1960 United States Senate election in Nebraska
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The 1960 United States Senate election in Nebraska took place on November 8, 1960. Incumbent Republican Senator Carl Curtis ran for re-election to a second term. He was initially set to face Governor Ralph Brooks, the Democratic nominee, but two months before the election, Brooks died and was replaced on the ballot by Robert B. Conrad, Brooks's administrative assistant.[1] Curtis defeated Conrad in a landslide, but by a reduced margin from 1954, and slightly underperformed Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon, who won Nebraska by 24% in the presidential election.
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November 8, 1960
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 County results Curtis: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Conrad: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Ralph Brooks, Governor of Nebraska
- Clair A. Callan, businessman and former Chairman of Governor's Committee on Governmental Reorganization[2]
- Albert J. Baker, warehouse superintendent[3]
- Mike F. Kracher, Omaha businessman, 1958 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ralph Brooks | 41,777 | 42.34% | |
| Democratic | Clair A. Callan | 34,052 | 34.51% | |
| Democratic | Albert J. Baker | 14,355 | 14.55% | |
| Democratic | Mike F. Kracher | 8,424 | 8.54% | |
| Democratic | Scattering | 55 | 0.06% | |
| Total votes | 98,663 | 100.00% | ||
Ballot replacement
The winner of the Democratic primary, Ralph Brooks, died on September 9, 1960. Brooks's health prompted rumors earlier in the year that he would withdraw from the Senate race, but he proceeded with his campaign.[3] In late August, Brooks was hospitalized with congestive heart failure, but affirmed that he would continue the campaign.[6] Brooks was ultimately replaced on the ballot by Robert B. Conrad, his administrative assistant as Governor.[1]
Republican primary
Candidates
- Carl Curtis, incumbent Senator
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Carl Curtis (inc.) | 125,741 | 99.70% | |
| Republican | Scattering | 380 | 0.30% | |
| Total votes | 126,121 | 100.00% | ||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Carl Curtis (inc.) | 352,748 | 58.91% | −2.16% | |
| Democratic | Robert B. Conrad | 245,837 | 41.06% | +2.13% | |
| Write-in | 158 | 0.03% | — | ||
| Majority | 106,941 | 17.86% | −4.28% | ||
| Total votes | 598,743 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||