1974 United States Senate election in Florida

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1974 United States Senate election in Florida
Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg
  1968 November 5, 1974 1980  
  Richardbernardstone.jpg Jack Eckerd (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Richard Stone Jack Eckerd John Grady
Party Democratic Republican American Independent
Popular vote781,031736,674282,659
Percentage43.38%40.91%15.70%

1974 United States Senate election in Florida results map by county.svg
County results
Stone:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Eckerd:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Grady:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election

Edward Gurney
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Richard Stone
Democratic

The 1974 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Senator Edward Gurney, a Republican, declined to seek a second term after being indicted for taking bribes in return for his influence with the Federal Housing Administration. The primary for the Republican nomination pitted Eckerd drug store owner Jack Eckerd against Florida Public Service Commissioner Paula Hawkins. Eckerd won handily, receiving approximately 67.5% of the vote. The Democratic primary, however, was a crowded field with eleven candidates vying for the nomination. Because no candidate received a majority of the votes, U.S. Representative Bill Gunter and Secretary of State of Florida Richard Stone advanced to a run-off election. Stone won by a small margin of 1.68%.

Contents

Thus, Eckerd and Stone faced off in the general election. John Grady, a family physician and member of George Wallace's American Independent Party, performed very well for a third-party candidate. On election day, Stone received 43.38% of the vote, Eckerd garnered 40.91% of the vote, and Grady acquired 15.7% of the vote. Stone served only one term in the Senate and would be defeated by Gunter in the Democratic primary in 1980.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary consisted of a large field of 11 candidates. [1] 13.6% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary. [2]

Candidates

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard Stone 236,185 29.80%
Democratic Bill Gunter 157,301 19.85%
Democratic Richard A. Pettigrew 146,72818.51%
Democratic Mallory Horne 90,68411.44%
Democratic Glenn W. Turner 51,3266.48%
Democratic George Balmer24,4083.08%
Democratic Burton Young23,1992.93%
Democratic Bob Brewster19,9132.51%
Democratic David B. Higginbottom17,4011.64%
Democratic Duaine E. Macon14,9611.89%
Total votes782,106 100.00%
Democratic primary runoff results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard Stone 321,683 50.84%
Democratic Bill Gunter311,04449.16%
Total votes632,727 100.00%

Republican primary

The Republican primary was a smaller affair than its Democratic counterpart with two candidates. [1] 4.7% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary. [2]

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jack Eckerd 186,897 67.49%
Republican Paula Hawkins 90,04932.52%
Total votes276,946 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard Stone 781,031 43.38%
Republican Jack Eckerd 736,67440.91%
American Independent John Grady282,65915.70%
Independent Jim Fair1170.01%
Independent Henry J. Matthew350.00%
Independent Hortense L. Arvan130.00%
Independent Timothy L. "Tim" Adams100.00%
Majority44,3573.32%
Turnout 1,800,539
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Two Republicans, 11 Democrats in Senate Race". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 1, 1973. Retrieved March 11, 2024 via Google Newspapers.
  2. 1 2 Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 26.
  3. Crowley, Brian (September 9, 1974). "Justin Storms Cafeteria". Beachcomber. Palm Beach Junior College . Retrieved March 15, 2024 via Internet Archive. An "Independent" Democrat, on leave from Florida Atlantic University, Justin has had previous governmental experience as a member of the Arizona state Legislature.
  4. Staff Report (November 7, 1974). "Askew: Florida Voters 'Never Had It So Good'". Panama City News-Herald . Retrieved March 11, 2024 via Newspapers.com. But it was Dr. John Grady, a 50-year-old physician and three-time mayor of the sugar belt town of Belle Glade, who played the role of political spoiler in Florida.

Works cited