1970 United States Senate election in Texas

The 1970 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough was defeated by former U.S. Representative Lloyd Bentsen in the Democratic primary. Bentsen then defeated Republican U.S. Representative and future president George H. W. Bush in the general election. When Bush was running for president in 1988, his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, selected Bentsen as his vice presidential running mate.

1970 United States Senate election in Texas
November 3, 1970
 
Nominee Lloyd Bentsen George H. W. Bush
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,194,069 1,035,794
Percentage 53.5% 46.5%
County results
Bentsen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Bush:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Ralph Yarborough
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Lloyd Bentsen
Democratic

Elections in Texas
Government

Primaries

Democratic

Candidates

Campaign

Yarborough, a liberal icon, was challenged by the more conservative Bentsen in the Democratic primary. In what was characterized as an extremely bitter campaign, Bentsen accused Yarborough of supporting desegregation busing and criticized his opposition to the Vietnam War.[1] Many Texas liberals threatened to support the Republican Bush if Bentsen won the primary, believing that the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party would be threatened if Bentsen were elected.[1] Bentsen ultimately defeated Yarborough in the Democratic primary on May 2, 1970.[2]

Results
Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lloyd Bentsen 841,316 53.7%
Democratic Ralph Yarborough (incumbent) 726,477 46.3%
Total votes 1,567,793 100.0%

Republican

Bush was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Candidates

General election

The general election was held November 3, 1970. Bentsen defeated Bush, 53.6% – 46.5%.[3]

Results
General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Lloyd Bentsen 1,194,069 53.5% 3.7
Republican George H. W. Bush 1,035,794 46.5% 2.9
Total votes 2,229,863 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold
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References
  1. Kamen, Al (16 July 1988). "Bentsen Cast Bush in 1970 As Too Liberal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  2. "TX US Senate - D Primary". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  3. "TX US Senate". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  4. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6529
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