1978 United States Senate election in Iowa

The 1978 United States Senate election in Iowa took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic Senator Dick Clark ran for re-election to a second term but was defeated by Republican former Lt. Governor Roger Jepsen. Until 2014, this was the last time Republicans won Iowa's Class II Senate seat.

1978 United States Senate election in Iowa
November 7, 1978
 
Nominee Roger Jepsen Dick Clark
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 421,598 395,066
Percentage 51.12% 47.91%
County Results
Jepsen:      40–50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Clark:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Dick Clark
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Roger Jepsen
Republican

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Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Gerald Leo Baker, computer programmer and mathematician from Cedar Falls
  • Dick Clark, incumbent Senator
  • Robert L. Nereim, resident of Des Moines and candidate for Senate in 1966

Results
1978 Democratic Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dick Clark (incumbent) 87,880 80.48%
Democratic Gerald Leo Baker 13,132 12.03%
Democratic Robert L. Nereim 8,176 7.49%
Write-in All others 3 0.00%
Total votes 109,191 100.00%

Following his defeat, Gerald Leo Baker announced an independent campaign for the general election.

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Joe Bertroche
  • Roger Jepsen, former Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
  • Maurie Van Nostrand

Results
1978 Republican Senate primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roger Jepsen 87,397 57.33%
Republican Maurie Van Nostrand 54,189 35.55%
Republican Joe Bertroche 10,860 7.12%
Total votes 284,047 100.00%

General election

Results
General election results[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roger Jepsen 421,598 51.12% 7.03
Democratic Dick Clark (incumbent) 395,066 47.91% 7.16
Independent Gerald Leo Baker 4,223 0.51% N/A
Libertarian Ben L. Olson 3,689 0.45% N/A
Write-in All others 78 0.01% N/A
Total votes 824,654 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

See also

References
  1. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=283887
  2. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=283888
  3. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5317
  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.
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