1968 United States Senate election in Alaska

The 1968 United States Senate election in Alaska took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ernest Gruening ran for a second full term in office but finished behind Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Mike Gravel. Gruening launched an write-in bid for the seat in the general election, but finished third to Gravel and Republican former Anchorage mayor Elmer Rasmuson.

1968 United States Senate election in Alaska
November 5, 1968
 
Nominee Mike Gravel Elmer Rasmuson Ernest Gruening (write-in)
Party Democratic Republican Democratic
Popular vote 36,527 30,286 14,118
Percentage 45.13% 37.42% 17.44%
U.S. senator before election

Ernest Gruening
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Mike Gravel
Democratic

Elections in Alaska

Gravel would later lose the primary in 1980 to Gruening's grandson Clark.

Future Senator Ted Stevens also ran in the primary, but lost to Rasmuson by around 1,000 votes. When incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Bartlett died that December, Governor Wally Hickel appointed Stevens to the vacant seat.

Primary election

Candidates

Democratic

Republican
  • Elmer Rasmuson, former Mayor of Anchorage and member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents
  • Ted Stevens, State Representative and nominee for Senate in 1962

Results
U.S. Senate primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Gravel 17,971 33.64%
Democratic Ernest Gruening (incumbent) 16,015 29.98%
Republican Elmer Rasmuson 10,320 19.32%
Republican Ted Stevens 9,111 17.06%
Total votes 53,417 100.00

General election
1968 United States Senate election in Alaska[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Mike Gravel 36,527 45.13%
Republican Elmer Rasmuson 30,286 37.42%
Write-in Ernest Gruening (incumbent) 14,118 17.44%
Total votes 80,931 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References
  1. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=230027
  2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3272
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