1968 United States Senate election in Arizona
November 5, 1968
 
Nominee Barry Goldwater Roy Elson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 274,607 205,338
Percentage 57.22% 42.78%
County results
Goldwater:      50–60%      60–70%
Elson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Carl Hayden
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Barry Goldwater
Republican

The 1968 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Carl Hayden, 91, decided not run for reelection to an eighth term, ending his 57-year-long career in Congress. Hayden's longtime staff member Roy Elson ran as the Democratic Party nominee to replace him. Elson was defeated by a wide margin, however, by former U.S. Senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, who staged a political comeback. Prior to Goldwater's election, the seat had been held for decades by the Democratic Party under Carl Hayden, but after this election remained in Republican Party control continuously for 52 years, until Democrat Mark Kelly won in the 2020 special election.

Elson had previously challenged U.S. Senator Paul Fannin in 1964, when Goldwater vacated his seat in order to run for President against Lyndon B. Johnson.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roy Elson 95,231 62.7%
Democratic Bob Kennedy 41,397 27.3%
Total votes 136,628 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Barry Goldwater, former U.S. Senator, 1964 Republican Party nominee for President of the United States

General election

United States Senate election in Arizona, 1968[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Barry Goldwater 274,607 57.22% +12.16%
Democratic Roy Elson 205,338 42.78% -12.16%
Majority 69,269 14.43% +4.55%
Turnout 479,945
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate - D Primary Race - Sep 10, 1968".
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968".
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