1976 United States Senate election in Wyoming
November 2, 1976
 
Nominee Malcolm Wallop Gale W. McGee
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 84,810 70,558
Percentage 54.59% 45.41%
County results
Wallop:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
McGee:      50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Gale W. McGee
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Malcolm Wallop
Republican

The 1976 United States Senate election in Wyoming took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic Senator Gale W. McGee ran for re-election to his fourth term. Following a close win in his first race in 1958, McGee won wider victories in 1964 and 1970, even as the state's electorate grew more conservative. In 1976, McGee faced a strong challenge from State Senator Malcolm Wallop, the Republican nominee. Despite McGee's past victories in the state, he faced considerable headwinds as President Gerald Ford won the state over Jimmy Carter convincingly, even as Ford was losing nationwide. In the end, despite McGee's ability to significantly outperform other Democratic candidates, he was unable to defeat Wallop, and lost re-election by a fairly wide margin, winning just 45% of the vote to Wallop's 55%. Malcolm Wallop's swearing-in or inauguration marked the first time since 1954 that Republicans held both United States Senate seats from Wyoming.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gale McGee (inc.) 44,437 100.00%
Total votes 44,437 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Malcolm Wallop, State Senator, 1974 Republican candidate for Governor
  • Nels T. Larson[2]
  • Doyle Henry, perennial candidate[3]

Results

Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Malcolm Wallop 41,445 76.56%
Republican Nels T. Larson 6,965 12.87%
Republican Doyle Henry 5,727 10.58%
Total votes 54,137 100.00%

General election

Results

1976 United States Senate election in Wyoming[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Malcolm Wallop 84,810 54.59% +10.37%
Democratic Gale W. McGee (inc.) 70,558 45.41% -10.37%
Majority 14,252 9.17% -2.39%
Turnout 155,368
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. 1 2 3 Thomson, Thyra (1977). 1977 Wyoming Official Directory and 1971 Election Returns. pp. 123–24.
  2. ↑ "Who is Nels Larson?". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 5, 1976. p. 29.
  3. ↑ "Candidate to run". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. February 1, 1976. p. 5.
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