1978 United States Senate election in Delaware
November 7, 1978
 
Nominee Joe Biden James H. Baxter Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 93,930 66,479
Percentage 57.96% 41.02%
Map key

Biden:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Baxter:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Joe Biden
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Joe Biden
Democratic

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.

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

Republican primary results[5]
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), engineer, perennial candidate and officer in the US Air Force Reserve[6][7]

Results

General election results[8]
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

Results by state representative district

District[9][10] Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Democratic

 James H. Baxter Jr.

Republican

 Donald G. Gies

American

 Total votes cast
District 1 2,852 1,336 27 4,215
District 2 1,247 248 15 1,510
District 3 1,238 263 10 1,511
District 4 1,491 470 12 1,973
District 5 2,423 496 33 2,952
District 6 3,066 1,956 44 5,066
District 7 1,965 1,774 37 3,776
District 8 1,953 1,400 55 3,408
District 9 1,812 1,548 88 3,448
District 10 2,539 2,254 53 4,846
District 11 2,627 2,999 67 5,693
District 12 2,528 2,620 54 5,202
District 13 2,227 3,416 41 5,684
District 14 2,712 2,150 53 4,915
District 15 2,951 944 46 3,941
District 16 2,315 1,463 55 3,833
District 17 1,757 597 26 2,380
District 18 1,960 571 31 2,562
District 19 2,541 1,304 66 3,911
District 20 2,139 1,085 77 3,301
District 21 2,340 1,434 52 3,826
District 22 2,664 1,993 55 4,712
District 23 2,209 1,903 69 4,181
District 24 2,445 1,685 78 4,208
District 25 2,393 1,743 65 4,201
District 26 1,370 967 36 2,373
District 27 3,229 2,938 77 6,244
District 28 2,611 1,697 71 4,379
District 29 2,652 1,580 56 4,288
District 30 2,752 1,668 22 4,442
District 31 2,358 1,483 18 3,859
District 32 2,129 1,867 16 4,012
District 33 2,213 1,322 14 3,549
District 34 1,037 694 10 1,741
District 35 2,371 1,451 27 3,849
District 36 2,595 2,128 31 4,754
District 37 3,094 3,112 21 6,227
District 38 2,411 2,108 23 4,542
District 39 2,086 2,039 16 4,141
District 40 2,238 1,770 8 4,016
District 41 2,390 2,003 8 4,401
Total 93,930 66,479 1,663 162,072

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Edmonds, Rick (September 9, 1978). "Conservative Rivals Face Delaware Vote". The Washington Post (Digital). Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "James H. Baxter Jr., farmer, politician". Cape Gazette. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "James Allyn Venema". Legacy.com. delawareonline. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - James E. Venema". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Our Campaigns - DE US Senate- R Primary Race - Sep 09, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Donald G. Gies". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ "DONALD GIES". Legacy.com. May 21, 2008. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Wrightson, Lewis. STATE OF DELAWARE: Official Results of General Election (PDF). p. 12.
  10. 1 2 "Our Campaigns - DE US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
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