1974 United States Senate election in Oregon
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results Packwood: 50-60% 60-70% Roberts: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
|
Elections in Oregon |
---|
The 1974 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Packwood won re-election to a second term. Betty Roberts was chosen to replace former U.S. Senator Wayne Morse, who won the Democratic primary but died before the general election.[1][2]
Democratic primary
Campaign
The Democratic primaries were held on May 28, 1974. Incumbent Senator
In the Democratic primary, former Senator Morse, trying to win back the seat he had for 24 years before losing to Packwood six years earlier, faced
In July, Morse was hospitalized in Portland with what was originally described as a serious urinary tract infection. His condition deteriorated and he died on July 22.[2] The death was originally reported to have been caused by kidney failure, but it was later revealed that Morse died of leukemia; Boe apparently knew of the diagnosis during the campaign but did not make it a campaign issue.[6]
The Oregon Democratic State Central Committee met on August 11, two days after Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency. They chose State Senator Betty Roberts over Boe to replace Morse as the Democratic nominee.[7] Roberts, an Oregon State Senator, had run for the Democratic nomination for Governor that year, but lost in the May primary to eventual general election winner Robert W. Straub.[7]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic
|
Wayne Morse | 155,729 | 48.98% | |
Democratic
|
Jason Boe | 125,055 | 39.33% | |
Democratic
|
Robert T. Daly | 21,881 | 6.88% | |
Democratic
|
Robert E. O'Connor | 14,984 | 4.71% | |
Democratic
|
miscellaneous | 319 | 0.10% | |
Total votes | 396,204 | 100.00% |
General election
Campaign
Outgoing Oregon governor Tom McCall, who had decided not to run in 1968, had pledged to Packwood a year earlier that he would not challenge him in 1974.[9] But as his term as governor ended, McCall began reconsidering his decision, believing he would bring more integrity to the job. In March 1974, at a dinner party held at Packwood's Washington D.C. home in McCall's honor, McCall informed Packwood that he would challenge him.[9] The news of McCall's change of plans soon reached the media. Eventually, McCall decided that he had little chance against Packwood, who had similar positions to his own and had a reputation for ruthless campaigning that McCall did not share.[9][10] McCall did not run, and Packwood was unopposed in the Republican primary.[4]
The
Roberts lost the election to Packwood 55% to 44%.
After the election, Roberts, whose criticism of Packwood's ethics was a theme in her campaign, considered filing a lawsuit against Packwood for misrepresenting her positions on gun control, abortion, and Social Security in campaign advertisements, but later dropped the idea.[16]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Bob Packwood (incumbent) | 420,984 | 54.93% | |
Democratic
|
Betty Roberts | 338,591 | 44.18% | |
Write-In | Jason Boe | 5,072 | 0.66% | |
Write-In | Misc. | 1,767 | 0.23% | |
Total votes | 766,414 | 100.00% | ||
Republican hold
|
Aftermath
Packwood was re-elected to three more terms: in
In 1977, Roberts became the first woman to serve to the
See also
- United States Senate elections, 1974 and 1975
References
- ^ a b "No debate". The Register-Guard. April 9, 1974. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ a b "Death claims ex-Sen. Wayne Morse". The Bulletin (Bend). July 22, 1974. Retrieved January 29, 2010. [dead link]
- ^ "From political obscurity, Packwood defeated veteran". The Bulletin (Bend). November 12, 1974. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Packwood, unopposed, spent most in Senate primary". The Bulletin (Bend). June 28, 1974. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ Willis, Henny (May 26, 1974). "Four want to battle Packwood". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ "Leukemia claimed Wayne Morse". The Bulletin (Bend). May 28, 1975. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ Tri City Herald. August 12, 1974. Archived from the originalon January 24, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ "Oregon US Senate Democratic Primary Race, May 28, 1974". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ a b c Walth, Brent (November 24, 1994). "McCall wanted Senate seat, despite pledge to Packwood". The Register-Guard. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- Tri City Herald. March 14, 1974. Archived from the originalon January 24, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ "All-male ballots may soon become unusual". The Tuscaloosa News. September 19, 1974. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Aarons, Leroy F. (October 24, 1974). "Packwood faces strong challenge from a woman". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ "Packwood believes many Republicans want Nixon to quit". The Bulletin (Bend). March 27, 1974. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ Robinson, Sue (November 6, 1974). "Packwood survives dark night". The Register-Guard. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ Willis, Henny (November 6, 1974). "Weaver wins stunning upset". The Register-Guard. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
- ^ "Election suit idea dropped by Roberts". The Register-Guard. November 16, 1974. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ "Oregon US Senate Race, Nov 5, 1974". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ "Senator Robert Packwood's History of Sexual Harassment". The Washington Post. July 21, 1998. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ^ "Oregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Appeals Court Judges" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 16, 2021.