# 1970 United States Senate election in Virginia

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vte :
The 1970 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 3, 1970. Incumbent Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. was re-elected to his first full term after winning a race 4 years earlier to finish the remainder of his father's term.
Having switched from Democratic to an Independent shortly before the election, Byrd became the first non-Democrat to represent the state in the Senate since 1889.

## General election
### Candidates

* Harry F. Byrd Jr., incumbent U.S. Senator (Independent)
* Ray L. Garland, State Delegate from Roanoke (Republican)
* George C. Rawlings Jr. former State Delegate from Fredericksburg (Democratic)

### Results

United States Senate election in Virginia, 1970 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Harry F. Byrd Jr. (Incumbent) | 506,237 | 53.54% | +53.54% |
| | Democratic | George C. Rawlings, Jr. | 294,582 | 31.15% | −22.15% |
| | Republican | Ray L. Garland | 144,765 | 15.31% | −22.07% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 30 | 0.00% | -0.02% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 211,655 | 22.38% | +6.46% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 945,614 | | |
| | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic | Independent gain from Democratic |