1970 United States Senate election in Texas

none March 2026 September 2023 1970 United States Senate election in Texas Texas presidential no 1964 United States Senate election in Texas 1964 1976 United States Senate election in Texas 1976 November 3, 1970 File:Lloyd Bentsen crop.jpg 150x150px Lloyd Bentsen Democratic Party (United States) 1,194,069 53.55% File:George H. W. Bush 91st Congress.jpg George H. W. Bush Republican Party (United States) 1,035,794 46.45% 310px County results 310px Congressional district results 1 Bentsen: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d056c >90%Bush: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough Democratic Party (United States) Lloyd Bentsen Democratic Party (United States) The 1970 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough was defeated by former U.S. Representative Lloyd Bentsen in the Democratic primary. Bentsen then defeated Republican U.S. Representative and future president George H. W. Bush in the general election. When Bush ran for president eighteen years later, his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, selected Bentsen as his vice presidential running mate. This was the last time any incumbent senator from Texas lost renomination until 2026. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Lloyd Bentsen, former U.S. representative from TX-15 (1948–1955) Eliminated in primary Ralph Yarborough, incumbent U.S. senator (1957–1971) Campaign Yarborough, a liberal icon, was challenged by the more conservative Bentsen in the Democratic primary. In what was characterized as an extremely bitter campaign, Bentsen accused Yarborough of supporting desegregation busing and criticized his opposition to the Vietnam War.Kamen Al Bentsen Cast Bush in 1970 As Too Liberal https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/23/AR2006052300817.html 28 May 2013 The Washington Post 16 July 1988 Many Texas liberals threatened to support the Republican Bush if Bentsen won the primary, believing that the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party would be threatened if Bentsen were elected. Bentsen ultimately defeated Yarborough in the Democratic primary on May 2, 1970.TX US Senate – D Primary http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=236182 ourcampaigns.com 28 May 2013 Results thumb|300px|Democratic primary results by county Bentsen #1e1dbeff Bentsen—80–90% #584cdeff Bentsen—70–80% #6674deff Bentsen—60–70% #7996e2ff Bentsen—50–60% Yarborough #165016ff Yarborough—>90% #309a30ff Yarborough—70–80% #41b742ff Yarborough—60–70% #5bc75bff Yarborough—50–60% Democratic primary results Lloyd Bentsen Democratic Party (United States) 841,316 53.7% Ralph Yarborough (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 726,477 46.3% 1,567,793 100.0% Republican primary Bush was unopposed for the Republican nomination. Candidates George H. W. Bush, U.S. Representative, nominee in 1964 General election The general election was held November 3, 1970. Bentsen defeated Bush, 53.5% – 46.5%.TX US Senate http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6529 ourcampaigns.com 28 May 2013 Results General election resultshttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6529 Our Campaigns – TX US Senate Race – Nov 03, 1970 Democratic Party (United States) Lloyd Bentsen 1,194,069 53.55% 2.67% Republican Party (United States) George H. W. Bush 1,035,794 46.45% 2.89% 2,229,863 100.0% Democratic Party (United States) References Texas Politics Texas 1970 Category:Lloyd Bentsen Category:George H. W. Bush Category:1970 Texas elections