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1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky

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1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky
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← 1972
November 7, 1978
1984 →
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Nominee Walter Dee Huddleston Louie Guenthner Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 290,730 175,766
Percentage 60.98% 36.87%

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County results
Huddleston:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Guenthner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Walter Dee Huddleston
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Walter Dee Huddleston
Democratic

The 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Senator Walter Dee Huddleston won reelection to a second term.

As of 2026, this is the last time a Democrat has won Kentucky's Class 2 Senate seat, which has been held by Mitch McConnell since his victory over Huddleston in 1984.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) 89,333 75.62%
Democratic Jack Watson 13,177 11.15%
Democratic William Taylor 8,710 7.37%
Democratic George Tolhurst 6,921 5.86%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Louie Guenthner Jr. 14,218 47.21%
Republican Oline Carmical 9,346 31.04%
Republican Thurman Jerome Hamlin 6,550 21.75%

General election

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Results

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General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) 290,730 60.98%
Republican Louie Guenthner Jr. 175,766 36.87%
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Our Campaigns - KY US Senate - D Primary Race - May 23, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns - KY US Senate - R Primary Race - May 23, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  3. ↑ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1979). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.