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

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

• 1978 United States Senate elections

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.