1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky
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The 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Senator Walter Dee Huddleston won reelection to a second term.
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November 7, 1978
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 County results Huddleston: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Guenthner: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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As of 2026, this is the last time a Democrat has won Kentucky's Class 2 Senate seat, which has been held by Mitch McConnell since his victory over Huddleston in 1984.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Walter Huddleston, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Jack Watson
- William Taylor
- George Tolhurst
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) | 89,333 | 75.62% | |
| Democratic | Jack Watson | 13,177 | 11.15% | |
| Democratic | William Taylor | 8,710 | 7.37% | |
| Democratic | George Tolhurst | 6,921 | 5.86% | |
Republican primary
Candidates
- Louie Guenthner Jr, Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
- Oline Carmical
- Thurman Jerome Hamlin
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Louie Guenthner Jr. | 14,218 | 47.21% | |
| Republican | Oline Carmical | 9,346 | 31.04% | |
| Republican | Thurman Jerome Hamlin | 6,550 | 21.75% | |
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) | 290,730 | 60.98% | |
| Republican | Louie Guenthner Jr. | 175,766 | 36.87% | |
| Democratic hold | ||||