The 1968 United States Senate election in California was held on November 5, 1968. Republican incumbent Thomas Kuchel ran for a fourth term in office but was defeated in the Republican primary by state superintendent of public instruction Max Rafferty. In the general election, Rafferty was defeated by former state controller Alan Cranston.
Primary elections were held on June 4. Rafferty defeated Kuchel by about three percent of the total vote, emphasizing his conservative positions against the more moderate incumbent. In the Democratic primary, Cranston easily defeated state senator Anthony Beilenson.
Republican primary Candidates Phil Cammack W. C. Jones Thomas Kuchel, incumbent U.S. senator since 1953 and assistant Senate minority leader Max Rafferty, state superintendent of public instruction since 1963 James A. Ware, Los Angeles businessman and perennial candidate
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Anthony Beilenson, state senator from Beverly Hills William M. Bennett, member of the California Public Utilities Commission Walter Buchanan, Venice teacher and perennial candidate Charles Crail Alan Cranston, former state controller
Results
General election Candidates Alan Cranston, former state controller (Democratic) Paul Jacobs (Peace & Freedom) Max Rafferty, state superintendent of public instruction since 1963 (Republican)
Results
References