1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky

1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky

←  1972 November 7, 1978 1984  →

Nominee Walter Dee Huddleston Louie Guenthner Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 290,730 175,766 Percentage 60.98% 36.87%

County results Huddleston:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Guenthner:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic

The 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Senator Walter Dee Huddleston won reelection to a second term. This remains the most recent occurrence of a Democrat winning Kentucky's Class 2 Senate seat, which has been held by Mitch McConnell since his victory over Huddleston in 1984.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Louie Guenthner Jr, Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
• Oline Carmical
• Thurman Jerome Hamlin

Results

Republican Primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Louie Guenthner Jr.	14,218	47.21%
	Republican	Oline Carmical	9,346	31.04%
	Republican	Thurman Jerome Hamlin	6,550	21.75%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Walter Huddleston, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Jack Watson
• William Taylor
• George Tolhurst

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent)	89,333	75.62%
	Democratic	Jack Watson	13,177	11.15%
	Democratic	William Taylor	8,710	7.37%
	Democratic	George Tolhurst	6,921	5.86%

General election

Results

General election results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent)	290,730	60.98%
	Republican	Louie Guenthner Jr.	175,766	36.87%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1978 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Our Campaigns - KY US Senate - R Primary Race - May 23, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com.
2. "Our Campaigns - KY US Senate - D Primary Race - May 23, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com.
3. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1979). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.