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1978 United States Senate election in Wyoming

The 1978 United States Senate election in Wyoming was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican Senator Clifford Hansen declined to seek a third term in office. Former State Representative Alan K. Simpson, the son of former Senator Milward Simpson, won a contested Republican primary and faced Raymond B. Whitaker, the 1960 Democratic nominee for the Senate, in the general election. Despite a favorable environment for Republicans nationwide, Simpson's performance decreased considerably from Hansen's 1972 landslide. Nonetheless, he easily defeated Whitaker, winning 62% of the vote to Whitaker's 38%.

1978 United States Senate election in Wyoming
← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →
 
Nominee Alan Simpson Raymond B. Whitaker
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 82,908 50,456
Percentage 62.17% 37.83%
County results
Simpson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Whitaker:      50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Clifford Hansen
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Alan K. Simpson
Republican

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Alan K. Simpson, former State Representative from Park County
  • Hugh Binford, petroleum engineer and businessman[1]
  • Gordon H. Barrows, author[2]
  • James G. Maxey, project manager[3]

Results

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Republican primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alan K. Simpson 37,332 54.66%
Republican Hugh Binford 20,768 30.41%
Republican Gordon H. Barrows 8,494 12.44%
Republican James G. Maxey 1,709 2.50%
Total votes 68,303 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Raymond B. Whitaker, former Natrona County Prosecuting Attorney, 1960 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate
  • Dean M. Larson, Riverton attorney[5]
  • Charles Carroll, former Deputy Wyoming Attorney General, 1974 Democratic nominee for Wyoming Secretary of State[6]

Results

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Democratic primary[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raymond B. Whitaker 19,854 47.62%
Democratic Dean M. Larson 11,039 26.48%
Democratic Charles Carroll 10,797 25.90%
Total votes 41,690 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1978 United States Senate election in Wyoming[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Alan Simpson 82,908 62.17% −9.15%
Democratic Raymond B. Whitaker 50,456 37.83% +9.15%
Majority 32,452 24.33% −18.30%
Turnout 133,364
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Binford first candidate". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. January 6, 1978. p. 1.
  2. ^ "Barrows backs energy reinvestment". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 18, 1978. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Oil man interested in quality environment". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 5, 1978. p. 7A.
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - WY US Senate- R Primary Race - Sep 12, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  5. ^ "Larson to seek Senate seat". Jackson Hole Guide. Jackson, Wyo. April 27, 1978. p. A12.
  6. ^ "Deputy AG resigns". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 10, 1978. p. 13.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - WY US Senate- D Primary Race - Sep 12, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  8. ^ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1979). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
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