1974 United States Senate elections

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File:Us senate result 1974.PNG
  Republican holds
  Republican pickups
  Democratic holds
  Democratic pickups

The U.S. Senate election, 1974 was an election for the United States Senate held in the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon's resignation from the presidency, and Gerald Ford's subsequent pardon of Nixon. These circumstances benefitted the Democrats, and they made a net gain of three seats from the Republicans. This became four after the Senate voided the contested election in New Hampshire and Democrat John A. Durkin (D-NH) won a special election.

Democrats won an open seat in Vermont and unseated incumbents Peter H. Dominick (R-CO), Edward J. Gurney (R-FL), and Marlow Cook (R-KY). Republicans took an open seat in Nevada.

A notable first term Senator was former astronaut John Glenn (D-OH), who defeated sitting Senator Howard Metzenbaum in a primary and went on to win the general election. Running as a candidate in this election was Harry Reid, who was defeated by Paul Laxalt. Thirty years later, Reid would become Minority Leader in the Senate.

Senate contests in 1974

State Incumbent Party Status Opposing Candidates
Alabama James B. Allen Democrat Re-elected, 95.8
Alaska Mike Gravel Democrat Re-elected, 58.3 - 41.7 C. R. Lewis (Republican)
Arizona Barry Goldwater Republican Re-elected, 58.3 - 41.7 Jonathan Marshall (Democrat)
Arkansas J. William Fulbright Democrat Defeated in primary: Democrat victory, 84.9 - 15.1 Dale Bumpers (Democrat)
John H. Jones (Republican)
California Alan Cranston Democrat Re-elected, 60.5 - 36.2 H. L. Bill Richardson (Republican)
Colorado Peter H. Dominick Republican Defeated, 57.2 - 39.5 Gary Warren Hart (Democrat)
Connecticut Abraham A. Ribicoff Democrat Re-elected, 63.7 - 34.3 James A. Brannen III (Republican)
Florida Edward J. Gurney Republican Defeated, 43.4 - 40.9 - 15.7 Richard Bernard Stone (Democrat)
Jack Eckerd (Independent)
Georgia Herman E. Talmadge Democrat Re-elected, 71.7 - 28.2 Jerry Johnson (Republican)
Hawaii Daniel K. Inouye Democrat Re-elected, 82.9 - 17.1 James D. Kimmel (Independent)
Idaho Frank Church Democrat Re-elected, 56.1 - 42.1 Robert L. Smith (Republican)
Illinois Adlai E. Stevenson III Democrat Re-elected, 62.2 - 37.2 George M. Burditt (Republican)
Indiana Birch Bayh Democrat Re-elected, 50.7 - 46.4 Richard G. Lugar (Republican)
Iowa Harold E. Hughes Democrat Retired: Democratic victory, 52.0 - 47.3 John C. Culver (Democrat)
David M. Stanley (Republican)
Kansas Bob Dole Republican Re-elected, 50.9 - 49.1 William R. Roy (Democrat)
Kentucky Marlow W. Cook Republican Defeated, 53.5 - 44.1 Wendell H. Ford (Democrat)
Louisiana Russell B. Long Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Maryland Charles Mathias, Jr. Republican Re-elected, 57.3 - 42.7 Barbara A. Mikulski (Democrat)
Missouri Thomas F. Eagleton Democrat Re-elected, 60.1 - 39.3 Thomas B. Curtis (Republican)
Nevada Alan Bible Democrat Retired: Republican victory, 47.0 - 46.6 Paul Laxalt (Republican)
Harry Reid (Democrat)
New Hampshire1 Norris Cotton Republican Retired: Republican victory, 49.7 - 49.7 Louis C. Wyman (Republican)
John A. Durkin (Democrat)
New York Jacob K. Javits Republican Re-elected, 45.3 - 38.2 - 15.9 Ramsey Clark (Democrat)
Barbara A. Keating (Conservative)
North Carolina Sam J. Ervin, Jr. Democrat Retired: Democratic victory, 62.1 - 37.0 Robert Burren Morgan (Democrat)
William E. Stevens (Republican)
North Dakota Milton R. Young Republican Re-elected, 48.4 - 48.3 William L. Guy (Democrat)
Ohio Howard M. Metzenbaum Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, 64.6 - 30.7 John Glenn (Democrat)
Ralph J. Perk (Republican)
Oklahoma Henry Bellmon Republican Re-elected, 49.4 - 48.9 Ed Edmondson (Democrat)
Oregon Bob Packwood Republican Re-elected, 54.9 - 44.2 Betty Roberts (Democrat)
Pennsylvania Richard S. Schweiker Republican Re-elected, 53.0 - 45.9 Peter Flaherty (Democrat)
South Carolina Ernest F. Hollings Democrat Re-elected, 69.5 - 28.6 Gwenyfred Bush (Republican)
South Dakota George S. McGovern Democrat Re-elected, 53.0 - 47.0 Leo K. Thorsness (Republican)
Utah Wallace F. Bennett Republican Retired: Republican victory, 50.0 - 44.1 Jake Garn (Republican)
Wayne Owens (Democrat)
Vermont George D. Aiken Republican Retired: Democratic victory, 49.5 - 46.4 Patrick J. Leahy (Democrat)
Richard W. Mallary (Republican)
Washington Warren G. Magnuson Democrat Re-elected, 60.7 - 36.1 Jack Metcalf (Republican)
Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson Democrat Re-elected, 61.8 - 35.8 Thomas E. Petri (Republican)

1 Election was contested; Wyman was seated, then resigned so that a new election could take place. Norris Cotton held the seat temporarily until a new special election in 1975 selected Durkin.

See also

Senate composition before and after elections

93rd Congress Senate Composition   94th Congress Senate Composition
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     
Color Key: Democrats Independent Republicans Conservative
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