1978 United States Senate election in Arkansas

1978 United States Senate election in Arkansas

← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →

Nominee David Pryor Thomas Kelly Jr. John G. Black Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 399,916 84,722 37,488 Percentage 76.58% 16.22% 7.18%

County results Pryor:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Kaneaster Hodges Jr. Democratic Elected U.S. Senator David H. Pryor Democratic

Elections in Arkansas
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Jonesboro Mayoral elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
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Conway Mayoral elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
v t e

The 1978 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent U.S. Senator John L. McClellan had died the previous December, leaving the seat vacant. Interim appointee Kaneaster Hodges Jr. did not run to the full seat, and was succeeded by Governor of Arkansas David Pryor.

Pryor won a highly-competitive three-way primary against U.S. Representatives Jim Guy Tucker and Ray Thornton, then defeated Tucker in a run-off election. Having secured the Democratic nomination, which was often tantamount to election in the American South prior to the 1980s, Pryor easily defeated Republican nominee Thomas Kelly and independent candidate John Black.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• A.C. Grigson
• David Pryor, Governor of Arkansas
• Ray Thornton, U.S. Representative from Conway
• Jim Guy Tucker, U.S. Representative from Little Rock

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Pryor	198,041	34.27%
	Democratic	Jim Guy Tucker	187,568	32.46%
	Democratic	Ray Thornton	184,095	31.86%
	Democratic	A.C. Grigson	8,166	1.41%
Total votes			577,870	100.00%

Run-off results

Democratic run-off results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Pryor	265,525	54.91%
	Democratic	Jim Guy Tucker	218,026	45.09%
Total votes			483,551	100.00%

General election

Results

General election results^[3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	David H. Pryor	399,916	76.58%	15.69
	Republican	Thomas Kelly Jr.	84,722	16.22%	22.90
	Independent	John G. Black	37,488	7.18%	N/A
	Write-in	William Rock	113	0.02%	N/A
Total votes			522,239	0.02%
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1978 United States Senate elections

References