1972 United States Senate election in Louisiana

none March 2026 May 2021 1972 United States Senate election in Louisiana Louisiana 1912 presidential no 1966 United States Senate election in Louisiana 1966 1978 United States Senate election in Louisiana 1978 November 7, 1972 File:John Bennett Johnston.jpg J. Bennett Johnston Democratic Party (United States) 598,987 55.21% File:John McKeithen (LA).png 150x150px John McKeithen Independent (politician) 250,161 23.06% 3x4.svg Ben Toledano Republican Party (United States) 206,846 19.07% 1972 United States Senate election in Louisiana results map by parish.svg 280px Parish resultsJohnston: #bdd3ff 30–40% #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70%McKeithen: #d3d3d3 40–50% #b0b0b0 50–60% #7e7e7e 60–70% U.S. Senator Elaine Edwards Democratic Party (United States) J. Bennett Johnston Democratic Party (United States) The 1972 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 9, 1972. Former state representative J. Bennett Johnston was elected to the Senate to succeed First Lady of Louisiana Elaine Edwards, who had been appointed by her husband on an interim basis following the death of Senator Allen Ellender. Following Johnston's victory in the general election, Elaine Edwards resigned and Governor Edwin Edwards appointed Johnston, so that he could gain seniority in the Senate. Louisiana was one of fifteen states, alongside Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota and West Virginia, that were won by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1972 that elected Democrats to the United States Senate. Democratic primary Candidates Declared Frank Tunney Allen, resident of West Monroe J. Bennett Johnston, former state representative and candidate for governor in 1972Johnston Wins in Louisiana https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/20/archives/johnston-wins-in-louisiana.html 16 August 2019 The New York Times 20 August 1972 Deceased Allen Ellender, incumbent senator Ellender died on July 27, a few weeks before the August 19 primary, but his name remained on the ballot. Results 1972 Democratic U.S. Senate primary 1972 US Senate – D Primary https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174527 OurCampaigns 15 August 2019 Democratic Party (United States) J. Bennett Johnston 623,078 79.44% Democratic Party (United States) Frank T. Allen 88,198 11.25% Democratic Party (United States) Allen Ellender (inc., deceased) 73,088 9.32% 784,364 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Ben Toledano, attorney and nominee for mayor of New Orleans in 1970 Withdrew Charles M. McLean Results Following Ellender's death, the Republican Party replaced presumptive nominee Charles McLean with attorney and New Orleans mayoral candidate Ben Toledano. Toledano was unopposed for the Republican nomination. Independents and third parties American Independent Hall Lyons, Republican nominee for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district in 1966 Independent John J. McKeithen, former governor of Louisiana Following Ellender's death, former governor John McKeithen joined the race as an independent candidate. He initially hoped to enter the race as a Democrat but was barred by party leaders from entering the primary. He campaigned against the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, George McGovern.Reed Roy THE 1972 CAMPAIGN https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/30/archives/mckeithen-is-running-for-ellenders-seat.html 16 August 2019 The New York Times 30 September 1972 General election Campaign The sudden death of Ellender and the independent candidacy of former governor McKeithen made this a rare competitive general election in Louisiana. The Republican Party had not seriously contested one of Louisiana's Senate seats since Reconstruction, and Republican leaders believed McKeithen's presence in the race could split the Democratic vote. McKeithen ran a populist, agrarian campaign against Johnston, citing his own investment in the state's agriculture industry and attempting to portray Johnston as an urban elitist, similar to McKeithen's campaign against former New Orleans Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison in the 1963-64 governor's race. All three major candidates supported President Nixon's handling of the Vietnam War. Results General election resultsLA US Senate https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6497 OurCampaigns 15 August 2019 Democratic Party (United States) J. Bennett Johnston 598,987 55.21% 44.79 Independent (politician) John J. McKeithen 250,161 23.06% N/A Republican Party (United States) Ben Toledano 206,846 19.07% 19.07 American Independent Party Hall M. Lyons 28,910 2.67% 2.67 1,084,904 100.00% See also 1972 United States Senate elections References 1972 Louisiana United States Senate