1970 United States Senate election in Missouri

Summary

The 1970 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Stuart Symington was re-elected to a fourth term in office over Republican John Danforth (who would eventually succeed the retiring Symington in 1976).

1970 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1964 November 3, 1970 1976 →
 
Nominee Stuart Symington John Danforth
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 654,831 617,903
Percentage 51.03% 48.15%

County results
Symington:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Danforth:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election

Stuart Symington
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Stuart Symington
Democratic

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

  • Hershel V. Page
  • Stuart Symington, incumbent Senator since 1953
  • Lee C. Sutton, former State Representative from Monroe County (1955–61)
  • William McKinley Thomas
  • Douglas V. White

Results edit

1970 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stuart Symington (incumbent) 392,670 89.28%
Democratic Douglas V. White 15,187 3.45%
Democratic William McKinley Thomas 13,018 2.96%
Democratic Lee Sutton 11,105 2.53%
Democratic Hershel V. Page 7,843 1.78%
Total votes 439,823 100.00%

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

1970 Republican U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Danforth 165,728 72.55%
Republican Doris Bass 45,049 19.72%
Republican Morris Duncan 17,670 7.74%
Total votes 228,447 100.00%

American Party primary edit

Candidates edit

  • Gene Chapman
  • Ralph A. DePugh, Jackson County deputy sheriff
  • Lawrence "Red" Petty

Results edit

1970 American Party U.S. Senate primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
American Gene Chapman 684 47.11%
American Lawrence Petty 400 27.55%
American Ralph A. DePugh 368 25.34%
Total votes 1,452 100.00%

General election edit

Considered a safely Democratic state, Symington was seen as an overwhelming favorite, leading in one poll 54% to 28%.[5] His campaign focused on his seniority, criticizing Richard Nixon, and generally ignoring his opponent, even refusing debates.[6][7] That said, Danforth was seen as a possible contender for an upset.[8] Near the campaigns end, Danforth was seen as closing the gap, providing a real threat to Symington.[9] Symington won the race by just under 3 points.

Results edit

General election results[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stuart Symington (incumbent) 654,831 51.03%  15.52
Republican John Danforth 617,903 48.15%  14.70
American Gene Chapman 10,065 0.78% N/A
Independent Emilio J. DiGirolamo 513 0.04% N/A
Turnout 1,283,312 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "MO US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "She tried to ban 'Hair,' the nudie play, from opening in St. Louis". October 11, 2014.
  3. ^ "MO US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "MO US Senate - Amer Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Apple Jr., R. W. (October 6, 1970). "Symington Confident of Success In Heavily Democratic Missouri". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Ayres Jr., B. Drummond (November 4, 1970). "SYMINGTON WINS 4TH SENATE TERM". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "Symington rejects debates demanded by Danforth". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. August 20, 1970. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Apple Jr., R. W. (November 3, 1970). "Watching the Returns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "Race gap is closing?". The Nevada Daily Mail. October 14, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 18.