1968 United States Senate election in Florida

none July 2013 March 2026 April 2012 1968 United States Senate election in Florida Florida 1900 presidential Yes 1962 United States Senate election in Florida 1962 1974 United States Senate election in Florida 1974 November 5, 1968 x150px Edward J Gurney.jpg Edward Gurney Republican Party (United States) 1,131,499 55.90% LeRoy Collins.jpg LeRoy Collins Democratic Party (United States) 892,637 44.10% 1968 United States Senate election in Florida results map by county.svg County results Gurney: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Collins: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% U.S. senator George Smathers Democratic Party (US) Edward Gurney Republican Party (US) The 1968 Florida United States Senate election was marked by the election of the first Republican to the United States Senate from Florida since Reconstruction. Democratic three-term incumbent George Smathers decided to not seek re-election. Popular former two-term Governor LeRoy Collins won the Democratic nomination by defeating State Attorney General Earl Faircloth, while Congressman Edward J. Gurney became the Republican candidate. Gurney was much less well-known than Collins, but he won by a margin of over 11%. It is possible that Richard Nixon's victory in the presidential race (including winning Florida) helped Gurney defeat Collins. Gurney was the first Republican elected to the Senate from Florida since 1872. Primaries Democratic 20.9% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.Steed Moreland Baker 1980 26 Republican 5.1% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.Steed Moreland Baker 1980 26 Results Florida United States Senate election, 1968 Republican Party (US) Edward J. Gurney 1,131,499 55.90% Democratic Party (US) LeRoy Collins 892,637 44.10% Republican Party (US) Democratic Party (US) References Works cited Steed Robert Moreland Laurence Baker Tod Party Politics in the South Praeger Publishers 1980 0030565863 Category:1968 Florida elections Florida 1968