United States Senate election in Texas, 1970
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The 1970 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough was defeated by former Representative Lloyd Bentsen in the Democratic primary. Bentsen then defeated Representative George H.W. Bush in the general election. When Bush was running for President in 1988, his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, selected Bentsen as his vice presidential running mate.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Ralph Yarborough, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1957
- Lloyd Bentsen, U.S. Representative from Texas's 15th district from 1948 to 1955
Campaign
Yarborough, a liberal icon, was challenged by the more moderate Bentsen in the Democratic primary. In what was characterized as an extremely bitter campaign, Bentsen accused Yarborough of supporting desegregation busing and criticized his opposition to the Vietnam War.[1] Many Texas liberals threatened to support the Republican Bush if Bentsen won the primary, believing that the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party would be threatened if Bentsen were elected.[1] Bentsen ultimately defeated Yarborough in the Democratic primary on May 2, 1970.[2]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lloyd Bentsen | 841,316 | 53.7 | |
Democratic | Ralph Yarborough (incumbent) | 726,477 | 46.3 |
Republican
- George H.W. Bush, U.S. Representative from Texas's 7th district since 1967
General election
The general election was held November 3, 1970. Bentsen defeated Bush, 53.6% – 46.5%.[3]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lloyd Bentsen | 1,194,069 | 53.5 | ||
Republican | George H.W. Bush | 1,035,794 | 46.5 |
References
- 1 2 Kamen, Al (16 July 1988). "Bentsen Cast Bush in 1970 As Too Liberal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- 1 2 "TX US Senate - D Primary". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ↑ "TX US Senate". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6529