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1974 United States Senate election in Idaho

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1974 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1968 November 5, 1974 1980 →
 
Nominee Frank Church Bob Smith
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 145,140 109,072
Percentage 56.07% 42.14%

County results
Church:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Smith:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Frank Church
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Church
Democratic

The 1974 United States Senate election in Idaho took place on Tuesday, November 5. Democratic incumbent Frank Church was re-elected to a fourth term in office, defeating Republican Bob Smith.[1]

Church announced his presidential campaign in March 1976,[2][3] off the strength of his victory as well as his high-profile chairmanship of the select Church Commission investigating American intelligence activity.

As of 2024, this was the last time the Democrats won a U.S. Senate election in Idaho.[4]

Primary elections

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The primary was held on Tuesday, August 6.[5]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank Church (incumbent) 53,659 85.77%
Democratic Leon Olson 8,904 14.23%
Total votes 62,563 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Charles Bolstridge, Nampa
  • Bob Smith, Nampa, attorney[7][8]
  • Donald L. Winder, Boise

Results

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Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Smith 45,553 71.98%
Republican Donald L. Winder 13,406 21.18%
Republican Charles Bolstridge 4,331 6.84%
Total votes 63,290 100.00%

General election

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Democratic candidates did extraordinarily well in 1974, in response to the Watergate scandal. This was true even in Republican leaning states and districts, leading commentators to call Church and other Democratic candidates elected that year, "Watergate babies."[10][11]

Results

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1974 United States Senate election in Idaho[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Frank Church (incumbent) 145,140 56.07% Decrease4.19
Republican Bob Smith 109,072 42.14% Increase2.40
American Independent Jean L. Stoddard 4,635 1.79% N/A
Majority 36,068 13.93% −6.59%
Total votes 258,847 100.00% +10.09%
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Vote favors Church, Hansen, Symms". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 6, 1974. p. 1.
  2. ^ Shelledy, Jay (March 19, 1976). "Church joins race for White House". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1A.
  3. ^ "Sen. Church claims others dodge issues". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 18, 1976. p. 1.
  4. ^ Gonzales, Nathan L. "Bleak streak for Idaho Democrats likely to continue". rollcall.com. CQ Roll Call. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  5. ^ "Cox(?), Smith, Kidwell, Evans, Ravenscroft in". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 7, 1974. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - ID US Senate - D Primary Race - Aug 06, 1974".
  7. ^ "Smith announces race for Church Senate seat". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 9, 1973. p. 5.
  8. ^ "Bob Smith for Idaho". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). (advertisement). August 6, 1974. p. 7.
  9. ^ "Our Campaigns - ID US Senate - R Primary Race - Aug 06, 1974".
  10. ^ Liu, Irene Jay (December 14, 2009). "A 70's flashback at Capitol". timesunion.com.
  11. ^ "The last of the Watergate babies". Democrat and Chronicle. April 2, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  12. ^ "Our Campaigns - ID US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1974".