1968 United States Senate election in North Carolina
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| | | Nominee | Sam Ervin | Robert Somers | | Party | Democratic | Republican | Popular vote | 870,406 | 566,834 | Percentage | 60.56% | 39.44% | |
County results Ervin: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Somers: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% |
U.S. senator before election Sam Ervin Democratic | Elected U.S. Senator Sam Ervin Democratic | |
The North Carolina United States Senate election of 1968 was held on 5 November 1968 as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. The general election was fought between the Democratic incumbent Sam Ervin and the Republican nominee Robert Somers. Ervin won re-election to a third full term, with over 60% of the vote.[1] This was the last time any incumbent was re-elected in this seat until 2010.[2] To date, this is also the last time a Democrat was re-elected as a senator in North Carolina.[3]
This is the last time that a Senate candidate was voted for and elected to the United States Senate in North Carolina at the same time that a presidential candidate of a different political party was voted for in North Carolina and had won North Carolina.
Primaries
Democratic primary
Democratic primary results (U.S. Senate) – May 4, 1968 [4][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Sam Ervin (incumbent) | 499,392 | 78.25% |
| Democratic | Charles Pratt | 60,362 | 9.46% |
| Democratic | John Gathings Sr. | 48,357 | 7.58% |
| Democratic | Fred Brummitt | 30,126 | 4.72% |
Republican primary
Republican primary results (U.S. Senate) – May 4, 1968 (first round)[6][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Robert Somers | 48,351 | 36.62% |
| Republican | J.L. Zimmerman | 43,644 | 33.06% |
| Republican | Edwin Tenney Jr. | 40,023 | 30.32% |
Republican primary results (U.S. Senate) – June 1, 1968 (runoff) [5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Robert Somers | 8,816 | 60.59% |
| Republican | J.L. Zimmerman | 5,734 | 39.41% |
General election
The general election was held on November 5, 1968.[7]
1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate election – November 5, 1968 [1] Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Sam Ervin | 870,406 | 60.56% |
| Republican | Robert Somers | 566,934 | 39.44% |
- ^ a b "1968 Senatorial General Election Results - North Carolina". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. October 13, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ Craver, Richard (November 3, 2010). ""Burr 'breaks curse' with re-election win"". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Senate: States in the Senate | North Carolina Senators". www.senate.gov. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NC US Senate - D Primary Race - May 04, 1968".
- ^ a b c North Carolina Manual 1969 (Report). N.C. Department of the Secretary of State. 1969. pp. 331–334. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NC US Senate - R Runoff Race - Jun 01, 1968".
- ^ Wicker, Tom (November 5, 1968). "Nation Will Vote Today: Close Presidential Race Predicted in Late Polls". The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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