The 1970 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough was defeated by former U.S. Representative Lloyd Bentsen in the Democratic primary. Bentsen then defeated Republican U.S. Representative and future president George H. W. Bush in the general election. When Bush was running for president in 1988, his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts GovernorMichael Dukakis, selected Bentsen as his vice presidential running mate.
Yarborough, a liberal icon, was challenged by the more conservative Bentsen in the Democratic primary. In what was characterized as an extremely bitter campaign, Bentsen accused Yarborough of supporting desegregation busing and criticized his opposition to the Vietnam War.[1] Many Texas liberals threatened to support the Republican Bush if Bentsen won the primary, believing that the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party would be threatened if Bentsen were elected.[1] Bentsen ultimately defeated Yarborough in the Democratic primary on May 2, 1970.[2]
^ abKamen, Al (July 16, 1988). "Bentsen Cast Bush in 1970 As Too Liberal". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
^ ab"TX US Senate - D Primary". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
^"TX US Senate". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
^"Our Campaigns - TX US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1970".
February 15, 2024
1970, united, states, senate, election, texas, held, november, 1970, incumbent, democratic, senator, ralph, yarborough, defeated, former, representative, lloyd, bentsen, democratic, primary, bentsen, then, defeated, republican, representative, future, presiden. The 1970 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 3 1970 Incumbent Democratic U S Senator Ralph Yarborough was defeated by former U S Representative Lloyd Bentsen in the Democratic primary Bentsen then defeated Republican U S Representative and future president George H W Bush in the general election When Bush was running for president in 1988 his Democratic opponent Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis selected Bentsen as his vice presidential running mate 1970 United States Senate election in Texas 1964 November 3 1970 1976 Nominee Lloyd Bentsen George BushParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 1 194 069 1 035 794Percentage 53 55 46 45 County resultsCongressional district resultsBentsen 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 gt 90 Bush 50 60 60 70 U S senator before electionRalph YarboroughDemocratic Elected U S Senator Lloyd BentsenDemocratic Contents 1 Democratic primary 1 1 Candidates 1 2 Campaign 1 3 Results 2 Republican primary 2 1 Candidates 3 General election 3 1 Results 4 ReferencesDemocratic primary edit nbsp Runoff results by county Bentsen Bentsen 80 90 Bentsen 70 80 Bentsen 60 70 Bentsen 50 60 Yarborough Yarborough gt 90 Yarborough 70 80 Yarborough 60 70 Yarborough 50 60 Candidates edit Ralph Yarborough incumbent U S Senator Lloyd Bentsen former U S RepresentativeCampaign edit Yarborough a liberal icon was challenged by the more conservative Bentsen in the Democratic primary In what was characterized as an extremely bitter campaign Bentsen accused Yarborough of supporting desegregation busing and criticized his opposition to the Vietnam War 1 Many Texas liberals threatened to support the Republican Bush if Bentsen won the primary believing that the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party would be threatened if Bentsen were elected 1 Bentsen ultimately defeated Yarborough in the Democratic primary on May 2 1970 2 Results edit Democratic primary results 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Lloyd Bentsen 841 316 53 7 Democratic Ralph Yarborough incumbent 726 477 46 3 Total votes 1 567 793 100 0 Republican primary editBush was unopposed for the Republican nomination Candidates edit George H W Bush U S Representative nominee in 1964General election editThe general election was held November 3 1970 Bentsen defeated Bush 53 5 46 5 3 Results edit General election results 4 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Lloyd Bentsen 1 194 069 53 55 nbsp 2 67 Republican George H W Bush 1 035 794 46 45 nbsp 2 89 Total votes 2 229 863 100 0 Democratic holdReferences edit a b Kamen Al July 16 1988 Bentsen Cast Bush in 1970 As Too Liberal The Washington Post Retrieved May 28 2013 a b TX US Senate D Primary ourcampaigns com Retrieved May 28 2013 TX US Senate ourcampaigns com Retrieved May 28 2013 Our Campaigns TX US Senate Race Nov 03 1970 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1970 United States Senate election in Texas amp oldid 1187122693, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
