United States Senate election in Florida, 1970
Encyclopedia
The 1970 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Democratic
U.S. Senator Spessard Holland
decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. Democrat Lawton Chiles
won the open seat.
Runoff between two leading candidates (September 29) resulted:
to the United States Supreme Court, but was rejected by the United States Senate
due to controversial statements. He later ran for public office, and was endorsed by Governor Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.. When Cramer was first elected in 1954, he was the first Republican member of Congress from Florida since Reconstruction. Cramer, being the only candidate with elected office experience, won the primary
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Senator Spessard Holland
Spessard Holland
Spessard Lindsey Holland was an American lawyer, politician and elected officeholder. He was the 28th Governor of Florida from 1941 until 1945, during World War II. After finishing his term as governor, he was a United States Senator from Florida from 1946 until 1971...
decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. Democrat Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
won the open seat.
Candidates
- Farris Bryant, former Governor of Florida
- Lawton ChilesLawton ChilesLawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
, State Senator - Joel Daves, State Representative
- Alcee HastingsAlcee HastingsAlcee Lamar Hastings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, attorney - Fred Schultz, Speaker of the Florida House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the Florida House of RepresentativesThe Speaker is the presiding member of the Florida House of Representatives...
Campaign
Initially Bryant, a well-known figure, was seen as a natural front-runner. Chiles was, despite 12-years career in Legislature, was largely unknown outside his district. To generate some media coverage across the state, Chiles embarked upon a 1,003-mile walk across Florida. The 91-day walk earned him the recognition he sought, and the nickname that would follow him throughout his political career – "Walkin' Lawton".Results
Primary (September 1) resulted:- Bryant - 240,222 (32.90%)
- Chiles - 188,300 (25.79%)
- Schultz - 175,745 (24.07%)
- Hastings - 91,948 (12.59%)
- Daves - 33,939 (4.65%)
Runoff between two leading candidates (September 29) resulted:
- Chiles - 474,420 (65.74%)
- Bryant - 247,211 (34.26%)
Candidates
- George BalmerGeorge BalmerGeorge Balmer was an English landscape and marine painter and illustrator.-Life and work:Balmer was born in North Shields, Northumberland, the son of a house painter, and initially followed his father's trade. But he eventually took up art, coming under the influence of the work of John Wilson...
, body shop owner - Harold CarswellHarold CarswellGeorge Harrold Carswell was a Federal Judge and an unsuccessful nominee to the United States Supreme Court. He did not use his first name and was called by his middle name, Harrold.-Early years:...
, federal judge - Bill CramerWilliam C. CramerWilliam Cato Cramer was a U.S. Representative from Florida.Cramer was born in Denver, Colorado. He was three years old when his parents moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. He attended the public schools and St...
, U.S. Congressman
Campaign
A few months before the primary, Carswell was nominated by Republican President Richard NixonRichard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to the United States Supreme Court, but was rejected by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
due to controversial statements. He later ran for public office, and was endorsed by Governor Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.. When Cramer was first elected in 1954, he was the first Republican member of Congress from Florida since Reconstruction. Cramer, being the only candidate with elected office experience, won the primary
Results
Primary results (September 1):- Cramer - 220,553 (62.52%)
- Carswell - 121,281 (34.38%)
- Balmer - 10,947 (3.10%)
Major candidates
- Lawton ChilesLawton ChilesLawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
(D), State Senator - Bill CramerWilliam C. CramerWilliam Cato Cramer was a U.S. Representative from Florida.Cramer was born in Denver, Colorado. He was three years old when his parents moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. He attended the public schools and St...
(R), U.S. Congressman