The 1974 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, with the 34 seats of Class 3 contested in regular elections. They occurred in the wake of the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon's resignation from the presidency, and Gerald Ford's subsequent pardon of Nixon. Economic issues, specifically inflation and stagnation, were also a factor that contributed to Republican losses. As an immediate result of the November 1974 elections, Democrats made a net gain of three seats from the Republicans, as they defeated Republican incumbents in Colorado and Kentucky and picked up open seats in Florida and Vermont, while Republicans won the open seat in Nevada. Following the elections, at the beginning of the 94th U.S. Congress, the Democratic caucus controlled 60 seats (as well as one independent), and the Republican caucus controlled 38 seats (as well as one Conservative).

Democrats gained an additional seat, bringing the net pick-up to four seats, in 1975, when Democrat John A. Durkin won a disputed election in New Hampshire that was unintentionally held after the 1974 election resulted in two recounts and an extended dispute in the Senate. Durkin's Senate term began in September 1975, following his victory in that election. , this is the most recent election in which a Democrat has been elected Senator from Idaho. This was the first election the Republicans had not won a seat in New England since the establishment of the party.

Several other Republican incumbents won very close races; Milton Young of North Dakota won reelection against Democrat William L. Guy by only 186 votes and Henry Bellmon of Oklahoma won reelection against Democrat Ed Edmondson by half a percent of the vote. Bob Dole of Kansas survived the closest election of his career against Democratic Rep. William Roy, a race undoubtedly made close due to Dole's close association with Nixon as chairman of the Republican National Committee. It was the closest the Democrats have come to winning a Senate election in Kansas since George McGill won re-election in 1932.

Results summary + ↓ 61 1 1 37 Democratic I C Republican

Parties Total Democratic Republican Conservative Independent Other Last elections (1972) 56 42 1 1 0 100 Before these elections 57 41 1 1 0 100 Not up 41 23 1 1 — 66 Up 20 14 0 0 — 34 Incumbent retired 3 4 — — — 7 2 1 — — — 3 3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican — — — 4 Result 5 2 0 0 0 7 Incumbent ran 17 10 — — — 27 15 8 — — — 23 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats — — — 2 2 0 — — — 2 Result 19 8 0 0 0 27 Total elected 24 10 0 0 0 34 Net gain/loss 4 4 4 Nationwide vote 22,544,761 16,145,793 822,584 199,108 1,098,146 40,810,392 Share 55.24% 39.56% 2.02% 0.49% 2.69% 100% Result 61 37 1 1 0 100

Source: Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives

Gains, losses, and holds Retirements Four Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

StateSenatorReplaced by Florida Iowa Nevada New Hampshire (later voided) North Carolina Utah Vermont

Defeats Two Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

StateSenatorReplaced by Arkansas Colorado Kentucky Ohio

Post-election changes One Republican appointee did not seek to finish the term following the contested election and one Democrat was elected on September 16, 1975. StateSenatorReplaced by New Hampshire(Class 3)

Change in composition Before the elections After the January 4, 1974 appointment in Ohio.

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Majority → D R C I D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

After the general elections

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Majority → D D D D D D D D D D I Vacant C R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Beginning of the next Congress

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Majority → D D D D D D D D D D D I C R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Key C D Democratic R Republican I Independent

Race summary

Elections leading to the next Congress In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1975; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State Incumbent Result Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Alabama Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Alaska Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Arizona Republican 195219581964 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas Democratic 19441950195619621968 Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic hold. California Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Colorado Republican 1968 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Connecticut Democratic 19621968 Incumbent re-elected. Florida Republican 1968 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain.Incumbent resigned December 31, 1974 to give successor preferential seniority.Winner appointed January 1, 1975. Georgia Democratic 195619621968 Incumbent re-elected. Hawaii Democratic 19621968 Incumbent re-elected. Idaho Democratic 195619621968 Incumbent re-elected. Illinois Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected. Indiana Democratic 19621968 Incumbent re-elected. Iowa Democratic 1968 Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Kansas Republican 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Kentucky Republican 1968 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain.Incumbent resigned December 27, 1974 to give successor preferential seniority.Winner appointed December 28, 1974. Louisiana Democratic 1948 1950195619621968 Incumbent re-elected. Maryland Republican 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Missouri Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Nevada Democratic 1954 195619621968 Incumbent retired.Republican gain.Incumbent resigned December 17, 1974 to give successor preferential seniority.Winner appointed December 18, 1974. New Hampshire Republican 1954 195619621968 Incumbent retired.Republican hold.Incumbent resigned December 31, 1974 and successor was appointed the same day.Election was later contested and voided. New York Republican 195619621968 Incumbent re-elected. North Carolina Democratic 1954 1954 195619621968 Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. North Dakota Republican 1945 1946 1950195619621968 Incumbent re-elected. Ohio Democratic 1974 Interim appointee lost nomination.Democratic hold.Incumbent resigned December 23, 1974 to give successor preferential seniority.Winner appointed December 24, 1974. Oklahoma Republican 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Oregon Republican 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Pennsylvania Republican 1968 Incumbent re-elected. South Carolina Democratic 1966 1968 Incumbent re-elected. South Dakota Democratic 19621968 Incumbent re-elected. Utah Republican 1950195619621968 Incumbent retired.Republican hold.Incumbent resigned December 20, 1974 to give successor preferential seniority.Winner appointed December 21, 1974. Vermont Republican 1940 19441950195619621968 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Washington Democratic 19441944 1950195619621968 Incumbent re-elected. Wisconsin Democratic 19621968 Incumbent re-elected.

Closest races

In fourteen races the margin of victory was under 10%.

State Party of winner Margin New Hampshire Republican (later overturned) 0.0009% North Dakota Republican 0.07% Nevada Republican (flip) 0.37% Oklahoma Republican 0.48% Kansas Republican 1.70% Vermont Democratic (flip) 3.09% Florida Democratic (flip) 3.32% Indiana Democratic 4.29% Iowa Democratic 4.76% Utah Republican 5.92% South Dakota Democratic 6.08% New York Republican 7.09% Pennsylvania Republican 7.11% Kentucky Democratic (flip) 9.48%

Illinois was the tipping point state with a margin of 25%.

Alabama

Democratic United States senator James Allen won re-election to a second term, faced no Republican opponent in the general election, defeating Prohibition Party nominee Alvin Abercrombie.

Alaska

Incumbent Democrat Mike Gravel won re-election to a second term over Republican State Senator Clyde "C.R." Lewis.

Arizona

Incumbent Republican Barry Goldwater decided to run for reelection to a fourth term, after returning to the U.S. Senate in 1968 following his failed Presidential run in 1964 against Lyndon B. Johnson. Goldwater defeated Democratic Party nominee philanthropist Jonathan Marshall in the general election.

Arkansas

Incumbent Democrat J. William Fulbright lost renomination to Governor of Arkansas Dale Bumpers. Bumpers then won the general election easily.

California

Incumbent Democrat Alan Cranston won re-election to a second term over Republican H. L. Richardson, California State Senator.

Colorado

Incumbent Republican Peter H. Dominick ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Democratic challenger Gary Hart, the campaign manager for George McGovern in 1972.

Connecticut

Incumbent Democrat Abraham Ribicoff won re-election to a third term over Republican challenger James Brannen III.

Florida

Incumbent Republican Edward Gurney declined to seek a second term after being indicted for taking bribes in return for his influence with the Federal Housing Administration.

The primary for the Republican nomination pitted Eckerd drug store owner Jack Eckerd against Florida Public Service Commissioner Paula Hawkins. Eckerd won handily, receiving approximately 67.5% of the vote.

The Democratic primary, however, was a crowded field with eleven candidates vying for the nomination. Because no candidate received a majority of the votes, U.S. Representative Bill Gunter and Secretary of State of Florida Richard Stone advanced to a run-off election. Stone won by a small margin of 1.68%.

Thus, Eckerd and Stone faced off in the general election. John Grady, a family physician and member of George Wallace's American Independent Party, performed exceptionally well for a third party candidate. Grady may have split the conservative vote, allowing for Stone to win. On election day, Stone received 43.38% of the vote, Eckerd garnered 40.91% of the vote, and Grady acquired 15.7% of the vote.

Georgia

Incumbent Democrat Herman Talmadge won re-election to a fourth term over Republican challenger Jerry Johnson.

Hawaii

Incumbent Democrat Daniel Inouye won re-election to a third term over Populist challenger James D. Kimmel.

Idaho

Incumbent Democrat Frank Church won re-election to a fourth term in office, defeating Republican Bob Smith.

Illinois

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III, who was first elected in a special election in 1970, was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating Republican George Burditt by a large margin of nearly 800,000 votes.

Indiana

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Birch Bayh was re-elected to a third consecutive term in office, defeating Mayor of Indianapolis Richard Lugar.

Iowa

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Harold E. Hughes retired instead of seeking a second term. This open seat was won by five-term U.S. Representative John C. Culver, defeating Republican State Representative David M. Stanley. Culver defeated Stanley by a margin of nearly five points.

Kansas