1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky

none March 2026 September 2023 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky Kentucky presidential no 1972 United States Senate election in Kentucky 1972 1984 United States Senate election in Kentucky 1984 November 7, 1978 150x150px File:WHuddleston (cropped).jpg Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic Party (United States) 290,730 60.98% 3x4.svg Louie Guenthner Jr. Republican Party (United States) 175,766 36.87% 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky results map by county.svg 300px County resultsHuddleston: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90%Guenthner: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% U.S. Senator Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic Party (United States) Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic Party (United States) The 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Senator Walter Dee Huddleston won reelection to a second term. As of 2026, this is the last time a Democrat has won Kentucky's Class 2 Senate seat, which has been held by Mitch McConnell since his victory over Huddleston in 1984. Democratic primary Candidates Walter Huddleston, incumbent U.S. Senator Jack Watson William Taylor George Tolhurst Results Democratic primary resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=284885 Our Campaigns - KY US Senate - D Primary Race - May 23, 1978 www.ourcampaigns.com Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 89,333 75.62% Jack Watson Democratic Party (United States) 13,177 11.15% William Taylor Democratic Party (United States) 8,710 7.37% George Tolhurst Democratic Party (United States) 6,921 5.86% Republican primary Candidates Louie Guenthner Jr, Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives Oline Carmical Thurman Jerome Hamlin Results Republican Primary resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=284886 Our Campaigns - KY US Senate - R Primary Race - May 23, 1978 www.ourcampaigns.com Louie Guenthner Jr. Republican Party (United States) 14,218 47.21% Oline Carmical Republican Party (United States) 9,346 31.04% Thurman Jerome Hamlin Republican Party (United States) 6,550 21.75% General election Results General election results 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) Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) 290,730 60.98% Republican Party (United States) Louie Guenthner Jr. 175,766 36.87% Democratic Party (United States) See also 1978 United States Senate elections References 1978 Kentucky United States Senate