1974 United States Senate election in Nevada

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1974 United States Senate election in Nevada
Flag of Nevada (1929-1991).svg
  1968 November 5, 1974 1980  
  Paul Laxalt (colorized).jpg Rep Harry Reid.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Paul Laxalt Harry Reid Jack C. Doyle
Party Republican Democratic IAPN
Popular vote79,60578,98110,887
Percentage46.97%46.60%6.42%

1974 United States Senate election in Nevada results map by county.svg
County results
Laxalt:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Reid:      40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Alan Bible
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul Laxalt
Republican

The 1974 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Alan Bible decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term. Republican nominee Paul Laxalt won the open seat.

Paul Laxalt, former Governor (1967–1971) and former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada (1963–1967), won by less than 700 votes, becoming one of the few bright spots in a bad year for Republicans. This was the only seat that flipped from Democratic to Republican. He beat Harry Reid, Lieutenant Governor of Nevada since 1971 and former State Assemblyman (1969-1971).

General election results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Paul Laxalt 79,605 46.97% +1.73%
Democratic Harry Reid 78,98146.60%-8.16%
Independent American Party (Nevada) Jack C. Doyle10,8876.42%
Majority6240.37%-9.15%
Turnout 169,473
Republican gain from Democratic

Bible resigned three weeks early (on December 17, 1974) and one day later Nevada Democratic Governor Mike O'Callaghan appointed Laxalt to finish out that term. When Laxalt retired in 1986, Harry Reid won the seat that he lost in this election.

See also

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References

  1. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1974" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 22.