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1978 United States Senate election in Wyoming

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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

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%.

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.