1960 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

1960 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

←  1954 November 8, 1960 1964 (special)  →

Nominee Robert S. Kerr B. Hayden Crawford Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 474,116 385,646 Percentage 54.84% 44.61%

County results Kerr:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Crawford:      50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Robert S. Kerr Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Robert S. Kerr Democratic

The 1960 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 8, 1960. Incumbent Democratic Senator Robert S. Kerr ran for re-election to a third term. He won the Democratic primary in a landslide and then faced former U.S. Attorney B. Hayden Crawford, the Republican nominee, in the general election. Even as Vice President Richard Nixon was winning Oklahoma in a landslide over John F. Kennedy, Kerr was able to defeat Crawford by a wide margin, winning his third term. However, Kerr died just shy of two years into his third term, on January 1, 1963. He was replaced by Governor J. Howard Edmondson in the Senate and a special election was held in 1964.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Robert S. Kerr, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Thomas C. Dunn
• D. R. Condo

Results

Democratic primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert S. Kerr (inc.)	300,061	77.61%
	Democratic	Thomas C. Dunn	65,139	16.85%
	Democratic	D. R. Condo	21,420	5.54%
Total votes			386,620	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• B. Hayden Crawford, former U.S. Attorney ^[2]
• Herbert K. Hyde, former U.S. Attorney, ^[3] 1936 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate

Results

Republican primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	B. Hayden Crawford	37,508	70.44%
	Republican	Herbert K. Hyde	15,743	29.56%
Total votes			53,251	100.00%

General election

Results

=

1960 United States Senate election in Oklahoma ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert S. Kerr (inc.)	474,116	54.84%	−1.00%
	Republican	B. Hayden Crawford	385,646	44.61%	+0.95%
	Independent	Billy E. Brown	4,713	0.55%	—
Majority			88,470	10.23%	−1.95%
Turnout			864,475
	Democratic hold

References

1. "1958-1966 Election Results" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 18, 2021.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
2. "Considers Race For Kerr's Seat". Miami News-Record. Miami, Okla. February 21, 1960. p. 17. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
3. "State Filings In Late Rally Friday". Muskogee Times-Democrat. Muskogee, Okla. April 30, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved June 18, 2021.