1978 United States Senate election in Tennessee

The 1978 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 7, as a part of the Senate class 2 election.

1978 United States Senate election in Tennessee

November 7, 1978
 
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

Situation

Two-term popular incumbent Howard Baker, who had served as United States Senate Minority Leader since 1977, ran for reelection against first-time candidate and Democratic Party activist Jane Eskind.

Democratic nomination

Candidates:

In the primary, held on August 3, Eskind won in an open primary against 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 nomination

Candidates:

  • Incumbent United States Senator and Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker
  • J. Durelle Boles
  • Harvey Howard
  • Hubert David Patty
  • Dayton Seiler
  • Francis Trapp

In the primary, held on August 3, Baker easily emerged as the winner:[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

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 Jefferson Anderson 45,908 3.97%
Independent Fern L. Keasler 2,243 0.19%
Republican hold

See also

References

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