1964 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma explained

Election Name:1964 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma
Country:Oklahoma
Flag Image:Flag of Oklahoma (1941–1988).svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1960 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
Previous Year:1960
Next Election:1966 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
Next Year:1966
Election Date:November 3, 1964
Image1:File:FredRoyHarris.jpg
Nominee1:Fred R. Harris
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:466,782
Percentage1:51.17%
Nominee2:Bud Wilkinson
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:445,392
Percentage2:48.83%
U.S. Senator
Before Election:J. Howard Edmondson
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Fred R. Harris
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1964 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma took place on November 3, 1964. Democratic Senator Robert S. Kerr, who won re-election to his third term in 1960, died in office on January 1, 1963. Governor J. Howard Edmondson resigned from office so that his Lieutenant Governor, George Nigh, could appoint him to the U.S. Senate. Edmondson ran for election in the ensuing special election, and faced strong competition from former Governor Raymond D. Gary and State Senator Fred R. Harris. Edmondson placed first in the primary, but failed to win a majority, with Harris narrowly beating out Gary for second place. In the runoff, Harris defeated Edmondson in a landslide. In the general election, Harris faced former Oklahoma Sooners football coach Bud Wilkinson, the Republican nominee. Even though President Lyndon B. Johnson won Oklahoma by a wide margin over Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, the Senate race was much closer. Ultimately, Harris only narrowly defeated Wilkinson by just 2% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Runoff election results

Republican primary

Candidates

Runoff Election Results

[2]

General election

Results

Notes and References

  1. News: February 5, 1964. Wilkinson Announcing Race for U. S. Senate Today. Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Okla.. 1. June 18, 2021.
  2. Web site: Our Campaigns - OK US Senate - Special R Primary Race - May 05, 1964. 2021-08-28. www.ourcampaigns.com.