1978 United States Senate election in Delaware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1978 United States Senate election in Delaware was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic senator Joe Biden won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican challenger James H. Baxter Jr. in a landslide victory. This is the first of five elections in which Biden won all counties.
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November 7, 1978
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  Biden: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Baxter: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Republican primary
The Republican Party primary was held on September 9, 1978. Venema was previously an independent before declaring himself a candidate in March 1978. Candidates Venema and Baxter were described by The Washington Post as being "two think-alike Reagan conservatives" but differed in terms of background and "personal style".[1]
Candidates
- James H. Baxter Jr., Sussex County Recorder of Deeds[2]
- James Allyn Venema, cardboard sign manufacturer,[1] anti-desegregation busing activist, president of the Positive Action Committee and the National Association of Neighborhood Schools[3][4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | James H. Baxter Jr. | 12,107 | 53.74% | |
| Republican | James Allyn Venema[3] | 10,422 | 46.26% | |
| Total votes | 22,662 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- James H. Baxter Jr. (R), Sussex County Recorder of Deeds[2]
- Joe Biden (D), incumbent Delaware Senator running for his first reelection
- Donald G. Gies (A), officer in the US Air Force Reserve[6][7]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (incumbent) | 93,930 | 57.96% | +7.48% | |
| Republican | James H. Baxter Jr. | 66,479 | 41.02% | −8.08% | |
| American | Donald G. Gies | 1,663 | 1.02% | +0.68% | |
| Majority | 27,451 | 16.94% | +15.56% | ||
| Turnout | 162,072 | ||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||
County results
| County[9][10] | Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Democratic |
James H. Baxter Jr.
Republican |
Donald G. Gies
American |
Total votes cast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Kent | 12,860 | 59.95% | 8,485 | 39.95% | 107 | 0.5% | 21,452 |
| New Castle | 66,256 | 58.87% | 44,834 | 39.84% | 1,449 | 1.29% | 112,539 |
| Sussex | 14,814 | 52.75% | 13,160 | 46.86% | 107 | 0.38% | 28,081 |
| Total | 93,930 | 57.96% | 66,479 | 41.02% | 1,663 | 1.03% | 162,072 |
