1978 United States Senate election in Delaware
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Map key Biden:
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
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Elections in Delaware |
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Incumbent Tenure
Presidential campaigns Vice presidential campaigns Published works
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The 1978 United States Senate election in Delaware was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic United States 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 that Biden won all counties.
Republican primary
The Republican Party primary would be held on September 9, 1978. Venema was previously an independent before declaring himself a candidate in March 1978. Both 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".
Candidates
- James H. Baxter Jr., Sussex County Recorder of Deeds
- James Allyn Venema, cardboard sign manufacturer, anti desegregation busing advocate, president of the Positive Action Committee and the National Association of Neighborhood Schools.
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | James H. Baxter Jr. | 12,107 | 53.74% | |
Republican | James Allyn Venema | 10,422 | 46.26% | |
Total votes | 22,662 | 100.00% |
General election
Candidates
- Joe Biden (D), incumbent Delaware Senator running for his first reelection
- James H. Baxter Jr. (R), Sussex County Recorder of Deeds
- Donald G. Gies (A), engineer, perennial candidate and officer in the US Air Force Reserve.
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 | 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 | 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