1968 United States Senate election in Florida

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1968 United States Senate election in Florida
Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg
  1962 November 5, 1968 1974  
  Edward J Gurney.jpg LeRoy Collins.jpg
Nominee Edward Gurney LeRoy Collins
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,131,499892,637
Percentage55.90%44.10%

1968 United States Senate election in Florida results map by county.svg
County results

Gurney:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Collins:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election

George Smathers
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Edward Gurney
Republican

The 1968 Florida United States Senate election was marked by the election of the first Republican to the United States Senate from Florida since Reconstruction.

Democratic three-term incumbent George Smathers decided to not seek re-election. Popular former two-term Governor LeRoy Collins won the Democratic nomination by defeating State Attorney General Earl Faircloth, while Representative Edward J. Gurney became the Republican candidate.

Gurney was much less well-known than Collins, but he won by a margin of over 11%. It is possible that Richard Nixon's victory in the presidential race (including winning Florida) helped Gurney defeat Collins. Gurney was the first Republican elected to the Senate from Florida since 1872.

Results

Florida United States Senate election, 1968
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Edward J. Gurney1,131,49955.90%
Democratic LeRoy Collins892,63744.10%
Republican gain from Democratic

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