1968 United States Senate election in Ohio

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1968 United States Senate election in Ohio
Flag of Ohio.svg
  1962 November 5, 1968 1974  
  William B. Saxbe (1).jpg John J. Gilligan 89th Congress 1965 (1).jpg
Nominee William B. Saxbe John J. Gilligan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,928,9641,814,152
Percentage51.53%48.47%

Senate election in Ohio 1968.svg
County results

Saxbe:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Gilligan:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Frank J. Lausche
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

William Saxbe
Republican

The 1968 United States Senate election in Ohio took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Senator Frank Lausche ran for re-election to a third term, but lost the Democratic primary to former U.S. Representative John J. Gilligan. Before losing the primary to the more solidly liberal Gilligan, Lausche had one of the most conservative voting record among Senate Democrats outside of The South, leaving the Democratic Party very disappointed. In the general election, Gilligan lost to Republican Ohio Attorney General William Saxbe in a close race. Saxbe's victory increased the number of Senate Republicans in the 91st Congress. He would serve 5 years in the Senate before being nominated by President Richard Nixon to be U.S Attorney General, he resigned the seat after being confirmed. Gilligan, who in January 1974 was serving as the Governor of Ohio, named Saxbe's successor.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John J. Gilligan 544,814 55.40%
Democratic Frank Lausche (incumbent)438,58844.60%
Total votes983,402 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican William B. Saxbe 575,178 82.31%
Republican William L. White71,19110.91%
Republican Albert Edward Payne52,3937.50%
Total votes698,762 100.00%

Results

1968 United States Senate election in Ohio [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican William B. Saxbe 1,928,964 51.53% Increase2.svg13.09
Democratic John J. Gilligan 1,814,15248.47%Decrease2.svg13.09
Independent Richard Wingerter (write-in)20.00%N/A
Independent Eugene P. Okey (write-in)10.00%N/A
Socialist Labor Peter M. Kapitz (write-in)10.00%N/A
Total votes3,743,120 100.0%

See also

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References

  1. "Our Campaigns - OH US Senate - D Primary Race - May 07, 1968". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  2. "Our Campaigns - OH US Senate - R Primary Race - May 07, 1968". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  3. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1968" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  4. "Our Campaigns - OH US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968". www.ourcampaigns.com.