1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky

1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →

Nominee Walter Dee Huddleston Louie Guenthner Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 290,730 175,766 Percentage 60.98% 36.87%

County results Huddleston:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Guenthner:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Walter Dee Huddleston Democratic

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Government
v t e

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. As of 2020^[update], this was the last time Democrats or anyone other than Mitch McConnell won the Class 2 Senate seat in Kentucky.

• Louie Guenthner Jr, Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
• Oline Carmical
• Thurman Jerome Hamlin

Republican Primary results^[1]

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%

• Walter Huddleston, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Jack Watson
• William Taylor
• George Tolhurst

Democratic primary results^[2]

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%

General election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent)	290,730	60.98%
	Republican	Louie Guenthner Jr.	175,766	36.87%
	Democratic hold

• 1978 United States Senate elections