HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1978 MIDTERM ELECTIONS (PART II):
DEMOCRATS RETAIN CONTROL OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
*Thirteen seats changed hands between the Republicans and Democrats, which resulted in a net gain of three seats for the Republicans. During the Summer of 1977, it was also a historic special election for the 51st State of the United States: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which held statewide elections for the Commonwealth's newly-created two US Senate seats as a result of the bipartisan passage of the Puerto Rico Statehood Act of 1977, which was signed by President Rockefeller.
*United States Senate Results (November 7, 1978):
61 Democrats
41 Republicans
*Alabama (OPEN): Following the retirement of segregationist United States Senator John Sparkman (D-AL) , the Democrats recruited former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Howell Heflin (D) to run for Sparkman's open US Senate seat. It was no contest as Heflin easily dispatched nominal opposition sweeping all counties in the Land of Dixie.
Howell Heflin (D): 547,054 (94%)✔
Jerome B. Couch (PB): 34,951 (6%)
DEMOCRATIC HOLD.
*Alabama (Special): Upon the death of United States Senator James Allen (D-AL), Alabama Governor and 1976 Democratic Party Presidential nominee George C. Wallace (D) appointed Allen's widow to her husband's US Senate seat. She chose not run in the special election.
The winner of the special election was Donald W. Stewart (D) ,who easily defeated former US. Rep. James D. Martin (R-AL) without much difficulty.
Donald W. Stewart (D): 401,852 (55.1%)✔
James D. Martin (R): 316,170 (43.3%)
DEMOCRATIC HOLD
*Alaska: Incumbent United States Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) was overwhelmingly reelected to a second full six-year term defeating Donald Hobbs (D).
Ted Stevens (R-incumbent): 92,783 (75.59%)✔
Donald Hobbs (D): 29,574 (24.10%)
REPUBLICAN HOLD
*Arkansas (OPEN): Popular two-term Arkansas Governor David Pryor (D) easily dispatched Thomas Kelly (R).
David Pryor (D): 399,916 (76.58%)✔
Thomas Kelly (R): 84,722 (16.22%)
DEMOCRATIC HOLD
*COLORADO: The 1978 Midterms produced the first Republican pick-up of the night. US Rep. William Armstrong (R-CO) defeated incumbent United States Senator Floyd Haskell (D-CO) by a shocking wide margin.
William Armstrong (R): 480,801 (58.69%)✔
Floyd Haskell (D-incumbent): 330,148 (40.30%)
REPUBLICAN GAIN
COMING UP: Part III of the 1978 Midterm election results.