The 1968 United States Senate election in California was held on November 5, 1968.
Incumbent
Republican Thomas Kuchel was narrowly defeated in the June 4 primary by Superintendent of Public Instruction
Max Rafferty. Rafferty would in turn go on to lose to Democratic former State Controller
Alan Cranston
Alan MacGregor Cranston (June 19, 1914 – December 31, 2000) was an American politician and journalist who served as a United States Senator from California from 1969 to 1993, and as a President of the World Federalist Association from 1949 to 1 ...
by a close margin.
Republican primary
Candidates
*Phil Cammack
*W.C. Jones
*
Thomas Kuchel, incumbent U.S. Senator and Assistant Minority Leader
*
Max Rafferty, California Superintendent of Public Instruction since 1963
*James A. Ware, perennial candidate for office from Los Angeles
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Anthony Beilenson
Anthony Charles Beilenson (October 26, 1932 – March 5, 2017) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a Democratic Congressman from Southern California. He served ten terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 un ...
, State Senator from
Beverly Hills
*William M. Bennett, member of the California Public Utilities Commission
*Walter Buchanan, perennial candidate
*Charles Crail
*
Alan Cranston
Alan MacGregor Cranston (June 19, 1914 – December 31, 2000) was an American politician and journalist who served as a United States Senator from California from 1969 to 1993, and as a President of the World Federalist Association from 1949 to 1 ...
, former California State Controller
Results
General election
Candidates
*Alan Cranston (Democratic)
*Paul Jacobs (Peace & Freedom)
*Max Rafferty (Republican)
Results
References
{{1968 United States elections
1968
The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide.
Events January–February
* January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.
* Januar ...
California
United States Senate