The 1978 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 7, 1978, to select the U.S. Senator from the state of Tennessee. Two-term popular incumbent Republican U.S. Senator, Howard Baker, who had served as United States Senate Minority Leader since 1977, ran for re-election against first-time candidate and Democratic Party activist Jane Eskind. Baker won re-election in the general election.
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County results Baker: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Eskind: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Candidates:
In the primary, held on August 3, Eskind won in an open primary against eight other candidates:[1]
Candidates:
In the primary, held on August 3, Baker easily emerged as the winner:[2]
Baker won with a 15-point margin in the general election, held on November 7:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Republican | Howard Baker (incumbent) | 642,644 | 55.54% | |
Democratic | Jane Eskind | 466,228 | 40.30% | |
Independent | Thomas J. Anderson | 45,908 | 3.97% | |
Independent | Fern L. Keasler | 2,243 | 0.19% | |
Republican hold |