1974 United States Senate election in Florida

Summary

The 1974 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Senator Edward Gurney, a Republican, declined to seek a second term after being indicted for taking bribes in return for his influence with the Federal Housing Administration. The primary for the Republican nomination pitted Eckerd drug store owner Jack Eckerd against Florida Public Service Commissioner Paula Hawkins. Eckerd won handily, receiving approximately 67.5% of the vote. The Democratic primary, however, was a crowded field with eleven candidates vying for the nomination. Because no candidate received a majority of the votes, U.S. Representative Bill Gunter and Secretary of State of Florida Richard Stone advanced to a run-off election. Stone won by a small margin of 1.68%.

1974 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1968 November 5, 1974 1980 →
 
Nominee Richard Stone Jack Eckerd John Grady
Party Democratic Republican American Independent
Popular vote 781,031 736,674 282,659
Percentage 43.38% 40.91% 15.70%

County results
Stone:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Eckerd:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Grady:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election

Edward Gurney
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Richard Stone
Democratic

Thus, Eckerd and Stone faced off in the general election. John Grady, a family physician and member of George Wallace's American Independent Party, performed very well for a third-party candidate. On election day, Stone received 43.38% of the vote, Eckerd garnered 40.91% of the vote, and Grady acquired 15.7% of the vote. Stone served only one term in the Senate and would be defeated by Gunter in the Democratic primary in 1980.

Democratic primary edit

The Democratic primary consisted of a large field of 11 candidates.[1]

Candidates edit

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Stone 236,185 29.80%
Democratic Bill Gunter 157,301 19.85%
Democratic Richard A. Pettigrew 146,728 18.51%
Democratic Mallory Horne 90,684 11.44%
Democratic Glenn W. Turner 51,326 6.48%
Democratic George Balmer 24,408 3.08%
Democratic Burton Young 23,199 2.93%
Democratic Bob Brewster 19,913 2.51%
Democratic David B. Higginbottom 17,401 1.64%
Democratic Duaine E. Macon 14,961 1.89%
Total votes 782,106 100.00%
Democratic primary runoff results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Stone 321,683 50.84%
Democratic Bill Gunter 311,044 49.16%
Total votes 632,727 100.00%

Republican primary edit

The Republican primary was a smaller affair than its Democratic counterpart with two candidates.[1]

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Eckerd 186,897 67.49%
Republican Paula Hawkins 90,049 32.52%
Total votes 276,946 100.00%

General election edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Stone 781,031 43.38%
Republican Jack Eckerd 736,674 40.91%
American Independent John Grady 282,659 15.70%
Independent Jim Fair 117 0.01%
Independent Henry J. Matthew 35 0.00%
Independent Hortense L. Arvan 13 0.00%
Independent Timothy L. "Tim" Adams 10 0.00%
Majority 44,357 3.32%
Turnout 1,800,539
Democratic gain from Republican

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Two Republicans, 11 Democrats in Senate Race". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 1, 1973. Retrieved March 11, 2024 – via Google Newspapers.
  2. ^ Crowley, Brian (September 9, 1974). "Justin Storms Cafeteria". Beachcomber. Palm Beach Junior College. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via Internet Archive. An "Independent" Democrat, on leave from Florida Atlantic University, Justin has had previous governmental experience as a member of the Arizona state Legislature.
  3. ^ Staff Report (November 7, 1974). "Askew: Florida Voters 'Never Had It So Good'". Panama City News-Herald. Retrieved March 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. But it was Dr. John Grady, a 50-year-old physician and three-time mayor of the sugar belt town of Belle Glade, who played the role of political spoiler in Florida.