1968 United States Senate election in Alaska

The 1968 United States Senate election in Alaska took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ernest Gruening ran for a second full term in office but finished behind Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Mike Gravel. Gruening launched an write-in bid for the seat in the general election, but finished third to Gravel and Republican former Anchorage mayor Elmer Rasmuson.

1968 United States Senate election in Alaska

November 5, 1968
 
Nominee Mike Gravel Elmer Rasmuson Ernest Gruening (write-in)
Party Democratic Republican Democratic
Popular vote 36,527 30,286 14,118
Percentage 45.13% 37.42% 17.44%

U.S. senator before election

Ernest Gruening
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Mike Gravel
Democratic

Gravel would later lose the primary in 1980 to Gruening's grandson Clark.

Future Senator Ted Stevens also ran in the primary, but lost to Rasmuson by around 1,000 votes. When incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Bartlett died that December, Governor Wally Hickel appointed Stevens to the vacant seat.

Primary election

Democratic

Results

U.S. Senate Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Gravel 17,971 52.9
Democratic Ernest Gruening (incumbent) 16,015 47.1
Total votes 33,986 100.00

Republican

  • Elmer Rasmuson, former Mayor of Anchorage and member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents
  • Ted Stevens, State Representative and nominee for Senate in 1962

Results

U.S. Senate Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Elmer Rasmuson 10,320 53.1
Republican Ted Stevens 9,111 46.9
Total votes 19,431 100.00

General election

1968 United States Senate election in Alaska[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike Gravel 36,527 45.13%
Republican Elmer Rasmuson 30,286 37.42%
Write-in Ernest Gruening (incumbent) 14,118 17.44%
Total votes 80,931 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

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