1964 United States Senate special election in Tennessee

The 1964 United States Senate special election in Tennessee was held on November 3, 1964, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election as well the other regularly scheduled U.S. Senate election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Following the death of Senator Estes Kefauver, Governor Frank G. Clement appointed Herbert S. Walters to fill the vacancy until the special election could take place. Walters decided not to run in the special election. Democratic nominee Ross Bass won the election, defeating Republican Howard Baker with 52.1% of the vote.

1964 United States Senate special election in Tennessee

← 1960November 3, 19641966 →
 
NomineeRoss BassHoward Baker
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Popular vote568,905517,330
Percentage52.14%47.41%

County results
Bass:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Baker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Herbert S. Walters
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Ross Bass
Democratic

In the primary, Bass defeated Governor Clement by almost 15 points.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRoss Bass 330,213 50.79%
DemocraticFrank G. Clement233,24535.87%
DemocraticM. M. Bullard86,71813.34%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Party primary results[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanHoward Baker 93,301 84.94%
RepublicanCharlie Moffett10,5969.65%
RepublicanHubert David Patty5,9475.41%

General election

General election results[3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRoss Bass 568,905 52.14%
RepublicanHoward Baker517,33047.41%
IndependentMelvin Babcock Morgan4,8530.44%
Majority51,5754.73%
Turnout1,091,088
Democratic hold

See also

References