The 1976 United States Senate election in California took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator
John V. Tunney
John Varick Tunney (June 26, 1934 – January 12, 2018) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator and Representative from the state of California in the 1960s and 1970s.
He was the son of boxing champion Gene Tunney.
...
ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Republican
S. I. Hayakawa. As of 2023, this is the last time an incumbent Democratic Senator from California lost re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
*Lois T. Bodle
*Leslie W. "Les" Craven, nominee for U.S. Representative in
California's 25th congressional district
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
in 1970 and 1972
*Howard L. Gifford, candidate for U.S. Senate in 1974
*
Tom Hayden
Thomas Emmet Hayden (December 11, 1939October 23, 2016) was an American social and political activist, author, and politician. Hayden was best known for his role as an anti-war, civil rights, and intellectual activist in the 1960s, authoring th ...
, anti-war activist and husband of
Jane Fonda
Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress, activist, and former fashion model. Recognized as a film icon, Fonda is the recipient of various accolades including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, sev ...
*Millard F. Slover
*Frank L. Thomas
*
John V. Tunney
John Varick Tunney (June 26, 1934 – January 12, 2018) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator and Representative from the state of California in the 1960s and 1970s.
He was the son of boxing champion Gene Tunney.
...
, incumbent U.S Senator
*Bob Wallach
*Ronald L. Williams
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Alphonzo E. Bell Jr.
Alphonzo Edward Bell, Jr. (September 19, 1914 – April 25, 2004), was a Republican United States Representative from California. Bell represented Malibu and the influential Westside region of Los Angeles for eight terms, from 1961–1977.
...
, U.S. Representative from
Santa Monica
*Hannibal C. Burchette V
*
Robert H. Finch, former Lieutenant Governor of California,
United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and advisor to President Richard Nixon
*
John L. Harmer
John L. Harmer (April 28, 1934 – December 6, 2019) was an American politician who served in the California State Senate as a Republican from 1966 to 1974. Harmer served as the Lieutenant Governor of California from 1974 to 1975. He was also ...
, former Lieutenant Governor and State Senator
*
S. I. Hayakawa, professor of semantics and president emeritus of
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers 118 different b ...
*Henry Hill
*Michael A. Hirt
*Walter Hollywood
*Clyde F. Tracy
*James A. Ware, perennial candidate
Results
General election
Results
See also
*
1976 United States Senate elections
The 1976 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate that coincided with Democrat Jimmy Carter's presidential election and the United States Bicentennial celebration. Although almost half of the seats decided in t ...
References
{{United States elections, 1976
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
1976
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...
1976 California elections