1976 United States Senate election in Missouri

The 1976 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Stuart Symington decided to retire, instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican John Danforth won the open seat, defeating Democrat Warren Hearnes. (Jerry Litton had won the Democratic nomination earlier, but died in a plane crash on the night of the primary election, and Hearnes was chosen by the party committee.)

1976 United States Senate election in Missouri
November 2, 1976
 
Nominee John Danforth Warren E. Hearnes
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,090,067 813,571
Percentage 56.9% 42.5%
County Results

Danforth:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Hearnes:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Stuart Symington
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

John Danforth
Republican

Elections in Missouri

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results
1976 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jerry Litton 401,822 45.40%
Democratic Warren Hearnes 140,446 23.90%
Democratic James Symington 222,681 12.86%
Democratic Charles Wheeler 10,894 1.23%
Democratic William McKinley Thomas 4,865 0.55%
Democratic Lee C. Sutton 4,784 0.54%
Democratic Norman Tucker 1,923 0.22%
Democratic Jim Tyler 1,923 0.22%
Democratic Terry Richards 1,425 0.16%
Democratic Horace Kingery 1,207 0.14%
Total votes 885,068 100.00%

On primary night, Representative Litton and his entire family died in a plane crash en route to his victory party.[2] To replace Litton on the general election ticket, the Missouri Democratic State Committee held a meeting and elected runner-up Warren Hearnes as the party's nominee. He was chosen over State Treasurer of Missouri Jim Spainhower.

1976 Missouri Democratic State Committee vote[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Warren Hearnes 38 63.33%
Democratic Jim Spainhower 22 36.67%
Total votes 60 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates
  • John Danforth, Attorney General of Missouri and nominee for Senate in 1970
  • Gregory Hansman, candidate for Lt. Governor in 1972 and Senate in 1974

Results
1976 Republican U.S. Senate primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Danforth 284,025 93.48%
Republican Gregory Hansman 19,796 6.52%
Total votes 303,821 100.00%

Independents and third parties

Independent
  • Lawrence "Red" Petty, unsuccessful candidate for the American Party nomination for Senate in 1970

General election

Results
General election results[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican John Danforth 1,090,067 56.94% 8.79
Democratic Warren E. Hearnes 813,571 42.50% 8.54
Independent Lawrence "Red" Petty 10,822 0.57% N/A
Turnout 1,914,460 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic
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See also

References
  1. "MO US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. Rep. Litton dies in plane crash, as he wins voting
  3. "MO US Senate - D Replacement Nominee". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. "MO US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  5. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf
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