1976 United States Senate election in Missouri
The 1976 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Stuart Symington decided to retire, instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican John Danforth won the open seat, defeating Democrat Warren Hearnes. (Jerry Litton had won the Democratic nomination earlier, but died in a plane crash on the night of the primary election, and Hearnes was chosen by the party committee.)
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County Results Danforth: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Hearnes: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Missouri |
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Warren Hearnes, former Governor of Missouri
- Horace Kingery
- Jerry Litton, U.S. Representative from Chilicothe
- Terry Richards
- Lee Sutton, former State Representative
- James W. Symington, U.S. Representative from Ladue and son of incumbent Senator Stuart Symington
- William McKinley Thomas, perennial candidate
- Norman L. Tucker
- Jim C. Tyler
- Charles Wheeler, Mayor of Kansas City
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jerry Litton | 401,822 | 45.40% | |
Democratic | Warren Hearnes | 140,446 | 23.90% | |
Democratic | James Symington | 222,681 | 12.86% | |
Democratic | Charles Wheeler | 10,894 | 1.23% | |
Democratic | William McKinley Thomas | 4,865 | 0.55% | |
Democratic | Lee C. Sutton | 4,784 | 0.54% | |
Democratic | Norman Tucker | 1,923 | 0.22% | |
Democratic | Jim Tyler | 1,923 | 0.22% | |
Democratic | Terry Richards | 1,425 | 0.16% | |
Democratic | Horace Kingery | 1,207 | 0.14% | |
Total votes | 885,068 | 100.00% |
On primary night, Representative Litton and his entire family died in a plane crash en route to his victory party.[2] To replace Litton on the general election ticket, the Missouri Democratic State Committee held a meeting and elected runner-up Warren Hearnes as the party's nominee. He was chosen over State Treasurer of Missouri Jim Spainhower.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Warren Hearnes | 38 | 63.33% | |
Democratic | Jim Spainhower | 22 | 36.67% | |
Total votes | 60 | 100.00% |
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Danforth, Attorney General of Missouri and nominee for Senate in 1970
- Gregory Hansman, candidate for Lt. Governor in 1972 and Senate in 1974
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Republican | John Danforth | 284,025 | 93.48% | |
Republican | Gregory Hansman | 19,796 | 6.52% | |
Total votes | 303,821 | 100.00% |
Independents and third parties
Independent
- Lawrence "Red" Petty, unsuccessful candidate for the American Party nomination for Senate in 1970
General election
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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Republican | John Danforth | 1,090,067 | 56.94% | 8.79 | |
Democratic | Warren E. Hearnes | 813,571 | 42.50% | 8.54 | |
Independent | Lawrence "Red" Petty | 10,822 | 0.57% | N/A | |
Turnout | 1,914,460 | 100.00% | |||
Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
See also
References
- "MO US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- Rep. Litton dies in plane crash, as he wins voting
- "MO US Senate - D Replacement Nominee". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- "MO US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf