1966 United States Senate special election in Virginia

The 1966 United States Senate special election in Virginia was held on November 8, 1966, alongside the other U.S. Senate election in Virginia. Incumbent Senator Harry F. Byrd Sr. had retired the previous year for health reasons, and his son Harry F. Byrd Jr. had been appointed to replace him. The younger Byrd defeated Republican Lawrence M. Traylor and Conservative Party of Virginia candidate John W. Carter, and was able to finish the balance of his father's sixth term.

Due to Byrd switching parties in 1970, this was the last time until 1988 that a Democrat was elected to this seat. Democratic primary Candidates Harry F. Byrd Jr., interim U.S. senator since 1965 and son of former senator Harry F. Byrd Armistead L. Boothe, state senator from Alexandria Campaign The primary was held on the same day as another primary for Virginia's other Senate seat. Both Byrd and longtime Senator A. Willis Robertson were opposed by more liberal "antiorganization" challengers, and although all four candidates ran separate campaigns the elections took on familiar organization versus antiorganization characteristics.

Primary results

Unlike Robertson, Byrd held his Democratic candidacy against longtime "Young Turk" Boothe, who had had a substantial career in the state legislature opposing "massive resistance" and after failing to reform the organization, would firmly split form it by 1963, although he had had conflicts with it as early as 1950 when he proposed bills ending segregation on public transportation. Boothe campaigned by attacking Byrd's philosophy and his record on massive resistance, while Byrd largely ignored Boothe and presented himself as a defender of states' and individual rights.

The fact that many Byrd Organization members are known to have supported Robertson's opponent William B. Spong Jr., and that Boothe failed to avoid the "anti-organization" label as Spong could, alongside the power of Byrd's name, may account for Boothe's narrow failure to emulate Spong by defeating a conservative Senate incumbent.

Primary results by county and independent city +1966 Virginia Senate special election Democratic primary by county or independent city Harry Flood Byrd Jr.Democratic Armistead Lloyd BootheDemocratic Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % Accomack County 1,850 53.38% 1,616 46.62% 234 6.75% 3,466 Albemarle County 1,635 56.93% 1,237 43.07% 398 13.86% 2,872 Alleghany County 420 59.91% 281 40.09% 139 19.83% 701 Amelia County 916 66.33% 465 33.67% 451 32.66% 1,381 Amherst County 1,224 66.31% 622 33.69% 602 32.61% 1,846 Appomattox County 2,559 85.13% 447 14.87% 2,112 70.26% 3,006 Arlington County 6,658 37.01% 11,333 62.99% -4,675 -25.99% 17,991 Augusta County 1,338 65.56% 703 34.44% 635 31.11% 2,041 Bath County 226 71.29% 91 28.71% 135 42.59% 317 Bedford County 1,603 72.27% 615 27.73% 988 44.54% 2,218 Bland County 298 68.82% 135 31.18% 163 37.64% 433 Botetourt County 521 52.84% 465 47.16% 56 5.68% 986 Brunswick County 1,793 60.31% 1,180 39.69% 613 20.62% 2,973 Buchanan County 430 27.18% 1,152 72.82% -722 -45.64% 1,582 Buckingham County 1,583 77.87% 450 22.13% 1,133 55.73% 2,033 Campbell County 1,734 73.41% 628 26.59% 1,106 46.82% 2,362 Caroline County 848 48.07% 916 51.93% -68 -3.85% 1,764 Carroll County 218 27.25% 582 72.75% -364 -45.50% 800 Charles City County 210 21.92% 748 78.08% -538 -56.16% 958 Charlotte County 1,361 77.95% 385 22.05% 976 55.90% 1,746 Chesterfield County 5,041 66.22% 2,571 33.78% 2,470 32.45% 7,612 Clarke County 1,135 77.69% 326 22.31% 809 55.37% 1,461 Craig County 116 46.96% 131 53.04% -15 -6.07% 247 Culpeper County 1,336 62.81% 791 37.19% 545 25.62% 2,127 Cumberland County 955 58.66% 673 41.34% 282 17.32% 1,628 Dickenson County 652 42.59% 879 57.41% -227 -14.83% 1,531 Dinwiddie County 1,915 67.33% 929 32.67% 986 34.67% 2,844 Essex County 583 61.89% 359 38.11% 224 23.78% 942 Fairfax County 9,148 32.00% 19,443 68.00% -10,295 -36.01% 28,591 Fauquier County 1,943 58.14% 1,399 41.86% 544 16.28% 3,342 Floyd County 135 45.92% 159 54.08% -24 -8.16% 294 Fluvanna County 463 77.55% 134 22.45% 329 55.11% 597 Franklin County 1,116 55.72% 887 44.28% 229 11.43% 2,003 Frederick County 1,978 76.91% 594 23.09% 1,384 53.81% 2,572 Giles County 592 54.46% 495 45.54% 97 8.92% 1,087 Gloucester County 870 66.31% 442 33.69% 428 32.62% 1,312 Goochland County 1,280 60.21% 846 39.79% 434 20.41% 2,126 Grayson County 360 36.92% 615 63.08% -255 -26.15% 975 Greene County 135 64.29% 75 35.71% 60 28.57% 210 Greensville County 1,626 55.57% 1,300 44.43% 326 11.14% 2,926 Halifax County 2,181 77.73% 625 22.27% 1,556 55.45% 2,806 Hanover County 2,430 67.99% 1,144 32.01% 1,286 35.98% 3,574 Henrico County 11,744 68.33% 5,443 31.67% 6,301 36.66% 17,187 Henry County 928 52.94% 825 47.06% 103 5.88% 1,753 Highland County 192 85.71% 32 14.29% 160 71.43% 224 Isle of Wight County 1,006 50.00% 1,006 50.00% 0 0.00% 2,012 James City County 520 46.26% 604 53.74% -84 -7.47% 1,124 King and Queen County 449 50.96% 432 49.04% 17 1.93% 881 King George County 427 51.51% 402 48.49% 25 3.02% 829 King William County 725 60.47% 474 39.53% 251 20.93% 1,199 Lancaster County 1,518 74.52% 519 25.48% 999 49.04% 2,037 Lee County 257 13.17% 1,695 86.83% -1,438 -73.67% 1,952 Loudoun County 1,931 58.27% 1,383 41.73% 548 16.54% 3,314 Louisa County 1,424 67.01% 701 32.99% 723 34.02% 2,125 Lunenburg County 1,201 64.16% 671 35.84% 530 28.31% 1,872 Madison County 502 70.51% 210 29.49% 292 41.01% 712 Mathews County 589 65.30% 313 34.70% 276 30.60% 902 Mecklenburg County 2,309 71.22% 933 28.78% 1,376 42.44% 3,242 Middlesex County 443 70.99% 181 29.01% 262 41.99% 624 Montgomery County 875 56.09% 685 43.91% 190 12.18% 1,560 Nansemond County 1,690 44.88% 2,076 55.12% -386 -10.25% 3,766 Nelson County 630 64.15% 352 35.85% 278 28.31% 982 New Kent County 322 43.93% 411 56.07% -89 -12.14% 733 Northampton County 1,026 69.56% 449 30.44% 577 39.12% 1,475 Northumberland County 746 53.25% 655 46.75% 91 6.50% 1,401 Nottoway County 1,743 68.17% 814 31.83% 929 36.33% 2,557 Orange County 1,048 68.18% 489 31.82% 559 36.37% 1,537 Page County 1,246 78.27% 346 21.73% 900 56.53% 1,592 Patrick County 595 43.05% 787 56.95% -192 -13.89% 1,382 Pittsylvania County 3,711 67.88% 1,756 32.12% 1,955 35.76% 5,467 Powhatan County 591 54.22% 499 45.78% 92 8.44% 1,090 Prince Edward County 2,169 64.50% 1,194 35.50% 975 28.99% 3,363 Prince George County 975 55.40% 785 44.60% 190 10.80% 1,760 Prince William County 2,532 55.25% 2,051 44.75% 481 10.50% 4,583 Pulaski County 961 51.53% 904 48.47% 57 3.06% 1,865 Rappahannock County 811 77.61% 234 22.39% 577 55.22% 1,045 Richmond County 598 66.52% 301 33.48% 297 33.04% 899 Roanoke County 2,117 57.19% 1,585 42.81% 532 14.37% 3,702 Rockbridge County 720 62.18% 438 37.82% 282 24.35% 1,158 Rockingham County 1,112 65.11% 596 34.89% 516 30.21% 1,708 Russell County 504 28.85% 1,243 71.15% -739 -42.30% 1,747 Scott County 275 21.11% 1,028 78.89% -753 -57.79% 1,303 Shenandoah County 1,413 75.48% 459 24.52% 954 50.96% 1,872 Smyth County 540 37.71% 892 62.29% -352 -24.58% 1,432 Southampton County 1,422 61.37% 895 38.63% 527 22.74% 2,317 Spotsylvania County 1,057 42.54% 1,428 57.46% -371 -14.93% 2,485 Stafford County 1,182 43.01% 1,566 56.99% -384 -13.97% 2,748 Surry County 891 54.66% 739 45.34% 152 9.33% 1,630 Sussex County 1,774 70.31% 749 29.69% 1,025 40.63% 2,523 Tazewell County 775 47.11% 870 52.89% -95 -5.78% 1,645 Warren County 1,196 55.55% 957 44.45% 239 11.10% 2,153 Washington County 1,037 45.24% 1,255 54.76% -218 -9.51% 2,292 Westmoreland County 853 53.92% 729 46.08% 124 7.84% 1,582 Wise County 1,440 49.23% 1,485 50.77% -45 -1.54% 2,925 Wythe County 699 49.57% 711 50.43% -12 -0.85% 1,410 York County 1,154 50.35% 1,138 49.65% 16 0.70% 2,292 Alexandria City 3,821 33.63% 7,541 66.37% -3,720 -32.74% 11,362 Bristol City 632 43.32% 827 56.68% -195 -13.37% 1,459 Buena Vista City 403 77.06% 120 22.94% 283 54.11% 523 Charlottesville City 2,148 45.99% 2,523 54.01% -375 -8.03% 4,671 Chesapeake City 5,352 48.59% 5,663 51.41% -311 -2.82% 11,015 Clifton Forge City 406 70.61% 169 29.39% 237 41.22% 575 Colonial Heights City 1,456 78.41% 401 21.59% 1,055 56.81% 1,857 Covington City 529 54.42% 443 45.58% 86 8.85% 972 Danville City 2,873 64.20% 1,602 35.80% 1,271 28.40% 4,475 Fairfax City 896 41.40% 1,268 58.60% -372 -17.19% 2,164 Falls Church City 510 35.99% 907 64.01% -397 -28.02% 1,417 Franklin City 589 62.73% 350 37.27% 239 25.45% 939 Fredericksburg City 1,432 45.50% 1,715 54.50% -283 -8.99% 3,147 Galax City 360 36.92% 615 63.08% -255 -26.15% 975 Hampton City 4,742 44.82% 5,839 55.18% -1,097 -10.37% 10,581 Harrisonburg City 888 73.63% 318 26.37% 570 47.26% 1,206 Hopewell City 1,471 61.09% 937 38.91% 534 22.18% 2,408 Lexington City 451 46.69% 515 53.31% -64 -6.63% 966 Lynchburg City 3,294 60.72% 2,131 39.28% 1,163 21.44% 5,425 Martinsville City 873 54.77% 721 45.23% 152 9.54% 1,594 Newport News City 4,742 44.82% 5,839 55.18% -1,097 -10.37% 10,581 Norfolk City 9,759 34.12% 18,845 65.88% -9,086 -31.76% 28,604 Norton City 194 44.60% 241 55.40% -47 -10.80% 435 Petersburg City 2,813 48.12% 3,033 51.88% -220 -3.76% 5,846 Portsmouth City 5,535 35.67% 9,983 64.33% -4,448 -28.66% 15,518 Radford City 309 47.32% 344 52.68% -35 -5.36% 653 Richmond City 14,713 47.16% 16,483 52.84% -1,770 -5.67% 31,196 Roanoke City 3,713 49.69% 3,760 50.31% -47 -0.63% 7,473 South Boston City 609 80.45% 148 19.55% 461 60.90% 757 Staunton City 1,269 61.36% 799 38.64% 470 22.73% 2,068 Suffolk City 1,121 62.24% 680 37.76% 441 24.49% 1,801 Virginia Beach City 7,193 48.85% 7,531 51.15% -338 -2.30% 14,724 Waynesboro City 719 56.93% 544 43.07% 175 13.86% 1,263 Williamsburg City 435 40.17% 648 59.83% -213 -19.67% 1,083 Winchester City 2,269 84.98% 401 15.02% 1,868 69.96% 2,670Totals221,22150.95%212,99649.05%8,2251.89%434,217 General election

Candidates

J. B. Brayman (Independent) Harry F. Byrd Jr., interim U.S. senator since 1965 (Democratic) John W. Carter (Conservative) Lawrence Traylor, Heathsville attorney (Republican)

Campaign Thinking Byrd less vulnerable than the winner of the Spong–Robertson primary, the Republican Party nominated little-known Heathsville attorney Lawrence Traylor for the special election. Unlike fellow GOP nominee James P. Ould, Jr., who already held the mayoral office in Lynchburg, Traylor only announced shortly before the deadline.

Byrd was also opposed by John W. Carter of the Virginia Conservative Party, which was formed by hard-line Byrd Democrats who believed that the pay-as-you-go political system must be reinforced and federal control eliminated throughout the state. Support by several leaders of the machine for Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 presidential election – most critically future party-switching two-time Governor Mills Godwin – angered this group and led it away from even the conservative state Democratic Party. Both Conservative Senate candidates devoted their campaigns to attacking the major parties for refusing to debate such issues as the supposed takeover of schools, inflation due to the War on Poverty, and judicial appointments that the Conservatives believed responsible for the crime wave of the 1960s.

Results

Whereas Ould would run a conservative campaign, Traylor ran to the left of Byrd, actively seeking Black and even labor support. Despite his lack of political experience, anti-Byrd sentiment among black voters – about half newly enfranchised since the Twenty-Fourth Amendment – would ensure Traylor ran several percent ahead of Ould. Some observers thought that if the GOP had run Ould or another more prominent Republican against Byrd, they could have captured his seat.

Results by county or independent city