1976 United States Senate election in Wyoming
The 1976 United States Senate election in Wyoming took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic Senator Gale W. McGee ran for re-election to his fourth term. Following a close win in his first race in 1958, McGee won wider victories in 1964 and 1970, even as the state's electorate grew more conservative. In 1976, McGee faced a strong challenge from Republican State Senator Malcolm Wallop.
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County results Wallop: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% McGee: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Despite McGee's past victories in the state, he faced considerable headwinds as President Gerald Ford won the state over Jimmy Carter convincingly, even as Ford was losing nationwide. In the end, despite McGee's ability to significantly outperform other Democratic candidates, he lost to Wallop, winning just 45% of the vote to Wallop's 55%. Wallop's swearing-in marked the first time since 1954 that Republicans held both U.S. Senate seats from Wyoming.
This is the last time that a Senator from Wyoming lost re-election.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Gale W. McGee, incumbent U.S. Senator
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Gale McGee (inc.) | 44,437 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 44,437 | 100.00% |
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Malcolm Wallop, State Senator, 1974 Republican candidate for Governor
- Nels T. Larson[2]
- Doyle Henry, perennial candidate[3]
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Malcolm Wallop | 41,445 | 76.56% | |
Republican | Nels T. Larson | 6,965 | 12.87% | |
Republican | Doyle Henry | 5,727 | 10.58% | |
Total votes | 54,137 | 100.00% |
General election
editResults
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Malcolm Wallop | 84,810 | 54.59% | +10.37% | |
Democratic | Gale W. McGee (inc.) | 70,558 | 45.41% | −10.37% | |
Majority | 14,252 | 9.17% | −2.39% | ||
Turnout | 155,368 | ||||
Republican gain from Democratic |
References
edit- ^ a b c Thomson, Thyra (1977). 1977 Wyoming Official Directory and 1971 Election Returns. pp. 123–24.
- ^ "Who is Nels Larson?". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 5, 1976. p. 29.
- ^ "Candidate to run". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. February 1, 1976. p. 5.