1978 United States Senate election in Tennessee

The 1978 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 7, 1978, to elect 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, won reelection over first-time candidate and Democratic Party activist Jane Eskind.

1978 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →
 
Nominee Howard Baker Jane Eskind
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 642,644 466,228
Percentage 55.54% 40.30%

County results
Baker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Eskind:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Howard Baker
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Howard Baker
Republican

Democratic primary

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Candidates:

In an open primary on August 3, Eskind defeated eight other candidates:[1]

  • Eskind – 196,156 (34.52%)
  • Bruce – 170,795 (30.06%)
  • Lee – 89,939 (15.83%)
  • Boyd – 48,458 (8.53%)
  • Bradley – 22,130 (3.90%)
  • Heinsohn – 17,787 (3.13%)
  • Foster – 10,671 (1.88%)
  • Nyabongo – 7,682 (1.35%)
  • Vick – 4,414 (0.78%)
  • Write-in – 147 (0.03%)

Republican primary

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Candidates:

Baker easily won the August 3 primary:[2]

  • Baker – 205,680 (83.44%)
  • Howard – 21,154 (8.58%)
  • Boles – 8,899 (3.61%)
  • Patty – 3,941 (1.60%)
  • Seiler – 3,831 (1.55%)
  • Trapp – 2,994 (1.22%)

General election

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Baker won with a 15-point margin in the general election, held on November 7:

General election results[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns – TN US Senate – D Primary Race – Aug 03, 1978". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns – TN US Senate – R Primary Race – Aug 03, 1978". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns – TN US Senate Race – Nov 07, 1978". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  4. ^ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1979). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.