1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska

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1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska
Flag of Nebraska.svg
  1972 November 7, 1978 1984  
  1979 p80 J James Exon.jpg No image.svg
Nominee J. James Exon Donald Eugene Shasteen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote334,096159,708
Percentage 67.66%32.34%

1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg
County results
Exon:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Shasteen:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Carl Curtis
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

J. James Exon
Democratic

The 1978 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Carl Curtis decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. In the elections, the Democratic nominee J. James Exon won the open seat. This election was the first time ever that a Democrat won the Class 2 Senate seat in Nebraska, as the second time ever that a non-Republican won this seat (along with the 1936 election).

Contents

Candidates

Democratic

Republican

Results

General election results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic J. James Exon 334,096 67.66% +20.82%
Republican Donald Eugene Shasteen159,70832.34%−20.82%
Majority174,39035.32%+28.99%
Turnout 493,802
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

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References

  1. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.