1976 United States Senate election in California

none March 2026 September 2023 1976 United States Senate election in California California presidential no 1970 United States Senate election in California 1970 1982 United States Senate election in California 1982 November 2, 1976 150x150px S I. Hayakawa, 1976 (cropped).jpg S. I. Hayakawa Republican Party (United States) 3,748,973 50.18% Senator Tunney (1).png John V. Tunney Democratic Party (United States) 3,502,862 46.89% 300px 1976 United States Senate election in California results map by county.svg County resultsHayakawa: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Tunney: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator John V. Tunney Democratic Party (United States) S. I. Hayakawa Republican Party (United States) The 1976 United States Senate election in California took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator John V. Tunney ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Republican S. I. Hayakawa. As of 2024, this is the last time an incumbent Democratic Senator from California lost re-election. Primary elections were held on June 8. Tunney survived a challenge from anti-war activist Tom Hayden, the husband of Jane Fonda. Hayakawa, a novice campaigner, won a surprise victory over seasoned political figures Robert H. Finch, Alphonzo Bell Jr., and John L. Harmer. Democratic primary Candidates Lois T. Bodle Leslie W. "Les" Craven, nominee for U.S. Representative in California's 25th congressional district in 1970 and 1972 Howard L. Gifford, candidate for U.S. Senate in 1974 Tom Hayden, anti-war activist and husband of Jane Fonda Millard F. Slover Frank L. Thomas John V. Tunney, incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Wallach Ronald L. Williams Results thumb|Results by county: Tunney #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Hayden #7ddddd 40–50% #51c2c2 50–60% |center 1976 Democratic U.S. Senate primaryhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=292292 Our Campaigns - CA US Senate - D Primary Race - Jun 08, 1976 Democratic Party (United States) John V. Tunney (incumbent) 1,774,879 53.79% Democratic Party (United States) Tom Hayden 1,210,637 36.69% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Wallach 73,142 2.22% Democratic Party (United States) Lois T. Bodle 54,220 1.64% Democratic Party (United States) Frank L. Thomas 53,843 1.63% Democratic Party (United States) Howard L. Gifford 46,977 1.42% Democratic Party (United States) Ronald L. Williams 29,511 0.89% Democratic Party (United States) Leslie W. Craven 28,583 0.87% Democratic Party (United States) Millard F. Slover 28,108 0.85% Write-in All others 25 0.00% 3,299,925 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Alphonzo E. Bell Jr., U.S. Representative from Santa Monica Hannibal C. Burchette V, doctor and friend of Gerald Ford Robert H. Finch, former Lieutenant Governor of California, United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and advisor to President Richard Nixon John L. Harmer, State Senator S. I. Hayakawa, professor of semantics and president emeritus of San Francisco State University Henry Hill, Catholic activist Michael A. Hirt, lawyer Walter Hollywood Clyde F. Tracy, commercial artist James A. Ware, perennial candidate Results thumb|Results by county: Hayakawa #ffe0ea 20–30% #ffc8cd 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% Finch #ffdac1 20–30% #ffcca9 30–40% #ffb580 40–50% |center 1976 Republican U.S. Senate primaryhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=95290 Our Campaigns - CA US Senate - R Primary Race - Jun 08, 1976 Republican Party (United States) S. I. Hayakawa 886,743 38.25% Republican Party (United States) Robert H. Finch 614,240 26.49% Republican Party (United States) Alphonzo E. Bell Jr. 532,969 22.99% Republican Party (United States) John L. Harmer 197,252 8.51% Republican Party (United States) Walter Hollywood 28,163 1.22% Republican Party (United States) Clyde F. Tracy 17,784 0.77% Republican Party (United States) James A. Ware 14,990 0.65% Republican Party (United States) Henry Hill 10,290 0.44% Republican Party (United States) Michael A. Hirt 9,941 0.43% Republican Party (United States) Hannibal C. Burchette V 6,222 0.27% 2,318,594 100.00% General election Results General election resultsStatistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976 https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1976election.pdf Clerk of the House of Representatives 4 Republican Party (United States) S. I. Hayakawa 3,748,973 50.18% Democratic Party (United States) John V. Tunney (incumbent) 3,502,862 46.89% Peace and Freedom Party David Wald 104,383 1.40% American Independent Party Jack McCoy 82,739 1.11% Independent Omari Musa 31,629 0.42% 246,111 3.23% 7,470,586 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) See also 1976 United States Senate elections References California 1976 Category:1976 California elections