1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas

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1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas
Flag of Arkansas (1924-2011).svg
←  1968 November 5, 1974 1980  →
  Dale Bumpers AR.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Dale Bumpers John H. Jones
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote461,05682,026
Percentage84.90%15.10%
1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas results map by county.svg
County results
Bumpers:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
U.S. senator before election

J. William Fulbright
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Dale Bumpers
Democratic

The 1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 5, 1974.

Contents

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright ran for re-election to a sixth term in office, but was defeated handily in the Democratic primary by Governor of Arkansas Dale Bumpers. Bumpers won the general election easily.

Democratic primary

Campaign

J. William Fulbright had been a mainstay in Arkansas politics for many decades, and sought a sixth term while still remaining the Junior Senator to John McClellan.

Dale Bumpers, originally a charismatic lawyer from Charleston, was the incumbent Governor of Arkansas. He had defeated staunch segregationist Orval Faubus in the 1970 primary and had been re-elected in 1972. [1] His campaign had been spurred by the need to provide for his family with the $42,500 he would make as a Senator. [2]

After Bumpers announced his candidacy, Fulbright did not take his opponent's campaign seriously. However, Bumpers' decision would spell the end of Fulbright's career in the Senate in dramatic fashion. This victory earned him the nickname 'The Giant Killer'. [3]

Fulbright's staggering loss was seen by analysts as a result of low confidence in Congress in the wake of the Watergate scandal. This success also tipped him to be on the ticket in the 1976 presidential election. [4]

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dale Bumpers 380,748 65.04
Democratic J. William Fulbright (Incumbent)204,63034.96
Total votes585,378 100.00

General election

Campaign

Jones accused Bumpers of excessive spending as governor, citing the construction of a $186 million state office complex. Bumpers not only ignored Jones but instead campaigned mostly for the young Democrat (and future President) Bill Clinton, who failed to unseat Republican U.S. Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt in Arkansas's 3rd congressional district. [6]

Results

1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Dale Bumpers 461,056 84.90 Increase2.svg25.75
Republican John H. Jones82,02615.10Decrease2.svg25.75
Total votes543,082 100.00
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ↑ KATV (January 2, 2016). "Former Governor, U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers dead at 90". KATV. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ TIME (November 18, 1974). "The Nation: Bumpers: Watch That Killer Smile". TIME. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ KATV (January 2, 2016). "Former Governor, U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers dead at 90". KATV. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ Times, Roy Reed Special to The New York (May 29, 1974). "Bumpers Beats Fulbright in Arkansas; Faubus Trailing in Governor's Primary". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Our Campaigns - AR US Senate - D Primary Race - May 28, 1974".
  6. ↑ "1974 | Clinton House Museum" . Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Our Campaigns - AR US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1974".
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