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1978 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →
 
Nominee David Boren Robert B. Kamm
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 493,953 247,857
Percentage 65.49% 32.86%
County results
Boren:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Kamm:      40–50%      50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Dewey F. Bartlett
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

David Boren
Democratic

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The 1978 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican Senator Dewey F. Bartlett retired, leaving the seat vacant. He was succeeded by popular Democratic Governor David Boren.

Boren won a competitive Democratic primary against former U.S. Representative Ed Edmondson and State Senator Gene Stipe, then defeated Edmondson in a run-off election. Boren easily defeated Republican nominee Robert B. Kamm in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Edmondson called Boren "a Republican"[1][2] due to a Boren policy as Governor which eliminated the state tax for inheritances between spouses.[1] Edmondson took a pledge recited on a biography of President Harry Truman, that he was not nor had never been "a Republican."[1][2]

During the campaign, both Miskovsky and Points accused Governor Boren of being a homosexual. Boren held a press conference denying the accusation.[1] Following his victory, Boren swore an oath on a family Bible, declaring "I know what homosexuals and bisexuals are. I further swear that I am not a homosexual or bisexual. And I further swear that I have never been a homosexual or bisexual. And I further swear that I have never engaged in any homosexual or bisexual activities nor do I approve of or condone them."[1] In 2019, Boren was accused by multiple witnesses of sexually harassing male subordinates while President of the University of Oklahoma.[3]

Results

Democratic primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Boren 252,560 45.84%
Democratic Ed Edmondson 155,626 28.24%
Democratic Gene Stipe 114,423 20.77%
Democratic Dean Bridges 8,166 1.79%
Democratic George Miskovsky 9,825 1.78%
Democratic Pete Saker 5,162 0.94%
Democratic Anthony Points 3,539 0.64%
Total votes 551,018 100.00%

Run-off results

Democratic run-off results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Boren 281,587 60.46%
Democratic Ed Edmondson 184,175 39.54%
Total votes 465,762 100.00%

General election

Results

General election results[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic David Boren 493,953 65.49% Increase17.91
Republican Robert B. Kamm 247,857 32.86% Decrease18.57
Independent Glenn E. Hager 3,875 0.51% N/A
Independent politician D. Riley Donica 3,355 0.45% N/A
Independent politician Paul E. Trent 3,015 0.40% N/A
Independent politician Richard K. Carter 2,209 0.29% N/A
Total votes 754,264 0.02%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mother Jones We're OK; How's Oklahoma Dev. 1978
  2. ^ a b Bob Burke, Oklahoma Historical Society, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Biography, David Lyle Boren Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 16, 2013
  3. ^ "Boren under investigation for sexual harassment". NewsOK. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - OK US Senate - D Primary Race - Aug 22, 1978".
  5. ^ "Our Campaigns - OK US Senate - D Runoff Race - Sep 19, 1978".
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - OK US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1978".
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