1978 United States Senate election in Arkansas

none March 2026 September 2023 1978 United States Senate election in Arkansas Arkansas 1924 presidential no 1972 United States Senate election in Arkansas 1972 1984 United States Senate election in Arkansas 1984 November 7, 1978 File:David Pryor.jpg 150x150px David Pryor Democratic Party (United States) 399,916 76.58% 3x4.svg Thomas Kelly Jr. Republican Party (United States) 84,722 16.22% 3x4.svg John G. Black Independent politician 37,488 7.18% 1978 United States Senate election in Arkansas results map by county.svg 210px County resultsPryor: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% #3933E5 80–90% U.S. Senator Kaneaster Hodges Jr. Democratic Party (United States) David H. Pryor Democratic Party (United States) The 1978 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent U.S. Senator John L. McClellan, who announced his retirement, had died the previous November, 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 resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=284107 Our Campaigns - AR US Senate - D Primary Race - May 30, 1978 David Pryor Democratic Party (United States) 198,041 34.27% Jim Guy Tucker Democratic Party (United States) 187,568 32.46% Ray Thornton Democratic Party (United States) 184,095 31.86% A.C. Grigson Democratic Party (United States) 8,166 1.41% 577,870 100.00% Run-off results Democratic run-off resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=284108 Our Campaigns - AR US Senate - D Runoff Race - Jun 13, 1978 David Pryor Democratic Party (United States) 265,525 54.91% Jim Guy Tucker Democratic Party (United States) 218,026 45.09% 483,551 100.00% General election Results General election resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5318 Our Campaigns - AR US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1978 http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1978election.pdf Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives U.S. Government Printing Office 1979 Democratic Party (United States) David H. Pryor 399,916 76.58% 15.69 Republican Party (United States) Thomas Kelly Jr. 84,722 16.22% 22.90 Independent politician John G. Black 37,488 7.18% N/A Write-in William Rock 113 0.02% N/A 522,239 0.02% Democratic Party (United States) See also 1978 United States Senate elections References 1978 Arkansas United States Senate