1970_United_States_Senate_election_in_Missouri References

1970 United States Senate election in Missouri
	County results; Symington: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Danforth: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80%
U.S. senator before election; Stuart Symington; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Stuart Symington; Democratic

The 1970 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Stuart Symington was re-elected to a fourth term in office over Republican John Danforth (who would eventually succeed the retiring Symington in 1976).

Democratic primary

Candidates

Hershel V. Page
Stuart Symington, incumbent Senator since 1953
Lee C. Sutton, former State Representative from Monroe County (1955–61)
William McKinley Thomas
Douglas V. White

Results

1970 Democratic U.S. Senate primary^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Stuart Symington (incumbent)	392,670	89.28%
	Democratic	Douglas V. White	15,187	3.45%
	Democratic	William McKinley Thomas	13,018	2.96%
	Democratic	Lee Sutton	11,105	2.53%
	Democratic	Hershel V. Page	7,843	1.78%
Total votes			439,823	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Doris M. Bass, St. Louis City Alderman^[2]
John Danforth, Attorney General of Missouri
Morris Duncan, perennial candidate

Results

1970 Republican U.S. Senate primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Danforth	165,728	72.55%
	Republican	Doris Bass	45,049	19.72%
	Republican	Morris Duncan	17,670	7.74%
Total votes			228,447	100.00%

American Party primary

Candidates

Gene Chapman
Ralph A. DePugh, Jackson County deputy sheriff
Lawrence "Red" Petty

Results

1970 American Party U.S. Senate primary^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	American	Gene Chapman	684	47.11%
	American	Lawrence Petty	400	27.55%
	American	Ralph A. DePugh	368	25.34%
Total votes			1,452	100.00%

General election

Considered a safely Democratic state, Symington was seen as an overwhelming favorite, leading in one poll 54% to 28%.^[5] His campaign focused on his seniority, criticizing Richard Nixon, and generally ignoring his opponent, even refusing debates.^[6]^[7] That said, Danforth was seen as a possible contender for an upset.^[8] Near the campaigns end, Danforth was seen as closing the gap, providing a real threat to Symington.^[9] Symington won the race by just under 3 points.

Results

General election results^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Stuart Symington (incumbent)	654,831	51.03%	15.52
	Republican	John Danforth	617,903	48.15%	14.70
	American	Gene Chapman	10,065	0.78%	N/A
	Independent	Emilio J. DiGirolamo	513	0.04%	N/A
Turnout			1,283,312	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

^ "MO US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
^ "She tried to ban 'Hair,' the nudie play, from opening in St. Louis". October 11, 2014.
^ "MO US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
^ "MO US Senate - Amer Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
^ Apple Jr., R. W. (October 6, 1970). "Symington Confident of Success In Heavily Democratic Missouri". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ Ayres Jr., B. Drummond (November 4, 1970). "SYMINGTON WINS 4TH SENATE TERM". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ "Symington rejects debates demanded by Danforth". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. August 20, 1970. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ Apple Jr., R. W. (November 3, 1970). "Watching the Returns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ "Race gap is closing?". The Nevada Daily Mail. October 14, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 18.

[1] "MO US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.

[2] "She tried to ban 'Hair,' the nudie play, from opening in St. Louis". October 11, 2014.

[3] "MO US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.

[4] "MO US Senate - Amer Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 29, 2020.

[5] Apple Jr., R. W. (October 6, 1970). "Symington Confident of Success In Heavily Democratic Missouri". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[6] Ayres Jr., B. Drummond (November 4, 1970). "SYMINGTON WINS 4TH SENATE TERM". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[7] "Symington rejects debates demanded by Danforth". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. August 20, 1970. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[8] Apple Jr., R. W. (November 3, 1970). "Watching the Returns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[9] "Race gap is closing?". The Nevada Daily Mail. October 14, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[10] "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 18.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

v t e ( 1968 ←) 1970 United States elections ( → 1972)
U.S. Senate	Alaska (special) Arizona California Connecticut Delaware Florida Hawaii Illinois (special) Indiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
U.S. House	Alabama Alaska Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
State governors	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Lt. Gov Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Iowa Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Lt. Gov Nebraska Lt. Gov Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Vermont Wisconsin Wyoming
Attorneys General	California Florida
State legislatures	Arizona Arizona House Arizona Senate Iowa Senate

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

American Party primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Results

See also

References