1970 United States Senate election in Virginia

none March 2026 March 2013 1970 United States Senate election in Virginia Virginia presidential 1966 United States Senate special election in Virginia 1966 (special) 1976 United States Senate election in Virginia 1976 November 3, 1970 x150px Harry F. Byrd Jr. 1977.jpg Harry F. Byrd Jr. Independent 506,237 53.54% Delegate Rawlings 1968.jpg George Rawlings Democratic Party (United States) 294,582 31.15% File:Senator Garland 1982.jpg Ray L. Garland Republican Party (United States) 144,765 15.31% 1970 United States Senate election in Virginia results map by county.svg 300px County and independent city results Byrd: #e6e6e6 30–40% #d9d9d9 40–50% #bdbdbd 50–60% #969696 60–70% #737373 70–80% #555555 80–90%Rawlings: #bdd3ff 30–40% #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #584cde 70–80%Garland: #ffc8cd 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. Democratic Party (United States) Harry F. Byrd Jr. Independent The 1970 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. was re-elected to a second term (and first full term) in office over state delegates George Rawlings and Ray L. Garland. Byrd left the Democratic Party shortly before the election and became the first non-Democrat to represent Virginia in the Senate since 1889. Byrd won large margins throughout the commonwealth, except for the historic "anti-organization" coal union strongholds in the southwest and a few heavily African American counties in the Tidewater region.Key Valdimer Orlando Valdimer Orlando Key Southern Politics in State and Nation A.A. Knopf 27-31 1949 New York City Background 1966 United States Senate special election in Virginia 1969 Virginia gubernatorial election In 1966, Harry F. Byrd Jr. was elected to complete the unexpired term of his father, Harry F. Byrd. Since the 1890s, Byrd Jr. and his father had led a rural, conservative Democratic Party political machine (known as the Byrd machine) which had come to dominate Virginia politics. However, the machine's grip had weakened dramatically over the prior decade, beginning with the failure of its policy of "massive resistance" to school desegregation in the 1950s. After the failure of massive resistance, the party was divided into factions of conservative loyalists, moderates, and liberals led by Henry Howell. A fourth faction of more extreme conservatives were angered by the party's subsequent support for Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 presidential election and formed the Conservative Party, advising members to abstain from participation in Democratic primary elections. As a result of these fissures, long-time Byrd machine incumbents A. Willis Robertson and Howard W. Smith both lost in the 1966 Democratic primary, and Byrd Jr. narrowly survived a primary challenge from moderate Armistead L. Boothe, signalling the end of the machine's domination.Sweeney 1998 16668Wilkinson III Harry Byrd and The Changing Face of Virginia Politics, 1945–1966 Charlottesville, Va. University Press of Virginia 1968 J. Harvie J. Harvie Wilkinson III The decline of the Byrd machine and divisions within the Democratic Party created ample opportunities for the Republican Party of Virginia. Entering 1970, Republicans had carried the state at the presidential level in four of the five preceding elections, and in 1969, Virginia had elected Linwood Holton to serve as the first Republican governor since the Reconstruction era. However, the Republicans were also divided into two rival factions: the historical, progressive base of the party, based in mountainous western Virginia, from which Holton had led opposition to the Byrd machine, and a growing conservative eastern faction, based in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and Richmond. Many conservative Republicans admired Byrd and preferred to build the party up by winning flipping conservative seats which liberals had won in the Democratic primaries. Holton won the 1969 election with an unusual combination of support from three traditionally Democratic groups in Virginia: conservative financial and business interests, organized labor, and African Americans.Sweeney 1998 16777 In 1969, President Richard Nixon and his southern aide Harry S. Dent Sr. actively recruited Senator Byrd to switch parties, using the codeword "Okinawa" as part of his larger "southern strategy" in the 1970 midterm elections. In October, Byrd commissioned a poll which showed him holding narrow leads in the Democratic primary and general election, indicating a significant risk to running for the nomination of his increasingly liberal and racially diverse party. After Holton's victory in the fall elections, the governor-elect met with Nixon aide Bryce Harlow. Although Holton preferred to support his law partner, state delegate M. Caldwell Butler, in the upcoming Senate election, Holton also admitted that he had attempted to recruit Byrd Jr. to switch parties on "at least three occasions," but had not received a response.Sweeney 1998 177 A more detailed poll commissioned by Byrd in January 1970 showed him trailing Henry Howell by four points among Democratic voters. On March 17, 1970, Byrd announced that he would run as an "Independent Democrat."Sweeney 1998 16777 Democratic primary Candidates Clive L. DuVal II, state delegate from McLean George C. Rawlings Jr. former state delegate from Fredericksburg and candidate for U.S. House in 1966 Declined Harry F. Byrd Jr., incumbent U.S. senator since 1966 (ran as independent) Henry Howell, state senator from Norfolk J. Sargeant Reynolds, lieutenant governor of Virginia Campaign Two of the leading contenders to challenge Byrd, Henry Howell and J. Sargeant Reynolds, declined early in the race. Reynolds, the popular lieutenant governor, As a result, Larry Sabato has described the July primary as "the most apathetic state election in Virginia's recent history."Sweeney 1998 18990 Rawlings, who had defeated Howard W. Smith in the 1966 primary but lost to William L. Scott in the general election, ran as a proponent of the New Frontier and Great Society programs. Results Fewer than 130,000 voters turned out, and Rawlins defeated DuVal by only 700 votes. The low turnout was taken as a sign that many Democratic voters still supported Byrd.Sweeney 1998 18990 Republican primary Candidates Ray L. Garland, state delegate from Roanoke Declined Harry F. Byrd Jr., incumbent U.S. senator since 1966 (ran as independent) Campaign Following Byrd's decision to run as an independent, Holton and other Republican leaders declined to support his candidacy, seeking instead to nominate a Republican as an opponent. On April 1, Holton posited that Byrd could not be reelected as an independent and would not get the support of the Republicans unless he formally joined the party and sought its nomination. Holton also pressed Byrd to embrace Nixon's position that Brown v. Board of Education "was right in both constitutional and human terms."Sweeney 1998 181 Holton also met with Republican congressional leadership in April to emphasize his position in favor of nominating a Republican senatorial candidate in 1970 and received their support.Sweeney 1998 181 On April 23, Holton met with Nixon to discuss the matter. Holton, Nixon, and Dent later disagreed over the course of the meeting, with Nixon and Dent assuming that Holton had agreed not to nominate a candidate, and Holton believing that Nixon had agreed to invite Byrd to join the Republican Party. On the same day, a group of conservative financiers who had supported Holton in the 1969 election pressured Byrd to join the Republican Party; he refused to switch parties, but he agreed to drop the word "Democrat" from his party identification, running as just an "Independent." When the Nixon administration made the same request for a party switch, Byrd refused again, telling Bryce Harlow, "I'm going to run as an independent, and I'm going to be elected as an independent."Sweeney 1998 183 Byrd formally filed to run as an independent on June 15, ending speculation that he would switch parties.Sweeney 1998 183 Convention results With their state convention in late June rapidly approaching, Republicans considered whether to endorse Byrd, remain neutral, or nominate a candidate of their own. Joel Broyhill and Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Lee R. Nunn briefly led efforts for a Byrd endorsement, but they instead settled on a strategy favoring neutrality. On the eve of the convention, Holton delivered a rousing speech in favor of nominating a candidate against Byrd. "Frankly, I can't believe it," Holton told the delegates. "We're the biggest, strongest, and the best party in Virginia. ... I can't believe we'll do nothing. Doing nothing would be like having the biggest, shiniest, newest fire engine and not taking it to a fire."Sweeney 1998 184 Broyhill and other Byrd supporters conceded that the speech was effective, and throughout the next day, Holton met with delegates to urge a nomination.Sweeney 1998 186 At the start of proceedings, Broyhill made a political gaffe when he claimed Byrd would, in exchange for an endorsement or neutrality, vote with the Republicans to organize the next Senate. His comment prompted a public disavowal from Byrd, who issued a statement maintaining that he had made "no commitments to anyone."Sweeney 1998 186 When Broyhill ultimately moved for no nomination for United States Senate, the resolution was defeated by over 200 votes. The convention nominated Ray L. Garland, a little-known legislator whom Holton had recruited from his own home city of Roanoke.Sweeney 1998 186 General election Candidates Harry F. Byrd Jr., incumbent U.S. senator since 1966 (Independent) Ray L. Garland, state delegate from Roanoke (Republican) George C. Rawlings Jr. former state delegate from Fredericksburg (Democratic) Campaign While Byrd preferred a two-way race, early polling indicated that the presence of candidates from both major parties split the anti-Byrd vote rather than the pro-Byrd vote. The Holton coalition quickly disintegrated. Byrd recovered the conservative financial and business interests which had backed Holton in 1969, while the liberal Crusade for Voters and AFL-CIO endorsed the Democratic candidate Rawlings. Garland faded rapidly into third place.Sweeney 1998 191 Court-ordered desegregation busing was an issue in the campaign, following a July ruling by Robert R. Merhige Jr. which called for the busing of 13,000 students in the city of Richmond. Holton not only complied with the order but accompanied his thirteen-year-old daughter to predominantly black John F. Kennedy High School while his wife took their other children to a middle school in which they were the only white students. The act outraged conservatives, whose anger was transferred to Garland. Garland stressed his opposition to busing, an issue where Byrd was already the leading candidate for conservatives, further limiting Garland's potential support.Sweeney 1998 19394 Although Nixon did not formally endorse Byrd, he embraced a position of "benevolent neutrality,"Sweeney 1998 192 inviting Byrd to a meeting to discuss the administration's Family Assistance Plan and a state dinner for the president of Mexico. When vice president Spiro Agnew endorsed Garland on October 26, the White House quickly pressured Agnew to call Byrd and apologize. Agnew promised not to mention the Virginia campaign again. Holton and other Republicans were publicly critical of Nixon, arguing that the national party was "seriously hurting our efforts to build a strong Republican Party in Virginia,"Sweeney 1998 193 noting that the strategy would discourage conservatives from joining the Republican Party by offering the option of switching their support from candidate to candidate in various campaigns.Sweeney 1998 193 Results Byrd won an easy victory; the turnout for this election was the largest in Virginia senatorial election history at the time.Sweeney 1998 1941970 United States Senate election in VirginiaStatistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970 http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1970election.pdf Clerk of the House of Representatives 35 Independent Harry F. Byrd Jr. (incumbent) 506,237 53.54% N/A Democratic Party (United States) George C. Rawlings, Jr. 294,582 31.15% 22.15 Republican Party (United States) Ray L. Garland 144,765 15.31% 22.07 30 0.00% 0.02 211,655 22.38% +6.46% 945,614 Independent (politician) Democratic Party (United States) Results by county or independent city +1970 United States Senate election in Virginia by county or independent cityVA US Senate – General Election, November 03, 1970 https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6545 Our Campaigns George C. Rawlings Jr. Democratic Ray Lucian GarlandRepublican Harry Flood Byrd Jr.Independent Various candidatesWrite-ins MarginBecause Byrd won the election as an Independent and Rawlings ran second behind him, all county and city results are Rawlings vote minus Byrd vote unless states otherwise for the county or city in question Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % Accomack County 1,361 23.00% 748 12.64% 3,808 64.36% -2,447 -41.36% 5,917 Albemarle County 1,184 18.60% 985 15.47% 4,198 65.93% -3,014 -47.34% 6,367 Alleghany County 563 23.90% 515 21.86% 1,278 54.24% -715 -30.35% 2,356 Amelia County 622 28.53% 123 5.64% 1,434 65.78% 1 0.05% -812 -37.25% 2,180 Amherst County 931 21.72% 363 8.47% 2,993 69.82% -2,062 -48.10% 4,287 Appomattox County 536 14.53% 191 5.18% 2,962 80.29% -2,426 -65.76% 3,689 Arlington County 14,270 33.05% 7,607 17.62% 21,302 49.33% -7,032 -16.29% 43,179 Augusta County 1,090 16.27% 1,668 24.90% 3,942 58.84% -2,274"GardlanddRawlings" In this county or city where Rawlings ran third behind both Byrd and Garland, margin given is Garland vote minus Byrd vote and percentage margin Garland percentage minus Byrd percentage. -33.94% 6,700 Bath County 186 18.25% 220 21.59% 613 60.16% -393"GardlanddRawlings" -38.57% 1,019 Bedford County 761 16.83% 464 10.26% 3,296 72.90% -2,535 -56.07% 4,521 Bland County 408 27.04% 351 23.26% 750 49.70% -342 -22.66% 1,509 Botetourt County 733 20.46% 930 25.96% 1,917 53.52% 2 0.06% -987"GardlanddRawlings" -27.56% 3,582 Brunswick County 1,291 35.78% 93 2.58% 2,224 61.64% -933 -25.86% 3,608 Buchanan County 3,141 51.56% 1,753 28.78% 1,198 19.67% 1,388"GardlanddByrd" In this county or city where Byrd ran third behind Garland and Rawlings, margin given is Rawlings vote minus Garland vote and percentage margin Rawlings percentage minus Garland percentage. 22.78% 6,092 Buckingham County 863 27.57% 182 5.81% 2,085 66.61% -1,222 -39.04% 3,130 Campbell County 811 11.68% 782 11.26% 5,351 77.06% -4,540 -65.38% 6,944 Caroline County 1,505 46.29% 153 4.71% 1,593 49.00% -88 -2.71% 3,251 Carroll County 1,530 31.16% 2,473 50.37% 907 18.47% -943"GardlanddByrd" -19.21% 4,910 Charles City County 1,074 72.76% 69 4.67% 333 22.56% 741 50.20% 1,476 Charlotte County 656 20.74% 189 5.98% 2,318 73.28% -1,662 -52.55% 3,163 Chesterfield County 2,565 16.62% 1,592 10.31% 11,280 73.07% -8,715 -56.46% 15,437 Clarke County 307 15.07% 123 6.04% 1,607 78.89% -1,300 -63.82% 2,037 Craig County 240 24.95% 268 27.86% 453 47.09% 1 0.10% -185"GardlanddRawlings" -19.23% 962 Culpeper County 795 23.82% 468 14.02% 2,075 62.16% -1,280 -38.35% 3,338 Cumberland County 810 39.78% 69 3.39% 1,157 56.83% -347 -17.04% 2,036 Dickenson County 2,654 42.48% 3,078 49.27% 515 8.24% -424"GardlanddByrd" -6.79% 6,247 Dinwiddie County 1,209 29.14% 193 4.65% 2,747 66.21% -1,538 -37.07% 4,149 Essex County 560 33.61% 74 4.44% 1,032 61.94% -472 -28.33% 1,666 Fairfax County 29,259 33.16% 19,707 22.33% 39,278 44.51% -10,019 -11.35% 88,244 Fauquier County 1,266 26.12% 558 11.51% 3,023 62.37% -1,757 -36.25% 4,847 Floyd County 478 21.59% 869 39.25% 867 39.16% 2"GardlanddRawlings" 0.09% 2,214 Fluvanna County 332 22.30% 147 9.87% 1,010 67.83% -678 -45.53% 1,489 Franklin County 1,565 33.80% 668 14.43% 2,397 51.77% -832 -17.97% 4,630 Frederick County 1,172 20.06% 403 6.90% 4,268 73.04% -3,096 -52.99% 5,843 Giles County 1,541 36.81% 1,016 24.27% 1,629 38.92% -88 -2.10% 4,186 Gloucester County 904 31.16% 235 8.10% 1,762 60.74% -858 -29.58% 2,901 Goochland County 1,045 36.93% 174 6.15% 1,611 56.93% -566 -20.00% 2,830 Grayson County 1,743 41.54% 1,663 39.63% 790 18.83% 80"GardlanddByrd" 1.91% 4,196 Greene County 193 18.45% 252 24.09% 601 57.46% -349"GardlanddRawlings" -33.37% 1,046 Greensville County 1,054 44.74% 68 2.89% 1,234 52.38% -180 -7.64% 2,356 Halifax County 1,223 21.45% 380 6.66% 4,099 71.89% -2,876 -50.44% 5,702 Hanover County 1,443 18.59% 567 7.30% 5,754 74.11% -4,311 -55.53% 7,764 Henrico County 5,114 13.09% 3,408 8.73% 30,535 78.17% 3 0.01% -25,421 -65.08% 39,060 Henry County 2,954 41.00% 1,036 14.38% 3,215 44.62% -261 -3.62% 7,205 Highland County 56 7.41% 255 33.73% 445 58.86% -190"GardlanddRawlings" -25.13% 756 Isle of Wight County 1,627 40.41% 269 6.68% 2,130 52.91% -503 -12.49% 4,026 James City County 1,079 38.59% 347 12.41% 1,370 49.00% -291 -10.41% 2,796 King and Queen County 575 42.81% 51 3.80% 717 53.39% -142 -10.57% 1,343 King George County 571 32.15% 323 18.19% 882 49.66% -311 -17.51% 1,776 King William County 617 31.85% 113 5.83% 1,207 62.31% -590 -30.46% 1,937 Lancaster County 760 25.38% 267 8.92% 1,967 65.70% -1,207 -40.31% 2,994 Lee County 3,024 45.39% 2,325 34.90% 1,313 19.71% 699"GardlanddByrd" 10.49% 6,662 Loudoun County 1,941 26.58% 945 12.94% 4,417 60.48% -2,476 -33.90% 7,303 Louisa County 757 25.38% 212 7.11% 2,014 67.52% -1,257 -42.14% 2,983 Lunenburg County 704 25.42% 128 4.62% 1,938 69.96% -1,234 -44.55% 2,770 Madison County 314 16.66% 349 18.51% 1,222 64.83% -873"GardlanddRawlings" -46.32% 1,885 Mathews County 443 23.60% 170 9.06% 1,264 67.34% -821 -43.74% 1,877 Mecklenburg County 1,502 24.63% 301 4.94% 4,296 70.44% -2,794 -45.81% 6,099 Middlesex County 273 17.44% 145 9.27% 1,147 73.29% -874 -55.85% 1,565 Montgomery County 1,823 22.48% 1,973 24.32% 4,315 53.20% -2,342"GardlanddRawlings" -28.88% 8,111 Nelson County 369 19.39% 172 9.04% 1,362 71.57% -993 -52.18% 1,903 New Kent County 493 38.46% 76 5.93% 713 55.62% -220 -17.16% 1,282 Northampton County 994 33.73% 225 7.63% 1,728 58.64% -734 -24.91% 2,947 Northumberland County 622 25.98% 169 7.06% 1,603 66.96% -981 -40.98% 2,394 Nottoway County 1,093 27.87% 224 5.71% 2,605 66.42% -1,512 -38.55% 3,922 Orange County 504 18.80% 305 11.38% 1,871 69.79% 1 0.04% -1,367 -50.99% 2,681 Page County 1,071 21.38% 1,630 32.54% 2,308 46.08% -678"GardlanddRawlings" -13.54% 5,009 Patrick County 796 27.99% 685 24.09% 1,363 47.93% -567 -19.94% 2,844 Pittsylvania County 2,981 26.61% 642 5.73% 7,579 67.66% -4,598 -41.05% 11,202 Powhatan County 674 34.46% 95 4.86% 1,186 60.63% 1 0.05% -512 -26.18% 1,956 Prince Edward County 1,224 29.21% 230 5.49% 2,736 65.30% -1,512 -36.09% 4,190 Prince George County 1,015 32.16% 229 7.26% 1,912 60.58% -897 -28.42% 3,156 Prince William County 4,030 29.52% 3,204 23.47% 6,418 47.01% -2,388 -17.49% 13,652 Pulaski County 1,730 29.63% 1,468 25.15% 2,640 45.22% -910 -15.59% 5,838 Rappahannock County 275 23.19% 107 9.02% 804 67.79% -529 -44.60% 1,186 Richmond County 253 18.77% 104 7.72% 991 73.52% -738 -54.75% 1,348 Roanoke County 2,426 16.42% 3,396 22.98% 8,955 60.59% 2 0.01% -5,559"GardlanddRawlings" -37.61% 14,779 Rockbridge County 451 17.99% 428 17.07% 1,627 64.90% 1 0.04% -1,176 -46.91% 2,507 Rockingham County 1,262 15.32% 2,291 27.81% 4,685 56.86% 1 0.01% -2,394"GardlanddRawlings" -29.05% 8,239 Russell County 2,927 41.74% 2,710 38.64% 1,376 19.62% 217"GardlanddByrd" 3.10% 7,013 Scott County 2,875 38.32% 3,039 40.51% 1,588 21.17% -164"GardlanddByrd" -2.19% 7,502 Shenandoah County 881 12.70% 2,566 37.00% 3,489 50.30% -923"GardlanddRawlings" -13.30% 6,936 Smyth County 2,329 29.19% 2,214 27.74% 3,437 43.07% -1,108 -13.88% 7,980 Southampton County 1,305 33.05% 165 4.18% 2,479 62.78% -1,174 -29.73% 3,949 Spotsylvania County 2,097 52.16% 326 8.11% 1,597 39.73% 500 12.44% 4,020 Stafford County 2,091 38.81% 723 13.42% 2,574 47.77% -483 -8.96% 5,388 Surry County 850 45.50% 85 4.55% 933 49.95% -83 -4.44% 1,868 Sussex County 1,419 39.59% 99 2.76% 2,066 57.65% -647 -18.05% 3,584 Tazewell County 3,054 41.99% 1,545 21.24% 2,674 36.77% 380 5.22% 7,273 Warren County 1,276 31.68% 493 12.24% 2,259 56.08% -983 -24.40% 4,028 Washington County 2,683 29.77% 2,525 28.02% 3,804 42.21% -1,121 -12.44% 9,012 Westmoreland County 671 26.90% 170 6.82% 1,653 66.28% -982 -39.37% 2,494 Wise County 4,703 45.78% 3,757 36.58% 1,811 17.63% 1 0.01% 946"GardlanddByrd" 9.20% 10,272 Wythe County 1,099 22.66% 1,463 30.16% 2,287 47.15% 1 0.02% -824"GardlanddRawlings" -16.99% 4,850 York County 1,598 28.41% 725 12.89% 3,302 58.70% -1,704 -30.29% 5,625 Alexandria City 8,091 38.50% 3,645 17.34% 9,280 44.16% -1,189 -5.66% 21,016 Bedford City 294 19.10% 208 13.52% 1,037 67.38% -743 -48.28% 1,539 Bristol City 957 31.89% 384 12.80% 1,660 55.31% -703 -23.43% 3,001 Buena Vista City 170 18.78% 173 19.12% 562 62.10% -389"GardlanddRawlings" -42.98% 905 Charlottesville City 2,691 32.02% 976 11.61% 4,736 56.36% -2,045 -24.34% 8,403 Chesapeake City 6,555 39.10% 1,401 8.36% 8,808 52.54% -2,253 -13.44% 16,764 Clifton Forge City 269 19.81% 171 12.59% 918 67.60% -649 -47.79% 1,358 Colonial Heights City 459 12.13% 351 9.28% 2,974 78.59% -2,515 -66.46% 3,784 Covington City 631 26.27% 454 18.90% 1,317 54.83% -686 -28.56% 2,402 Danville City 2,631 25.69% 735 7.18% 6,874 67.13% -4,243 -41.44% 10,240 Emporia City 479 29.57% 105 6.48% 1,036 63.95% -557 -34.38% 1,620 Fairfax City 1,309 30.98% 878 20.78% 2,038 48.24% -729 -17.26% 4,225 Falls Church City 1,112 35.60% 553 17.70% 1,459 46.70% -347 -11.11% 3,124 Franklin City 489 32.38% 71 4.70% 950 62.91% -461 -30.53% 1,510 Fredericksburg City 1,771 43.50% 387 9.51% 1,913 46.99% -142 -3.49% 4,071 Galax City 681 41.78% 382 23.44% 567 34.79% 114 6.99% 1,630 Hampton City 8,307 41.13% 2,018 9.99% 9,873 48.88% -1,566 -7.75% 20,198 Harrisonburg City 457 14.42% 664 20.95% 2,048 64.61% 1 0.03% -1,384"GardlanddRawlings" -43.66% 3,170 Hopewell City 1,286 27.29% 382 8.11% 3,045 64.61% -1,759 -37.32% 4,713 Lexington City 406 27.68% 261 17.79% 799 54.46% 1 0.07% -393 -26.79% 1,467 Lynchburg City 2,589 21.92% 1,130 9.57% 8,094 68.52% -5,505 -46.60% 11,813 Martinsville City 1,818 37.79% 560 11.64% 2,433 50.57% -615 -12.78% 4,811 Newport News City 9,622 40.51% 2,177 9.17% 11,948 50.31% 3 0.01% -2,326 -9.79% 23,750 Norfolk City 20,816 45.38% 4,683 10.21% 20,372 44.41% 1 0.00% 444 0.97% 45,872 Norton City 410 39.08% 327 31.17% 312 29.74% 83"GardlanddByrd" 7.91% 1,049 Petersburg City 4,025 47.84% 335 3.98% 4,053 48.17% 1 0.01% -28 -0.33% 8,414 Portsmouth City 10,592 41.34% 2,179 8.50% 12,853 50.16% -2,261 -8.82% 25,624 Radford City 754 27.25% 768 27.76% 1,245 44.99% -477"GardlanddRawlings" -17.23% 2,767 Richmond City 20,487 35.50% 3,479 6.03% 33,740 58.47% -13,253 -22.97% 57,706 Roanoke City 4,443 22.32% 4,016 20.18% 11,443 57.49% 1 0.01% -7,000 -35.17% 19,903 Salem City 864 18.29% 1,016 21.50% 2,843 60.17% 2 0.04% -1,827"GardlanddRawlings" -38.67% 4,725 South Boston City 319 17.56% 167 9.19% 1,330 73.20% 1 0.06% -1,011 -55.64% 1,817 Staunton City 1,104 21.11% 1,081 20.67% 3,043 58.19% 1 0.02% -1,939 -37.08% 5,229 Suffolk City 617 28.03% 147 6.68% 1,437 65.29% -820 -37.26% 2,201 Virginia Beach City 8,434 36.02% 3,192 13.63% 11,787 50.34% 1 0.00% -3,353 -14.32% 23,414 Waynesboro City 732 19.15% 1,042 27.26% 2,048 53.58% -1,006"GardlanddRawlings" -26.32% 3,822 Williamsburg City 613 36.29% 234 13.85% 842 49.85% -229 -13.56% 1,689 Winchester City 648 17.55% 157 4.25% 2,887 78.20% -2,239 -60.64% 3,692Totals294,58231.15%144,76515.31%506,23753.54%300.00%-211,655-22.38%945,614 Aftermath Byrd did not vote with Republicans to organize the Senate, continuing to caucus with the majority Democratic Party. Despite continued pressure from Nixon and in 1981 from Ronald Reagan, Byrd never joined the Republican Party before retiring from the Senate in 1983. However, several conservatives who had supported Byrd's campaign, including former governor Mills Godwin, soon joined the Republicans, leading to a period of remarkable success in the state in the 1970s.Sweeney 1998 195200 Linwood Holton continued his downward trend in Virginia Republican politics, supporting losing candidates in the 1971 special election for lieutenant governor and the 1972 election for Republican Party chairman. He ran for United States Senate himself in 1978 but finished a distant third on the first ballot at the Republican state convention before dropping out of the race. In 1998, he said, "Clearly the Byrd record in Virginia was racist. I just didn't want that in there. ... But if I'm a pariah on the basis of trying to keep out the white supremacy element, I'm proud of it."Sweeney 1998 195200 He endorsed Barack Obama for president of the United States in 2008. See also 1970 United States Senate elections Notes References Sources Sweeney James R. Spring 1998 Southern Strategies: The 1970 Election for the United States Senate in Virginia https://www.jstor.org/stable/4249704 The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 106 2 165-200 JSTOR Virginia 1970 Category:1970 Virginia elections Category:Long stubs with short prose