1978 United States Senate election in Delaware

← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →

Nominee Joe Biden James H. Baxter Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 93,930 66,479 Percentage 57.96% 41.02%

County results State House district results Map key Biden:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Baxter:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Joe Biden Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Joe Biden Democratic

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The 1978 United States Senate election in Delaware was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic senator Joe Biden won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican challenger James H. Baxter Jr. in a landslide victory. This is the first of five elections in which Biden won all counties.

Republican primary

The Republican Party primary was held on September 9, 1978. Venema was previously an independent before declaring himself a candidate in March 1978. Candidates Venema and Baxter were described by The Washington Post as being "two think-alike Reagan conservatives" but differed in terms of background and "personal style".^[1]

Candidates

• James H. Baxter Jr., Sussex County Recorder of Deeds^[2]
• James Allyn Venema, cardboard sign manufacturer,^[1] anti-desegregation busing activist, president of the Positive Action Committee and the National Association of Neighborhood Schools^[3][4]

Results

General election

Candidates

• James H. Baxter Jr. (R), Sussex County Recorder of Deeds^[2]
• Joe Biden (D), incumbent Delaware Senator running for his first reelection
• Donald G. Gies (A), engineer, perennial candidate and officer in the US Air Force Reserve^[6][7]

Results

County results

Results by state representative district