1974 United States Senate election in Oregon

none March 2026 September 2023 1974 United States Senate election in Oregon Oregon presidential no 1968 United States Senate election in Oregon 1968 1980 United States Senate election in Oregon 1980 November 5, 1974 150x150px File:Bob Packwood.jpg Bob Packwood Republican Party (United States) 420,964 54.93% File:Betty Roberts.jpg Betty Roberts (replacing Wayne Morse) Democratic Party (United States) 338,591 44.18% 1974 United States Senate election in Oregon results map by county.svg 260px County resultsPackwood: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Roberts: #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator Bob Packwood Republican Party (United States) Bob Packwood Republican Party (United States) 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. Democratic primary Campaign thumb|left|100px|Wayne Morse won the Democratic primary, but died prior to the general election. The Democratic primaries were held on May 28, 1974. Incumbent Senator Bob Packwood was running for re-election after his upset victory against popular incumbent Democrat Wayne Morse in 1968 made him the youngest member of the Senate.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19681112&id=pY0SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u_YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3817,4454983 From political obscurity, Packwood defeated veteran The Bulletin (Bend) November 12, 1974 February 1, 2010 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 Oregon State Senate President Jason Boe and several other candidates for a chance to take back his Senate seat. Boe, who was 45, made Morse's age, 73, an issue in the race while Morse said his experience in the Senate made him a stronger candidate.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RWYRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6478,6761574 https://archive.today/20130125065741/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RWYRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6478,6761574 dead January 25, 2013 Four want to battle Packwood The Register-Guard Willis Henny May 26, 1974 January 29, 2010 Boe called for a series of debates around the state, but Morse refused. He went on to defeat Boe 49% to 39%, and planned to use the same strategy in the general election against Packwood, whose narrow victory over Morse six years earlier was attributed to Packwood's superior performance at a debate in Portland late in the campaign.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nXkRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6040,1776289 https://archive.today/20130124173224/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nXkRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6040,1776289 dead January 24, 2013 No debate The Register-Guard April 9, 1974 January 29, 2010 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xC8VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8fcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6267,3761988& Death claims ex-Sen. Wayne Morse The Bulletin (Bend) July 22, 1974 January 29, 2010 August 15, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230815160325/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xC8VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8fcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6267,3761988& dead 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dzYVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8vcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1594,164488 Leukemia claimed Wayne Morse The Bulletin (Bend) May 28, 1975 January 29, 2010 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8L8zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=reEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2756,2490772 https://archive.today/20130124131242/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8L8zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=reEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2756,2490772 dead January 24, 2013 State Sen. Betty Roberts chosen to oppose Packwood Tri City Herald August 12, 1974 January 29, 2010 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. Results Democratic primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1974http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=329705 Oregon US Senate Democratic Primary Race, May 28, 1974 ourcampaigns.com January 29, 2010 Democratic Party (US) Wayne Morse 155,729 48.98% Democratic Party (US) Jason Boe 125,055 39.33% Democratic Party (US) Robert T. Daly 21,881 6.88% Democratic Party (US) Robert E. O'Connor 14,984 4.71% Democratic Party (US) Miscellaneous 319 0.10% 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19941124&id=K3kVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2095,5858650 McCall wanted Senate seat, despite pledge to Packwood The Register-Guard Walth Brent November 24, 1994 February 1, 2010 However, 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. 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=42EtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eIgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5192,4212861 https://archive.today/20130124123844/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=42EtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eIgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5192,4212861 dead January 24, 2013 He won't run for Senate, says McCall Tri City Herald March 14, 1974 February 1, 2010 McCall did not run, and Packwood was unopposed in the Republican primary.https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19740628&id=si8VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8fcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4594,1398921 Packwood, unopposed, spent most in Senate primary The Bulletin (Bend) June 28, 1974 January 29, 2010 The 1974 mid-term elections were dominated by the fallout from the Watergate scandal. Strong Democratic gains were predicted, giving Roberts a good chance at an upset. In addition, the Senate had no female members and Roberts was one of three women (along with Democrat Barbara Mikulski in Maryland and Republican Gwenyfred Bush in South Carolina) seeking a Senate seat.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OV80AAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q5wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3303,3933916 All-male ballots may soon become unusual The Tuscaloosa News September 19, 1974 February 1, 2010 But on the issues, Packwood and Roberts shared many positions, such as on abortion, military spending, and the environment.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7OgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o3kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6908,1741392 Packwood faces strong challenge from a woman Aarons Leroy F. St. Petersburg Times October 24, 1974 February 1, 2010August 2024 InternetArchiveBot yes Moreover, Packwood had distanced himself from Watergate, calling for Nixon's impeachment and denouncing Gerald Ford's pardon of Nixon.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=96USAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XfcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6580,5150235 Packwood believes many Republicans want Nixon to quit The Bulletin (Bend) March 27, 1974 February 1, 2010 Roberts was also at a financial disadvantage, having entered the race late and facing debt from her failed gubernatorial run; Packwood was able to use money he had raised for a primary challenge that never materialized, and led in most polls by a double-digit margin. Roberts lost the election to Packwood 55% to 44%.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_GURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4716%2C1251663 Packwood survives dark night The Register-Guard Robinson Sue November 6, 1974 January 29, 2010 Packwood was the only Oregon Republican up for re-election to keep his seat: Democrats won every other available seat. In the governor's race, Bob Straub, who beat Roberts in the Democratic primary, defeated Vic Atiyeh to become the first Democrat elected governor since 1956; in the U. S. House of Representatives races, Les AuCoin won an open seat in the 1st district and in the 4th district, Jim Weaver upset incumbent John Dellenback.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_GURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6185%2C1250293 The Register-Guard Weaver wins stunning upset Willis Henny November 6, 1974 February 2, 2010 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BmYRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6829,3828691 Election suit idea dropped by Roberts The Register-Guard November 16, 1974 January 29, 2010 Results United States Senate election in Oregon, 1974http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6344 Oregon US Senate Race, Nov 5, 1974 ourcampaigns.com January 29, 2010 Republican Party (US) Bob Packwood (incumbent) 420,984 54.93% Democratic Party (US) Betty Roberts 338,591 44.18% Write-In Jason Boe 5,072 0.66% Write-In Misc. 1,767 0.23% 766,414 100.00% Republican Party (US) Democratic Party (US) Aftermath Packwood was re-elected to three more terms: in 1980, 1986, and 1992. Shortly after the 1992 election, allegations of sexual harassment revealed by The Washington Post led to his eventual resignation from the Senate in 1995.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/frenzy/packwood.htm Senator Robert Packwood's History of Sexual Harassment January 29, 2010 The Washington Post July 21, 1998 In 1977, Roberts became the first woman to serve to the Oregon Court of Appeals,https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Documents/elections/history-officials.pdf Oregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Appeals Court Judges Oregon Secretary of State January 29, 2010 and in 1982, was appointed by Republican Governor Victor G. Atiyeh to the Oregon Supreme Court, the first woman to serve on that court.https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/roberts_betty_1923_2011_/ Oregon Encyclopedia: Betty Roberts Oregon Encyclopedia April 16, 2021 See also United States Senate elections, 1974 and 1975 References 2 Oregon 1974 Senate