's other senate seat to the Democrats. Rafferty took just under 47% of the vote. Cranston would serve until 1993 in the senate.
| Election Name: | Colorado election |
| Country: | Colorado |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Colorado |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Colorado |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | PHDominick.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Peter Dominick |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 459,952 |
| Percentage1: | 58.55% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 325,584 |
| Percentage2: | 41.45% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Colorado.
See also: List of United States senators from Colorado.
Incumbent Republican Peter Dominick won election in 1962 over Democratic incumbent John A. Carroll by eight percentage points. In 1968, he increased his margin of victory against Stephen McNichols in what would be his last U.S. Senate victory. He would lose in 1974 to Gary Hart.
| Election Name: | Connecticut election |
| Country: | Connecticut |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Connecticut |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Connecticut |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Abraham ribicoff.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Abraham Ribicoff |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 655,043 |
| Percentage1: | 54.29% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 551,455 |
| Percentage2: | 45.71% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Connecticut.
See also: List of United States senators from Connecticut.
Incumbent Abraham Ribicoff was elected in 1962 after the retirement of Prescott Bush by a razor-thin 51–49 margin. He increased his margin of victory in 1968 over Republican Representative Edwin H. May Jr.
| Election Name: | Florida election |
| Country: | Florida |
| Flag Year: | 1900 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | Yes |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Florida |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Florida |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Edward J Gurney.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Edward Gurney |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,131,499 |
| Percentage1: | 55.9% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 892,637 |
| Percentage2: | 44.1% |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Florida.
See also: List of United States senators from Florida.
Incumbent Democrat George Smathers retired. After supporting Republicans during Reconstruction, Florida supported almost only Democrats down-ballot until the 1940s, when the state voted for Eisenhower. Claude R. Kirk Jr. was elected governor in 1966 as Republicans gained ground in the South due to Democrats shifting leftward and Republicans rightward.
Popular Democrat LeRoy Collins defeated State Attorney General Earl Faircloth in the Democratic primary, while Republican Representative Edward Gurney won the Republican primary. Despite less name recognition in the state, Gurney defeated Collins by 11 points and won all but five counties.
| Election Name: | Georgia election |
| Country: | Georgia (U.S. state) |
| Flag Year: | 1956 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Georgia |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Georgia |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | HermanTalmadge.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Herman Talmadge |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 885,093 |
| Percentage1: | 77.51% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 246,865 |
| Percentage2: | 22.49% |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Georgia.
See also: List of United States senators from Georgia.
Democrat Herman Talmadge handily won re-election over Republican E. Earl Patton, who won the first-ever Republican primary in Georgia for U.S. Senate.
Talmadge sought another term to the Senate and was easily re-elected. The election was notable for the Georgia Republican Party, as it marked the first U.S. Senate election where it fielded a candidate. Patton lost by over 50% to Talmadge.
| Election Name: | Hawaii election |
| Country: | Hawaii |
| Flag Year: | 1956 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Hawaii |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Hawaii |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Daniel Inouye – 1963.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Daniel Inouye |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 189,248 |
| Percentage1: | 83.40% |
| Nominee2: | Wayne Thiessen |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 42,767 |
| Percentage2: | 14.99% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Hawaii.
See also: List of United States senators from Hawaii.
Incumbent Daniel Inouye handily won re-election against Republican Wayne C. Thiessen with 83% of the vote.
| Election Name: | Idaho election |
| Country: | Idaho |
| Flag Year: | 1956 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Idaho |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Idaho |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | FrankChurch.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Frank Church |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 173,482 |
| Percentage1: | 60.26% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 114,394 |
| Percentage2: | 39.74% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Idaho.
See also: List of United States senators from Idaho.
Incumbent Democrat Frank Church won re-election by a wide margin against George V. Hansen despite the state's overall Republican trend.
| Election Name: | Illinois election |
| Country: | Illinois |
| Flag Year: | 1915 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Illinois |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1970 United States Senate special election in Illinois |
| Next Year: | 1970 (special) |
| Image1: | EverettDirksen.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Everett Dirksen |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,358,947 |
| Percentage1: | 53.01% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,073,242 |
| Percentage2: | 46.59% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Illinois.
See also: List of United States senators from Illinois. Incumbent Republican and Minority Leader Everett Dirksen won re-election to his fourth term over William G. Clark (D), the Illinois Attorney General. He would not serve the entirety of his term as he would die in 1970.
| Election Name: | Indiana election |
| Country: | Indiana |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Indiana |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Indiana |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Birch bayh.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Birch Bayh |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,060,456 |
| Percentage1: | 51.65% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 988,571 |
| Percentage2: | 48.15% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Indiana.
See also: List of United States senators from Indiana. Incumbent Democrat Birch Bayh was elected in 1962, defeating incumbent Republican Homer E. Capehart by around 11,000 votes. In 1970, he ran for re-election and faced Republican State Representative William Ruckelshaus in the general election.
Ruckelshaus ran a close race but Bayh was ultimately re-elected by a two-point margin. This would actually be Bayh's largest vote percentage in an election to the U.S. Senate. In 1974, he won a narrow majority of the vote over Republican Richard Lugar though he did increase his margin of victory. He was defeated in his re-election bid in 1980 by future Vice President Dan Quayle.
Birch Bayh's son Evan Bayh would also serve in the U.S. Senate from 1999 to 2011.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Iowa |
| Country: | Iowa |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Iowa |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Iowa |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Nominee1: | Harold E. Hughes |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 574,884 |
| Percentage1: | 50.25% |
| Nominee2: | David M. Stanley |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 568,469 |
| Percentage2: | 49.69% |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Bourke B. Hickenlooper |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Harold E. Hughes |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Iowa.
See also: List of United States senators from Iowa.
Four-term Republican Bourke B. Hickenlooper retired. Two-term Democratic Governor of Iowa Harold Hughes was elected senator in a close race against Republican state senator David M. Stanley.
| Election Name: | Kansas election |
| Country: | Kansas |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Kansas |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Kansas |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Bob Dole cph.3b30808.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Bob Dole |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 490,911 |
| Percentage1: | 60.08% |
| Nominee2: | William I. Robinson |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 315,911 |
| Percentage2: | 38.66% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Kansas.
See also: List of United States senators from Kansas.
Incumbent Republican Frank Carlson chose to retire rather than seek re-election. Republican Bob Dole defeated Democrat William Robinson with 60% of the vote and won all but one county in the state. Still, this would be his second-worst U.S. Senate election performance after 1974 in the wake of Watergate.
| Election Name: | Kentucky election |
| Country: | Kentucky |
| Flag Year: | 1956 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Kentucky |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Kentucky |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Marlow Cook.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Marlow Cook |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 484,260 |
| Percentage1: | 51.36% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 448,960 |
| Percentage2: | 47.62% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Kentucky.
See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky.
Though originally voting strongly Democratic like the rest of the South after Reconstruction, Kentucky began electing Republicans in the 1890s but still leaned Democratic. Still, Republicans found success with the elections to U.S. Senate of Thruston Ballard Morton and John Sherman Cooper. Morton decided to retire in 1968, creating an open seat. Republican Marlow Cook narrowly defeated Democrat Katherine Peden by a 51–48 margin.
| Election Name: | 1968 Democratic Senate primary election in Louisiana |
| Country: | Louisiana |
| Flag Year: | 1912 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Louisiana |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Louisiana |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | August 17, 1968 |
| Nominee1: | Russell B. Long |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 494,467 |
| Percentage1: | 87.02% |
| Nominee2: | Maurice Blache |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 73,791 |
| Percentage2: | 12.99% |
| Map Size: | 285px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Russell Long |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Russell Long |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Louisiana.
See also: List of United States senators from Louisiana.
Incumbent Democrat Russell B. Long ran unopposed for U.S. Senate and was re-elected.
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Maryland.
See also: List of United States senators from Maryland.
| Election Name: | Maryland election |
| Country: | Maryland |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Maryland |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Maryland |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | Charles Mathias.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Charles Mathias |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 541,893 |
| Percentage1: | 47.79% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 443,667 |
| Percentage2: | 39.12% |
| Image3: | Blank2x3.svg |
| Party3: | American Independent Party |
| Popular Vote3: | 148,467 |
| Percentage3: | 13.09% |
| Map Size: | 275px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
Incumbent Democrat Daniel Brewster was originally elected in 1962 over Republican Representative Edward Tylor Miller. He won the Democratic primary and faced Republican Representative Charles Mathias in the general election. However, Democrat George P. Mahoney ran in the election under the American Independent Party. Mahoney, who ran against the Civil Rights movement, had previously been the Democratic nominee for governor in 1966 losing to Spiro Agnew. Hyman A. Pressman ran an independent campaign which allowed Republican Agnew to carry the heavily Democratic state with 49.5% of the vote.
Similarly, Mahoney ran a well-funded campaign in 1968 and Brewster was defeated in the general election. Mathias won just 48% of the vote to 39% for Brewster (and 13% for Mahoney), similarly elected to Agnew. Mathias would nonetheless have no trouble being re-elected in 1974 and 1980 (when he won the city of Baltimore). Mathias is the last Republican to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Missouri |
| Country: | Missouri |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Missouri |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Missouri |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | Thomas F. Eagleton (3x4 crop).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Thomas Eagleton |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 887,414 |
| Percentage1: | 51.06% |
| Nominee2: | Thomas B. Curtis |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 850,544 |
| Percentage2: | 48.94% |
| Map Size: | 275px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Edward V. Long |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Thomas Eagleton |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Missouri.
See also: List of United States senators from Missouri. Incumbent U.S. Senator Edward V. Long ran for re-election but faced two primary challengers in Lieutenant Governor Thomas Eagleton and former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury W. True Davis Jr., who each ran strong campaigns. Eagleton won the primary with 37% of the vote.
In the general election, Eagleton faced Republican Representative Thomas B. Curtis and won a close-fought election with 51% of the vote to 49% for Curtis. Eagleton would be re-elected over Curtis again in 1974.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Country: | Nevada |
| Flag Year: | 1929 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Nominee1: | Alan Bible |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 83,622 |
| Percentage1: | 54.76% |
| Nominee2: | Edward Fike |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 69,083 |
| Percentage2: | 45.24% |
| Map Size: | 150px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Alan Bible |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Alan Bible |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Nevada.
See also: List of United States senators from Nevada and 1968 United States House of Representatives election in Nevada.
Incumbent Alan Bible was originally elected in 1954 in a special election over Republican Ernest S. Brown. He narrowly defeated Republican Clarence Clifton Young in 1956 and won by a landslide in 1962. He defeated Republican Edward Fike by a smaller margin of 55–45 in 1968 in what would be his last term.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in New Hampshire |
| Country: | New Hampshire |
| Flag Year: | 1931 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in New Hampshire |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974–75 United States Senate elections in New Hampshire |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | File:Norris Cotton.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Norris Cotton |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 170,163 |
| Percentage1: | 59.29% |
| Nominee2: | John W. King |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 116,816 |
| Percentage2: | 40.70% |
| Map Size: | 245px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Norris Cotton |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Norris Cotton |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in New Hampshire.
See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire.
Incumbent Norris Cotton handily won re-election against incumbent Governor John W. King in what would be his final term.
| Election Name: | New York election |
| Country: | New York |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in New York |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in New York |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | Jacob Javits.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jacob Javits |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,269,772 |
| Percentage1: | 49.68% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,150,695 |
| Percentage2: | 32.68% |
| Image3: | JamesLBuckley.jpg |
| Party3: | Conservative Party (New York) |
| Popular Vote3: | 1,139,402 |
| Percentage3: | 17.31% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in New York.
See also: List of United States senators from New York. Incumbent Republican Jacob Javits won against Democratic challenger Paul O'Dwyer and Conservative Party challenger James L. Buckley in a three-way election.
While Javits did not face any challengers for the Republican nomination, he did face a minor one when seeking the Liberal Party of New York's nomination.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in North Carolina |
| Country: | North Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in North Carolina |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in North Carolina |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Flag Year: | 1885 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | Sam Ervin.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Sam Ervin |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 870,406 |
| Percentage1: | 60.56% |
| Nominee2: | Robert Somers |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 566,834 |
| Percentage2: | 39.44% |
| Map Size: | 325px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Sam Ervin |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Sam Ervin |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in North Carolina.
See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina. The general election was fought between the Democratic incumbent Sam Ervin and the Republican nominee Robert Somers. Ervin won re-election to a third full term, with over 60% of the vote.
The first round of the Primary Election was held on May 4, 1968.[3] The runoff for the Republican Party candidates took place on June 1.[4]
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in North Dakota |
| Country: | North Dakota |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in North Dakota |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in North Dakota |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Nominee1: | Milton Young |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 154,968 |
| Percentage1: | 64.79% |
| Nominee2: | Herschel Lashkowitz |
| Party2: | North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 80,815 |
| Percentage2: | 33.79% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Milton Young |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Milton Young |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in North Dakota.
See also: List of United States senators from North Dakota.
North Dakota Republican Milton Young, sought and received re-election to his fifth term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Herschel Lashkowitz, the mayor of Fargo, North Dakota since 1954.[1] [5]
Only Young filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic candidate was Herschel Lashkowitz of Fargo, North Dakota, who was serving as the mayor of the city since 1954. Young and Lashkowitz won the primary elections for their respective parties.
One independent candidate, Duane Mutch of Larimore, North Dakota, also filed before the deadline. Mutch was later a state senator for the North Dakota Republican Party in the North Dakota Senate from 1959 to 2006 for District 19. He ran as an independent when he did not receive his party's nomination.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Ohio |
| Country: | Ohio |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Ohio |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Ohio |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | William B. Saxbe (1).jpg |
| Nominee1: | William B. Saxbe |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,928,964 |
| Percentage1: | 51.53% |
| Nominee2: | John J. Gilligan |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,814,152 |
| Percentage2: | 48.47% |
| Map Size: | 210px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Frank J. Lausche |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | William Saxbe |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Ohio.
See also: List of United States senators from Ohio.
Incumbent Democrat Frank J. Lausche ran for re-election but was defeated in the primary by Representative John J. Gilligan, who criticized Lausche's conservative voting record. Republican State Attorney General of Ohio William Saxbe won the Republican primary and defeated Gilligan in the general election by a 51–48 margin. He would not serve out his term after resigning to become United States Attorney general in 1974.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
| Country: | Oklahoma |
| Flag Year: | 1941 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 1968 |
| Image1: | BellmonHL.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Henry Bellmon |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 470,120 |
| Percentage1: | 51.71% |
| Nominee2: | Mike Monroney |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 419,658 |
| Percentage2: | 46.16% |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Mike Monroney |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Henry Bellmon |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Oklahoma.
See also: List of United States senators from Oklahoma. Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Mike Monroney was running for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican former Governor Henry Bellmon.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Oregon |
| Country: | Oregon |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Oregon |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Oregon |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | Bob Packwood.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Bob Packwood |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 408,646 |
| Percentage1: | 50.20% |
| Nominee2: | Wayne Morse |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 405,353 |
| Percentage2: | 49.80% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Wayne Morse |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Bob Packwood |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Oregon.
See also: List of United States senators from Oregon. Incumbent Democrat Wayne Morse was seeking a fifth term, but narrowly lost re-election to 36-year-old Republican State Representative Bob Packwood race.[6]
The Democratic primary was held May 28, 1968.[7] Morse defeated former Representative Robert B. Duncan, former U.S. Congressman from Oregon's 4th congressional district (1963–1967), and Phil McAlmond, millionaire and former aide to opponent Robert B. Duncan.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania |
| Country: | Pennsylvania |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | Sen Richard Schweiker.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Richard Schweiker |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,399,762 |
| Percentage1: | 51.90% |
| Nominee2: | Joseph S. Clark Jr. |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,117,662 |
| Percentage2: | 45.80% |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Joseph S. Clark, Jr. |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Richard Schweiker |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania.
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania. Incumbent Democrat Joseph Clark sought re-election to another term, but was defeated by Republican nominee Richard Schweiker, member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in South Carolina |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1966 United States Senate special election in South Carolina |
| Previous Year: | 1966 (special) |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in South Carolina |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | Ernest Hollings 91st Congress.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Ernest Hollings |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 404,060 |
| Percentage1: | 61.89% |
| Nominee2: | Marshall Parker |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 248,780 |
| Percentage2: | 38.11% |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Ernest Hollings |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Ernest Hollings |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in South Carolina.
See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina and 1968 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina.
Incumbent Democrat Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican state senator Marshall Parker in a rematch of the election two years earlier, to win his second (his first full) term.
Hollings faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats, and avoided a primary election. Marshall Parker, the state senator from Oconee County in the Upstate, was persuaded by South Carolina Republicans to enter the race, and he did not face a primary challenge.
After a close election loss to Fritz Hollings in 1966, the Republicans felt that Parker might have a chance at defeating Hollings by riding Nixon's coattails in the general election. However, the Republicans did not provide Parker with the financial resources to compete, and he subsequently lost by a bigger margin to Hollings than two years prior.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in South Dakota |
| Country: | South Dakota |
| Flag Year: | 1963 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in South Dakota |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in South Dakota |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | McGovern campaign portrait (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | George McGovern |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 158,961 |
| Percentage1: | 56.79% |
| Nominee2: | Archie M. Gubbrud |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 120,951 |
| Percentage2: | 43.21% |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | George McGovern |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | George McGovern |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in South Dakota.
See also: List of United States senators from South Dakota.
Incumbent Democrat George McGovern had flirted with presidential aspirations in 1968 but ultimately decided to run for re-election, defeating Republican Archie M. Gubbrud by a comfortable margin.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Utah |
| Country: | Utah |
| Flag Year: | 1922 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Utah |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Utah |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Nominee1: | Wallace F. Bennett |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 225,075 |
| Percentage1: | 53.68% |
| Nominee2: | Milton L. Weilenmann |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 192,168 |
| Percentage2: | 45.83% |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Wallace F. Bennett |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Wallace F. Bennett |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Utah.
See also: List of United States senators from Utah.
Incumbent Wallace F. Bennett, a Republican, won re-election to a fourth term in the U.S. Senate by a comfortable margin against Democrat Milton Weilemann.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Vermont |
| Country: | Vermont |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Vermont |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Vermont |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | GeorgeAiken-VTSEN- (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | George Aiken |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 157,197 |
| Percentage1: | 99.89% |
| Map Size: | 221px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | George Aiken |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | George Aiken |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Alliance1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Vermont.
See also: List of United States senators from Vermont.
Incumbent Republican George Aiken ran successfully for re-election to another term in the United States Senate. Vermont voted Democratic for the first time since the 1850s for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Vermont also elected Democrat Philip H. Hoff in 1962, and he served until 1969. Hoff ran a write-in campaign in the Democratic primary for this seat but lost to Republican Aiken by a wide margin. Aiken thus ran with both nominations and secured a victory. This would be once staunchly-Republican Vermont's last time to support a Republican for this seat. In 1974, Patrick Leahy would win and become the first Democratic Senator from Vermont.
| Election Name: | 1968 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Country: | Washington |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1968 |
| Image1: | File:WarrenGMagnuson (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Warren Magnuson |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 796,183 |
| Percentage1: | 64.41% |
| Nominee2: | Jack Metcalf |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 435,894 |
| Percentage2: | 35.26% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Warren Magnuson |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Warren Magnuson |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Washington.
See also: List of United States senators from Washington.
Incumbent Warren G. Magnuson won re-election by a wide margin against his Republican opponent Metcalf.
| Election Name: | Wisconsin election |
| Country: | Wisconsin |
| Flag Year: | 1913 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | Yes |
| Previous Election: | 1962 United States Senate election in Wisconsin |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Wisconsin |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
| Image1: | GaylordNelson.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Gaylord Nelson |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,020,931 |
| Percentage1: | 61.69% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 633,910 |
| Percentage2: | 38.31% |
| Map Size: | 230px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1968 United States Senate election in Wisconsin.
See also: List of United States senators from Wisconsin.
Incumbent Democrat Gaylord A. Nelson (U.S. senator since 1963) defeated Republican State Senator Jerris Leonard.