1970 United States Senate election in Maine

1970 United States Senate election in Maine

←  1964 November 3, 1970 1976  →

Nominee Edmund Muskie Neil S. Bishop Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 199,954 123,906 Percentage 61.74% 38.26%

County results Municipality results Muskie:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Bishop:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Tie:     50%

U.S. senator before election Edmund Muskie Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie Democratic

The 1970 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democrat Edmund Muskie defeated Republican nominee Neil S. Bishop with 61.74% of the vote. It's believed Muskie's coattails helped Democratic Governor Kenneth Curtis narrowly win reelection in the concurrent gubernatorial election. ^[1] Bishop had crossed party lines to support Muskie's first run for high office, becoming a prominent Republican endorser when Muskie ran for Governor of Maine in 1954. ^[2]

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 15, 1970. ^[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Neil S. Bishop, former State Senator
• Abbott O. Greene

Results

Republican primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Neil S. Bishop	45,216	59.83
	Republican	Abbott O. Greene	30,201	39.96
Total votes			75,577	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Edmund Muskie, Democratic
• Neil S. Bishop, Republican

Results

1970 United States Senate election in Maine ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edmund Muskie (incumbent)	199,954	61.74%
	Republican	Neil S. Bishop	123,906	38.26%
Total votes			323,860	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. Potholm, Christian P. (2003). This Splendid Game: Maine Campaigns and Elections, 1940-2002. p. 89.
2. "Neil Bishop Dead at 86". The Lewiston Journal. March 2, 1989. p. 4A. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
3. Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections . CQ Press. 2001. Retrieved November 15, 2018– via Internet Archive.
4. Cook, Rhodes (November 17, 2015). America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN   9781483383026 . Retrieved November 15, 2018.