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The 1970 Midterm Election Results
The 1970 Midterm Election Results
The House
Speaker of the House: James G. O'Hara
House Democrats: Carl Albert - 242 - Lost 13
House Republicans: Gerald Ford - 191 - Gained 13
While there was optimism among McCarthy's supporters that he would be able to repeat his 1968 feat of making gains in an incumbent year, it was not to be. Many Republicans considered at-risk managed to narrowly hang on to their seats, while the GOP also made gains in swing and marginally Democratic districts. Despite this, House Minority Leader Gerald Ford was still a long way away from achieving his dream of becoming Speaker of the House. The following are some notable House races:
The Senate
View attachment 586618
President Pro Tempore: Richard Russell Jr.
Senate Democrats: Mike Mansfield - 57 Seats - Lost 4
Senate Republicans: Roman Hruska - 43 Seats - Gained 4
With the vast majority of the Senators running for re-election being Democrats, there was a real possibility for the Republicans to attain an outright majority in the Senate, but, anti-climactically, few seats changed hands. While a handful of McCarthy's protégés and supporters were elected, nearly all of them were in states where they already held party incumbency. The sole exception was California, where McCarthy loyalist George Brown Jr. took the state from the Republicans. Of the gains made, the strongest swing was in favour of the GOP in the Midwest.
The Governorships
View attachment 588584
National Governors' Association Chair: John Love
Democratic Governors' Association Chair: John Dempsey - 27 Governorships - Gained 5
Republican Governors' Association Chair: Ronald Reagan - 23 Governorships - Lost 5
In 1970's gubernatorial elections, the Republican Party continued to dominate the western states, while the Democrats made their strongest gains in the Midwest, while capturing two more errant Southern states. With the gains made by the Democrats, they officially held a majority in all of the segments of American political life (the presidency, both branches of the legislature, and the governorships), not counting the state legislatures.
The House
Speaker of the House: James G. O'Hara
House Democrats: Carl Albert - 242 - Lost 13
House Republicans: Gerald Ford - 191 - Gained 13
While there was optimism among McCarthy's supporters that he would be able to repeat his 1968 feat of making gains in an incumbent year, it was not to be. Many Republicans considered at-risk managed to narrowly hang on to their seats, while the GOP also made gains in swing and marginally Democratic districts. Despite this, House Minority Leader Gerald Ford was still a long way away from achieving his dream of becoming Speaker of the House. The following are some notable House races:
Alaska At-Large: In a razor-thin election, Democrat Nick Begich managed to win Alaska's only House district over Republican challenger Frank Murkowski.
Arizona 2: In his first challenge since becoming House Majority Whip, Mo Udall easily won re-election.
California 7: In a primary challenge, incumbent Democrat Jeffery Cohelan was defeated by challenger Ron Dellums, who then went on to win the general. A member of the Johnson-Humphrey-O'Hara branch of the party, Cohelan was considered insufficiently opposed to the Vietnam War by his voting base, with McCarthyites rallying around Dellums instead.
California 35: John G. Schmitz, after winning a special election, won a full term in his own right. Notoriously conservative and a member of the John Birch Society, Schmitz represented Orange County, a Republican stronghold (although it did vote for McCarthy in the Democratic primaries). Schmitz is a vocal critic of the president, despite ironically drawing support from similar suburban demographics.
Delaware At-Large: Continuing Republican control of the state, Pete du Pont, of the famous du Pont family, was elected as Delaware's representative. Entering the House, du Pont was seemingly moderate but with an emerging unorthodoxy to his policy proposals that would grow more prominent over time.
Massachusetts 3: With support from President McCarthy in what otherwise might have been a narrow loss, Robert Drinan became the first Catholic priest to be a voting member of Congress. Drinan defeated the relatively hawkish incumbent, Philip Philbin, and then went on to win a three way race between himself, Philbin (running as an independent), and Republican John McGlennon.
Massachusetts 9: A leader of the anti-busing integration movement in Boston, Louise Day Hicks was elected to replace the retiring former Speaker of the House John William McCormack. While officially opposed to de jure segregation, Hicks had refused to acknowledge the de facto segregation of the Boston school system, claiming that young students were being used as political tools, and instead blaming the government for not doing enough for black people in their own communities. A controversial figure who was expected to take conservative positions, Hicks was actually generally progressive outside of her controversies with race relations.
Michigan 17: McCarthy's lieutenant on the Equal Rights Amendment, Representative Martha Griffiths was easily re-elected.
New York 5: Deprived of support by McCarthy due to their differences in 1968 and having been re-districted to a more conservative area, Allard Lowenstein, once the leader of the Dump Johnson movement, was defeated by Norman F. Lent.
New York 19: In yet another McCarthyite challenge, leading feminist Bella Abzug defeated the incumbent Democrat Leonard Farbstein. A leading supporter of McCarthy in 1968 among women's activist groups, Abzug has a personal rapport with the president, and was trusted and accepted by his otherwise exclusionary inner circle as truly loyal.
New York 39: In a narrow win, football star Jack Kemp was elected in the traditionally Democratic suburban areas of Buffalo. A maverick within his own party and self-described "bleeding heart conservative," Kemp was not only a civil libertarian but a civil progressive, which he mixed with laissez-faire capitalist attitudes that would usually be considered the kiss of death in American politics in the early 1970s. Kemp was representative of the rightward lurch that the Republicans had undergone since Nixon's second defeat.
Arizona 2: In his first challenge since becoming House Majority Whip, Mo Udall easily won re-election.
California 7: In a primary challenge, incumbent Democrat Jeffery Cohelan was defeated by challenger Ron Dellums, who then went on to win the general. A member of the Johnson-Humphrey-O'Hara branch of the party, Cohelan was considered insufficiently opposed to the Vietnam War by his voting base, with McCarthyites rallying around Dellums instead.
California 35: John G. Schmitz, after winning a special election, won a full term in his own right. Notoriously conservative and a member of the John Birch Society, Schmitz represented Orange County, a Republican stronghold (although it did vote for McCarthy in the Democratic primaries). Schmitz is a vocal critic of the president, despite ironically drawing support from similar suburban demographics.
Delaware At-Large: Continuing Republican control of the state, Pete du Pont, of the famous du Pont family, was elected as Delaware's representative. Entering the House, du Pont was seemingly moderate but with an emerging unorthodoxy to his policy proposals that would grow more prominent over time.
Massachusetts 3: With support from President McCarthy in what otherwise might have been a narrow loss, Robert Drinan became the first Catholic priest to be a voting member of Congress. Drinan defeated the relatively hawkish incumbent, Philip Philbin, and then went on to win a three way race between himself, Philbin (running as an independent), and Republican John McGlennon.
Massachusetts 9: A leader of the anti-busing integration movement in Boston, Louise Day Hicks was elected to replace the retiring former Speaker of the House John William McCormack. While officially opposed to de jure segregation, Hicks had refused to acknowledge the de facto segregation of the Boston school system, claiming that young students were being used as political tools, and instead blaming the government for not doing enough for black people in their own communities. A controversial figure who was expected to take conservative positions, Hicks was actually generally progressive outside of her controversies with race relations.
Michigan 17: McCarthy's lieutenant on the Equal Rights Amendment, Representative Martha Griffiths was easily re-elected.
New York 5: Deprived of support by McCarthy due to their differences in 1968 and having been re-districted to a more conservative area, Allard Lowenstein, once the leader of the Dump Johnson movement, was defeated by Norman F. Lent.
New York 19: In yet another McCarthyite challenge, leading feminist Bella Abzug defeated the incumbent Democrat Leonard Farbstein. A leading supporter of McCarthy in 1968 among women's activist groups, Abzug has a personal rapport with the president, and was trusted and accepted by his otherwise exclusionary inner circle as truly loyal.
New York 39: In a narrow win, football star Jack Kemp was elected in the traditionally Democratic suburban areas of Buffalo. A maverick within his own party and self-described "bleeding heart conservative," Kemp was not only a civil libertarian but a civil progressive, which he mixed with laissez-faire capitalist attitudes that would usually be considered the kiss of death in American politics in the early 1970s. Kemp was representative of the rightward lurch that the Republicans had undergone since Nixon's second defeat.
The Senate
View attachment 586618
President Pro Tempore: Richard Russell Jr.
Senate Democrats: Mike Mansfield - 57 Seats - Lost 4
Senate Republicans: Roman Hruska - 43 Seats - Gained 4
With the vast majority of the Senators running for re-election being Democrats, there was a real possibility for the Republicans to attain an outright majority in the Senate, but, anti-climactically, few seats changed hands. While a handful of McCarthy's protégés and supporters were elected, nearly all of them were in states where they already held party incumbency. The sole exception was California, where McCarthy loyalist George Brown Jr. took the state from the Republicans. Of the gains made, the strongest swing was in favour of the GOP in the Midwest.
Alaska: In December of 1968, Democratic senator Bob Bartlett died in office. His replacement, appointed by Governor Wally Hickel, was moderate Republican Ted Stevens. Stevens then went on to defeat Mike Gravel, who was making his second attempt at the Senate after having split the Democratic vote with Democratic write-in (and McCarthy's Secretary of the Interior) Ernest Gruening. Stevens was expected to be a moderate counterweight to his fellow Alaskan in the Senate, conservative Republican Elmer Rasmuson.
Arizona: Incumbent conservative Republican Paul Fannin defeated his challenger, director, documentarian, and Democrat Sam Grossman.
California: After an incredibly fierce primary battle that involved one of the President's very rare extended campaigning sessions, McCarthy protégé George Brown Jr. defeated the Kennedy-esque moderate, John V. Tunney. Brown then went on to defeat the incumbent George Murphy, a conservative Republican and former actor.
Connecticut: In a complex three-way race, McCarthyite Democrat Joseph D. Duffey defeated Goldwater Republican John M. Lupton and incumbent Democrat-turned-independent Thomas J. Dodd. Dodd had been censured for corruption and lost the primary to Duffey. Receiving robust support from McCarthy and the Democratic National Committee, Duffey had received enough support from liberal and moderate Republicans for a narrow plurality.
Delaware: Retiring Republican John J. Williams was succeeded by William Roth, another well-established member of the Delaware Republican Party.
Florida: After a bitter factional battle in the Republican primary between William Cramer (one of the Florida GOP's two bosses) and Ray Osborne (the choice of its other boss, Governor Claude R. Kirk Jr.), self-described "progressive conservative" Lawton Chiles held the seat for the Democrats.
Hawaii: In the closest election of the midterms, Hiram Fong, a moderate Republican and self-made millionaire, won re-election over his Democratic challenger, the maverick moderate Cec Heftel. While conceding defeat, Heftel would bitterly complain that even a single appearance from McCarthy would have won him the election.
Indiana: The Hoosier State's anti-war Democrat, Vance Hartke, was defeated by his Republican challenger, Richard Roudebush. Despite being from the same anti-war liberal branch of the party as McCarthy, the President declined to visit the state, citing his "busy schedule." However, privately, McCarthy mocked Hartke for having supported Bobby Kennedy during the 1968's Indiana Democratic primary.
Maine: While Hartke floundered, Edmund Muskie enjoyed several visits from his personal friend Gene McCarthy despite polling already showing a guaranteed victory.
Maryland: Out of favour with the party after their defeat in 1968, the moderate, Nixon-appointed Chair of the Republican National Committee, Rogers Morton, voluntarily resigned to run for Senate. There, he defeated yet another anti-war liberal who had the misfortune of not being part of the McCarthy faction, incumbent Joseph Tydings.
Massachusetts: The last of the Kennedy brothers to remain in elected office, Ted Kennedy has breezed to re-election. Declining to seek the position of Senate Majority Whip and busy juggling his career, the family, and his brother Bobby's poor health, the last few years have been busy, but largely uneventful and free of controversy for Ted. While reluctant to pursue the presidency despite encouragement from Bobby and the family, Ted is considered Camelot's last champion.
Michigan: Despite a spirited effort by outgoing governor George Romney, Senator Philip Hart won re-election. Hart was relatively slow to oppose the Vietnam War, and was somewhere between the Johnson-Humphrey-O'Hara wing and the McCarthyites in terms of policy. However, Hart had the advantage of being one of McCarthy's personal friends, and the President made frequent appearances on his behalf.
Minnesota: Leaving the cabinet, former vice president and secretary of labor Hubert Humphrey returned to the Senate after defeating progressive Republican Clark MacGregor, who was appointed to fill McCarthy's vacated seat. Ironically, Humphrey remains the first choice of Minnesota Democrats by far and away over McCarthy, and some speculate that had McCarthy lost the presidential nomination he also would have lost to MacGregor.
Mississippi: One of the longest serving men in the Senate, John C. Stennis, one of McCarthy's more loyal Southerners, was easily re-elected.
Missouri: In an upset victory, moderate Republican John Danforth narrowly defeated former presidential contender Stuart Symington.
Montana: Swatting aside primary challengers and his Republican opponent, Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield easily won re-election to his fourth term.
Nebraska: In a surprisingly close election, Senate Minority Leader Roman Hruska triumphed over his Democratic opponent, thereby preventing a second leadership crisis in as many years for the GOP.
Nevada: After barely winning his first time around, moderate Democrat Howard Cannon was the clear victor in his bid for re-election.
New Jersey: In an uneventful campaign, Harrison A. William was re-elected to another term.
New Mexico: In another close election, Democrat Joseph Montoya, a long-established figure in New Mexican politics, was defeated by his Republican challenger Anderson Carter.
New York: In another three-way race, McCarthy protégé Paul O'Dwyer won against progressive Republican Charles Goodell and third party Conservative James Buckley. Filling the seat being vacated by Bobby Kennedy, O'Dwyer defeated the Kennedy faction candidate Ted Sorenson in an awkward primary, also managing to win the nomination of the New York-based Liberal Party, forming a fusion ticket. Despite the left-leaning vote being split between himself and Goodell, O'Dwyer's combined total of Democrats and Liberals was enough to narrowly defeat Buckley, with Goodell trailing in third.
North Dakota: Like Minnesota, North Dakota had a fusion of the Democratic Party and a local progressive third party, in this case the Nonpartisan League. Quentin Burdick of the D-NPL defeated his Republican challenger, Thomas Kleppe.
Ohio: In a spirited primary campaign, Ohio's undefeated Republican governor, James A. Rhodes, beat his intraparty challenger, Robert Taft Jr. With Ohio's campuses quiet, Rhodes was able to run on a law and order platform and the force of his personality to defeat his quieter counterpart and his Democratic opponent, Howard Metzenbaum. While critics point out Rhodes' populist, simplistic, and almost apolitical style of politics, his unrivalled success in Ohio politics was impossible to ignore.
Pennsylvania: In another surprisingly close election for a Republican leader, Senate Minority Whip Hugh Scott defeated his Democratic opponent.
Rhode Island: Beloved in his state, incumbent Democrat John Pastore breezed to re-election despite McCarthy's antipathy toward him.
Tennessee: In another neck-and-neck race, Senator Albert Gore was re-elected thanks to intense support from President McCarthy and the collaboration of other Southern Democrats, defeating his conservative Republican challenger, Bill Brock. Gore had long served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with McCarthy, and while they were not particularly close, they were closely associated.
Texas: With McCarthy enforcing a ceasefire between the conservative and liberal wings of the Texas Democratic Party, Vice President John Connally was forced to campaign for his rival, Senator Ralph Yarbourough, and crush any attempts from the conservative wing to challenge him in the primaries. With the opposition uniquely unified, Yarbourough's expected opponent, Representative George H.W. Bush, decided not to run. With a sparse field of candidates, fringe right conservative Republican Robert J. Morris attained the nomination, but was handily defeated by Yarbourough. Out of all the politicians in America, Yarbourough is perhaps the only one McCarthy felt any regret for turning against, having struck a backroom deal with his most hated nemesis despite Yarbourough supporting him at the convention.
Utah: A specialist in medical and health policy, Democratic Senator Frank Moss clinched re-election to yet another term.
Vermont: A classic New England Republican, Winston Prouty defeated Democratic National Committee Chair (and former Governor of Vermont) Philip Hoff.
Virginia: Despite his misgivings for some of the President's more liberal policies, Harry Byrd Jr. admitted that McCarthy had respect for the South. McCarthy was also friends with the Senator's late father. Continuing his family's trend of dominating Virginian politics, Byrd Jr. obliterated his Republican opponent.
Washington: McCarthy's fiercest foreign policy critics did not come from the Republicans, but from within his own party, in the form of Senator Henry 'Scoop' Jackson, who easily won an overwhelming victory despite getting a cold shoulder from the DNC. Jackson was a committed hawk and anti-communist who believed that McCarthy was leading the nation into geopolitical irrelevance.
West Virginia: The heir apparent of the leadership of the Southern Democrats, Robert Byrd won an easy victory in 1970.
Wisconsin: Both a liberal Democrat and a fiscal hawk, William Proxmire trounced his opponent. While technically part of the McCarthyite faction, Proxmire and the President have a cold relationship with its origins in them previously competing for a seat on the Senate Finance Committee.
Wyoming: A hawkish Democrat who filled McCarthy's vacancy on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Gale W. McGee won re-election.
Arizona: Incumbent conservative Republican Paul Fannin defeated his challenger, director, documentarian, and Democrat Sam Grossman.
California: After an incredibly fierce primary battle that involved one of the President's very rare extended campaigning sessions, McCarthy protégé George Brown Jr. defeated the Kennedy-esque moderate, John V. Tunney. Brown then went on to defeat the incumbent George Murphy, a conservative Republican and former actor.
Connecticut: In a complex three-way race, McCarthyite Democrat Joseph D. Duffey defeated Goldwater Republican John M. Lupton and incumbent Democrat-turned-independent Thomas J. Dodd. Dodd had been censured for corruption and lost the primary to Duffey. Receiving robust support from McCarthy and the Democratic National Committee, Duffey had received enough support from liberal and moderate Republicans for a narrow plurality.
Delaware: Retiring Republican John J. Williams was succeeded by William Roth, another well-established member of the Delaware Republican Party.
Florida: After a bitter factional battle in the Republican primary between William Cramer (one of the Florida GOP's two bosses) and Ray Osborne (the choice of its other boss, Governor Claude R. Kirk Jr.), self-described "progressive conservative" Lawton Chiles held the seat for the Democrats.
Hawaii: In the closest election of the midterms, Hiram Fong, a moderate Republican and self-made millionaire, won re-election over his Democratic challenger, the maverick moderate Cec Heftel. While conceding defeat, Heftel would bitterly complain that even a single appearance from McCarthy would have won him the election.
Indiana: The Hoosier State's anti-war Democrat, Vance Hartke, was defeated by his Republican challenger, Richard Roudebush. Despite being from the same anti-war liberal branch of the party as McCarthy, the President declined to visit the state, citing his "busy schedule." However, privately, McCarthy mocked Hartke for having supported Bobby Kennedy during the 1968's Indiana Democratic primary.
Maine: While Hartke floundered, Edmund Muskie enjoyed several visits from his personal friend Gene McCarthy despite polling already showing a guaranteed victory.
Maryland: Out of favour with the party after their defeat in 1968, the moderate, Nixon-appointed Chair of the Republican National Committee, Rogers Morton, voluntarily resigned to run for Senate. There, he defeated yet another anti-war liberal who had the misfortune of not being part of the McCarthy faction, incumbent Joseph Tydings.
Massachusetts: The last of the Kennedy brothers to remain in elected office, Ted Kennedy has breezed to re-election. Declining to seek the position of Senate Majority Whip and busy juggling his career, the family, and his brother Bobby's poor health, the last few years have been busy, but largely uneventful and free of controversy for Ted. While reluctant to pursue the presidency despite encouragement from Bobby and the family, Ted is considered Camelot's last champion.
Michigan: Despite a spirited effort by outgoing governor George Romney, Senator Philip Hart won re-election. Hart was relatively slow to oppose the Vietnam War, and was somewhere between the Johnson-Humphrey-O'Hara wing and the McCarthyites in terms of policy. However, Hart had the advantage of being one of McCarthy's personal friends, and the President made frequent appearances on his behalf.
Minnesota: Leaving the cabinet, former vice president and secretary of labor Hubert Humphrey returned to the Senate after defeating progressive Republican Clark MacGregor, who was appointed to fill McCarthy's vacated seat. Ironically, Humphrey remains the first choice of Minnesota Democrats by far and away over McCarthy, and some speculate that had McCarthy lost the presidential nomination he also would have lost to MacGregor.
Mississippi: One of the longest serving men in the Senate, John C. Stennis, one of McCarthy's more loyal Southerners, was easily re-elected.
Missouri: In an upset victory, moderate Republican John Danforth narrowly defeated former presidential contender Stuart Symington.
Montana: Swatting aside primary challengers and his Republican opponent, Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield easily won re-election to his fourth term.
Nebraska: In a surprisingly close election, Senate Minority Leader Roman Hruska triumphed over his Democratic opponent, thereby preventing a second leadership crisis in as many years for the GOP.
Nevada: After barely winning his first time around, moderate Democrat Howard Cannon was the clear victor in his bid for re-election.
New Jersey: In an uneventful campaign, Harrison A. William was re-elected to another term.
New Mexico: In another close election, Democrat Joseph Montoya, a long-established figure in New Mexican politics, was defeated by his Republican challenger Anderson Carter.
New York: In another three-way race, McCarthy protégé Paul O'Dwyer won against progressive Republican Charles Goodell and third party Conservative James Buckley. Filling the seat being vacated by Bobby Kennedy, O'Dwyer defeated the Kennedy faction candidate Ted Sorenson in an awkward primary, also managing to win the nomination of the New York-based Liberal Party, forming a fusion ticket. Despite the left-leaning vote being split between himself and Goodell, O'Dwyer's combined total of Democrats and Liberals was enough to narrowly defeat Buckley, with Goodell trailing in third.
North Dakota: Like Minnesota, North Dakota had a fusion of the Democratic Party and a local progressive third party, in this case the Nonpartisan League. Quentin Burdick of the D-NPL defeated his Republican challenger, Thomas Kleppe.
Ohio: In a spirited primary campaign, Ohio's undefeated Republican governor, James A. Rhodes, beat his intraparty challenger, Robert Taft Jr. With Ohio's campuses quiet, Rhodes was able to run on a law and order platform and the force of his personality to defeat his quieter counterpart and his Democratic opponent, Howard Metzenbaum. While critics point out Rhodes' populist, simplistic, and almost apolitical style of politics, his unrivalled success in Ohio politics was impossible to ignore.
Pennsylvania: In another surprisingly close election for a Republican leader, Senate Minority Whip Hugh Scott defeated his Democratic opponent.
Rhode Island: Beloved in his state, incumbent Democrat John Pastore breezed to re-election despite McCarthy's antipathy toward him.
Tennessee: In another neck-and-neck race, Senator Albert Gore was re-elected thanks to intense support from President McCarthy and the collaboration of other Southern Democrats, defeating his conservative Republican challenger, Bill Brock. Gore had long served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with McCarthy, and while they were not particularly close, they were closely associated.
Texas: With McCarthy enforcing a ceasefire between the conservative and liberal wings of the Texas Democratic Party, Vice President John Connally was forced to campaign for his rival, Senator Ralph Yarbourough, and crush any attempts from the conservative wing to challenge him in the primaries. With the opposition uniquely unified, Yarbourough's expected opponent, Representative George H.W. Bush, decided not to run. With a sparse field of candidates, fringe right conservative Republican Robert J. Morris attained the nomination, but was handily defeated by Yarbourough. Out of all the politicians in America, Yarbourough is perhaps the only one McCarthy felt any regret for turning against, having struck a backroom deal with his most hated nemesis despite Yarbourough supporting him at the convention.
Utah: A specialist in medical and health policy, Democratic Senator Frank Moss clinched re-election to yet another term.
Vermont: A classic New England Republican, Winston Prouty defeated Democratic National Committee Chair (and former Governor of Vermont) Philip Hoff.
Virginia: Despite his misgivings for some of the President's more liberal policies, Harry Byrd Jr. admitted that McCarthy had respect for the South. McCarthy was also friends with the Senator's late father. Continuing his family's trend of dominating Virginian politics, Byrd Jr. obliterated his Republican opponent.
Washington: McCarthy's fiercest foreign policy critics did not come from the Republicans, but from within his own party, in the form of Senator Henry 'Scoop' Jackson, who easily won an overwhelming victory despite getting a cold shoulder from the DNC. Jackson was a committed hawk and anti-communist who believed that McCarthy was leading the nation into geopolitical irrelevance.
West Virginia: The heir apparent of the leadership of the Southern Democrats, Robert Byrd won an easy victory in 1970.
Wisconsin: Both a liberal Democrat and a fiscal hawk, William Proxmire trounced his opponent. While technically part of the McCarthyite faction, Proxmire and the President have a cold relationship with its origins in them previously competing for a seat on the Senate Finance Committee.
Wyoming: A hawkish Democrat who filled McCarthy's vacancy on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Gale W. McGee won re-election.
The Governorships
View attachment 588584
National Governors' Association Chair: John Love
Democratic Governors' Association Chair: John Dempsey - 27 Governorships - Gained 5
Republican Governors' Association Chair: Ronald Reagan - 23 Governorships - Lost 5
In 1970's gubernatorial elections, the Republican Party continued to dominate the western states, while the Democrats made their strongest gains in the Midwest, while capturing two more errant Southern states. With the gains made by the Democrats, they officially held a majority in all of the segments of American political life (the presidency, both branches of the legislature, and the governorships), not counting the state legislatures.
Alabama: After a term-limited stint out of office, the notorious George Wallace returned to Alabama's Governor's Mansion, with plans for yet another run for president. He defeated his former lieutenant governor, Albert Brewer, despite insisting he would not make any efforts to retake his old job.
Alaska: In a battle of the state's political giants, Alaska's first Republican governor, the moderate Wally Hickel, defeated its first Democratic governor, William Egan, in a rematch election.
Arizona: In a very narrow race, Arizona's low profile governor, Jack Williams, won re-election. While relatively moderate, Williams tended to go along with the more conservative Republicans who controlled the state legislature.
Arkansas: Defeating Winthrop Rockefeller, Arkansas' first Republican governor since Reconstruction, liberal Democrat Dale Bumpers enjoyed a landslide victory after dispatching his segregationist primary opponents while running on a moderate 'New South' political brand.
California: In a close election, the champion of conservative Republicans Ronald Reagan narrowly defeated the boss of the California Democratic Party, Jesse Unruh. An imminently winnable race for Unruh, he suffered from it being a Democratic incumbent year on the national level, and only meagre support from the President, who never forgot that Unruh fiercely fought for Bobby Kennedy in the state's primary before later switching allegiances.
Colorado: In a simple, by-the-books race, the Chair of the National Governors' Association, Republican John Love, won re-election.
Connecticut: With Governor John Dempsey, the Chair of the Democratic Governor's Association, retiring, Republican Thomas Meskill defeated Dempsey's hopeful successor in something of an upset.
Florida: Suffering from intense splits in his party and a bitter rivalry with Florida GOP's other boss, controversial governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. suffered defeat at the hands of moderate Democrat Reubin Askew.
Georgia: With the state's infamous segregationist governor Lester Maddox ineligible for another term, a tough primary battle led to the victory of state politician and peanut farmer Jimmy Carter, who moved to the centre after initially running a fairly conservative campaign.
Hawaii: Governor Jack Burns, who helped establish Democratic dominance in the state of Hawaii, managed to win another term.
Idaho: Confirming Republican gubernatorial dominance in the western states, Governor Don Samuelson narrowly won re-election.
Iowa: In a close battle, incumbent Republican Robert Day was re-elected to another term.
Kansas: Despite being from an overwhelmingly Republican state, Democrat Robert Docking managed to win re-election.
Maine: While Edmund Muskie remained exceedingly popular in the state, Maine's New England Republican leanings came through with the election of Republican James S. Erwin.
Maryland: Having failed to win his state for the ticket in the presidential election and having been hounded by gaffes and scandal, it was perhaps no surprise that Governor Spiro Agnew lost re-election to Maryland's state Speaker of the House, Marvin Mandel.
Massachusetts: In a battle of who was less unpopular rather than more popular, Mayor of Boston Kevin White defeated incumbent John Volpe, who barely survived a conservative primary challenge after become disliked for his naked ambition to leave Massachusetts behind for higher office. A proponent of busing integration, White's term was expected to be a controversial one, and he was more aligned with the McCarthyites than his home state's Kennedy faction.
Michigan: With Governor Romney running for Senate, his lieutenant governor, William Millikin, managed to win his own term.
Minnesota: In a tag-team performance with Hubert Humphrey's return to the Senate, Wendell Anderson won the governorship. In a notable rebuke of the President from his home state, neither Anderson nor his lieutenant governor could be described as McCarthyites.
Nebraska: In a confusing election, both the Democrats and Republicans suffered from bitter primary fights, but ultimately the leader of the state's Democrats, J. James Exon won the day.
Nevada: Following on the heels of conservative Republican Governor Paul Laxalt, his second, Edward Fike, narrowly won at the top of the ticket.
New Hampshire: In a race that was closer than expected, Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. still managed re-election.
New Mexico: In another close election, conservative Republican Pete Domenici won the governorship.
New York: The icon of progressive Republicans, Nelson Rockefeller easily won yet another term despite a spirited challenge from McCarthyite Howard J. Samuels, who defeated former Ambassador Arthur Goldberg in the Democratic primary.
Ohio: With Ohio's incumbent governor moving to the Senate, Democratic Representative Robert Sweeney managed to take the state from the Republicans.
Oklahoma: In a very close race, incumbent Dewey Bartlett won re-election.
Oregon: A liberal-to-moderate Republican, Tom McCall won re-election by a respectable margin.
Pennsylvania: Succeeding the retiring Raymond P. Shafer, one of the Republicans' leading moderate and governors, ambitious Democratic reformer Milton Shapp defeated his Republican challenger.
Rhode Island: In a very close race, Republican Hertbert DiSimone defeated Governor Frank Licht.
South Carolina: Moderate Democrat John C. West defeated ultraconservative Republican Albert Watson, who ran an openly segregationist campaign.
South Dakota: In that year's Democratic wave in the state, Richard F. Kneip, an ally of Senator George McGovern, toppled incumbent governor Frank Farrar.
Tennessee: With the previous National Governors' Association Chair (and old fashioned Johnson loyalist) Buford Ellington retiring, Republicans took the oppurtunity to elect Winfield Dunn, taking solace in their failure to defeat Senator Gore.
Texas: John Connally's old second-in-command and a member of the conservative wing of the Texas Democratic Party, Governor Preston Smith was re-elected over his unknown Republican opponent, Paul Eggers.
Vermont: Having previously swept into office on dissatisfaction with the state's liberal Democrats, Republican Deane C. Davis was clearly re-elected.
Wisconsin: For the second time in a row a McCarthyite gained the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin's governorship, but this time he won. Patrick Lucey, McCarthy's acting campaign director and floor manager at the Democratic National Convention, replaced retiring Republican incumbent Harold LeVander.
Wyoming: A prominent environmentalist and moderate Republican, Stanley Hathaway won a breakaway victory in Wyoming.
Alaska: In a battle of the state's political giants, Alaska's first Republican governor, the moderate Wally Hickel, defeated its first Democratic governor, William Egan, in a rematch election.
Arizona: In a very narrow race, Arizona's low profile governor, Jack Williams, won re-election. While relatively moderate, Williams tended to go along with the more conservative Republicans who controlled the state legislature.
Arkansas: Defeating Winthrop Rockefeller, Arkansas' first Republican governor since Reconstruction, liberal Democrat Dale Bumpers enjoyed a landslide victory after dispatching his segregationist primary opponents while running on a moderate 'New South' political brand.
California: In a close election, the champion of conservative Republicans Ronald Reagan narrowly defeated the boss of the California Democratic Party, Jesse Unruh. An imminently winnable race for Unruh, he suffered from it being a Democratic incumbent year on the national level, and only meagre support from the President, who never forgot that Unruh fiercely fought for Bobby Kennedy in the state's primary before later switching allegiances.
Colorado: In a simple, by-the-books race, the Chair of the National Governors' Association, Republican John Love, won re-election.
Connecticut: With Governor John Dempsey, the Chair of the Democratic Governor's Association, retiring, Republican Thomas Meskill defeated Dempsey's hopeful successor in something of an upset.
Florida: Suffering from intense splits in his party and a bitter rivalry with Florida GOP's other boss, controversial governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. suffered defeat at the hands of moderate Democrat Reubin Askew.
Georgia: With the state's infamous segregationist governor Lester Maddox ineligible for another term, a tough primary battle led to the victory of state politician and peanut farmer Jimmy Carter, who moved to the centre after initially running a fairly conservative campaign.
Hawaii: Governor Jack Burns, who helped establish Democratic dominance in the state of Hawaii, managed to win another term.
Idaho: Confirming Republican gubernatorial dominance in the western states, Governor Don Samuelson narrowly won re-election.
Iowa: In a close battle, incumbent Republican Robert Day was re-elected to another term.
Kansas: Despite being from an overwhelmingly Republican state, Democrat Robert Docking managed to win re-election.
Maine: While Edmund Muskie remained exceedingly popular in the state, Maine's New England Republican leanings came through with the election of Republican James S. Erwin.
Maryland: Having failed to win his state for the ticket in the presidential election and having been hounded by gaffes and scandal, it was perhaps no surprise that Governor Spiro Agnew lost re-election to Maryland's state Speaker of the House, Marvin Mandel.
Massachusetts: In a battle of who was less unpopular rather than more popular, Mayor of Boston Kevin White defeated incumbent John Volpe, who barely survived a conservative primary challenge after become disliked for his naked ambition to leave Massachusetts behind for higher office. A proponent of busing integration, White's term was expected to be a controversial one, and he was more aligned with the McCarthyites than his home state's Kennedy faction.
Michigan: With Governor Romney running for Senate, his lieutenant governor, William Millikin, managed to win his own term.
Minnesota: In a tag-team performance with Hubert Humphrey's return to the Senate, Wendell Anderson won the governorship. In a notable rebuke of the President from his home state, neither Anderson nor his lieutenant governor could be described as McCarthyites.
Nebraska: In a confusing election, both the Democrats and Republicans suffered from bitter primary fights, but ultimately the leader of the state's Democrats, J. James Exon won the day.
Nevada: Following on the heels of conservative Republican Governor Paul Laxalt, his second, Edward Fike, narrowly won at the top of the ticket.
New Hampshire: In a race that was closer than expected, Governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. still managed re-election.
New Mexico: In another close election, conservative Republican Pete Domenici won the governorship.
New York: The icon of progressive Republicans, Nelson Rockefeller easily won yet another term despite a spirited challenge from McCarthyite Howard J. Samuels, who defeated former Ambassador Arthur Goldberg in the Democratic primary.
Ohio: With Ohio's incumbent governor moving to the Senate, Democratic Representative Robert Sweeney managed to take the state from the Republicans.
Oklahoma: In a very close race, incumbent Dewey Bartlett won re-election.
Oregon: A liberal-to-moderate Republican, Tom McCall won re-election by a respectable margin.
Pennsylvania: Succeeding the retiring Raymond P. Shafer, one of the Republicans' leading moderate and governors, ambitious Democratic reformer Milton Shapp defeated his Republican challenger.
Rhode Island: In a very close race, Republican Hertbert DiSimone defeated Governor Frank Licht.
South Carolina: Moderate Democrat John C. West defeated ultraconservative Republican Albert Watson, who ran an openly segregationist campaign.
South Dakota: In that year's Democratic wave in the state, Richard F. Kneip, an ally of Senator George McGovern, toppled incumbent governor Frank Farrar.
Tennessee: With the previous National Governors' Association Chair (and old fashioned Johnson loyalist) Buford Ellington retiring, Republicans took the oppurtunity to elect Winfield Dunn, taking solace in their failure to defeat Senator Gore.
Texas: John Connally's old second-in-command and a member of the conservative wing of the Texas Democratic Party, Governor Preston Smith was re-elected over his unknown Republican opponent, Paul Eggers.
Vermont: Having previously swept into office on dissatisfaction with the state's liberal Democrats, Republican Deane C. Davis was clearly re-elected.
Wisconsin: For the second time in a row a McCarthyite gained the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin's governorship, but this time he won. Patrick Lucey, McCarthy's acting campaign director and floor manager at the Democratic National Convention, replaced retiring Republican incumbent Harold LeVander.
Wyoming: A prominent environmentalist and moderate Republican, Stanley Hathaway won a breakaway victory in Wyoming.
- The Lethargic Lett
- Word Count: 320