Ace Atkins
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Biden: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Baxter: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Personal U.S. Senator from Delaware 47th Vice President of the United States Vice presidential campaigns 46th President of the United States Tenure ![]() |
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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
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), officer in the US Air Force Reserve[6][7]
Results
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 |
See also
References
- ^ a b Edmonds, Rick (September 9, 1978). "Conservative Rivals Face Delaware Vote". The Washington Post (Digital). Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "James H. Baxter Jr., farmer, politician". Cape Gazette. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ a b "James Allyn Venema". Legacy.com. delawareonline. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - James E. Venema". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - DE US Senate- R Primary Race - Sep 09, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Donald G. Gies". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ "DONALD GIES". Legacy.com. May 21, 2008. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ Wrightson, Lewis. STATE OF DELAWARE: Official Results of General Election (PDF). p. 12.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - DE US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.