1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas

none March 2026 September 2023 1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas Arkansas 1924 Presidential no 1968 United States Senate election in Arkansas 1968 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas 1980 November 5, 1974 File:Dale Bumpers AR.jpg 150x150px Dale Bumpers Democratic Party (United States) 461,056 84.90% 3x4.svg John H. Jones Republican Party (United States) 82,026 15.10% 1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas results map by county.svg 210px County resultsBumpers: #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d056c >90% U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright Democratic Party (US) Dale Bumpers Democratic Party (US) The 1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright ran for re-election to a sixth term in office, but was defeated handily in the Democratic primary by Governor of Arkansas Dale Bumpers. Bumpers won the general election. Democratic primary Campaign J. William Fulbright had been a mainstay in Arkansas politics for many decades, and sought a sixth term while still remaining the junior senator to John McClellan. Dale Bumpers, originally a charismatic lawyer from Charleston, was the incumbent governor of Arkansas. He had defeated staunch segregationist Orval Faubus in the 1970 primary and had been re-elected in 1972.KATV 2016-01-02 Former Governor, U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers dead at 90 https://katv.com/news/local/former-governor-us-senator-dale-bumpers-dead-at-90 2025-02-28 KATV en His campaign had been spurred by the need to provide for his family with the $42,500 he would make as a senator.TIME 1974-11-18 The Nation: Bumpers: Watch That Killer Smile https://time.com/archive/6878211/the-nation-bumpers-watch-that-killer-smile/ 2025-02-28 TIME en After Bumpers announced his candidacy, Fulbright did not take his opponent's campaign seriously. However, Bumpers' decision would spell the end of Fulbright's career in the Senate in dramatic fashion. This victory earned him the nickname "The Giant Killer".KATV 2016-01-02 Former Governor, U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers dead at 90 https://katv.com/news/local/former-governor-us-senator-dale-bumpers-dead-at-90 2025-02-28 KATV en Fulbright's staggering loss was seen by analysts as a result of low confidence in Congress in the wake of the Watergate scandal. This success also tipped him to be on the ticket in the 1976 presidential election.Times Roy Reed Special to The New York 1974-05-29 Bumpers Beats Fulbright in Arkansas; Faubus Trailing in Governor's Primary https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/29/archives/bumpers-beats-fulbright-in-arkansas-faubus-trailing-in-governors.html 2025-02-28 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Candidates Dale Bumpers, governor of Arkansas J. William Fulbright, incumbent U.S. senator since 1945 Results Democratic primary resultshttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=208778 Our Campaigns - AR US Senate - D Primary Race - May 28, 1974 Democratic Party (US) Dale Bumpers 380,748 65.04 Democratic Party (US) J. William Fulbright (incumbent) 204,630 34.96 585,378 100.00 General election Campaign Jones accused Bumpers of excessive spending as governor, citing the construction of a $186 million state office complex. Bumpers not only ignored Jones, but campaigned mostly for the young Democrat (and future President) Bill Clinton, who failed to unseat Republican U.S. Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt in Arkansas's 3rd congressional district.1974 Clinton House Museum https://clintonhousemuseum.org/announcement/bc-1974/ 2025-02-28 en-US Results 1974 United States Senate election in Arkansashttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=3416 Our Campaigns - AR US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1974 Democratic Party (US) Dale Bumpers 461,056 84.90 25.75 Republican Party (US) John H. Jones 82,026 15.10 25.75 543,082 100.00 Democratic Party (US) Republican Party (US) See also 1974 United States Senate elections References 1974 Arkansas United States Senate