# 1976 United States Senate election in California

Elections in California :
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State propositions1910–1919
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7
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13
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vte :
The 1976 United States Senate election in California took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator John V. Tunney ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Republican S. I. Hayakawa. As of 2024, this is the last time an incumbent Democratic Senator from California lost re-election.
Primary elections were held on June 8. Tunney survived a challenge from anti-war activist Tom Hayden, the husband of Jane Fonda. Hayakawa, a novice campaigner, won a surprise victory over seasoned political figures Robert H. Finch, Alphonzo Bell Jr., and John L. Harmer.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Lois T. Bodle
* Leslie W. "Les" Craven, nominee for U.S. Representative in California's 25th congressional district in 1970 and 1972
* Howard L. Gifford, candidate for U.S. Senate in 1974
* Tom Hayden, anti-war activist and husband of Jane Fonda
* Millard F. Slover
* Frank L. Thomas
* John V. Tunney, incumbent U.S. Senator
* Bob Wallach
* Ronald L. Williams

### Results

1976 Democratic U.S. Senate primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John V. Tunney (incumbent) | 1,774,879 | 53.79% |
| | Democratic | Tom Hayden | 1,210,637 | 36.69% |
| | Democratic | Bob Wallach | 73,142 | 2.22% |
| | Democratic | Lois T. Bodle | 54,220 | 1.64% |
| | Democratic | Frank L. Thomas | 53,843 | 1.63% |
| | Democratic | Howard L. Gifford | 46,977 | 1.42% |
| | Democratic | Ronald L. Williams | 29,511 | 0.89% |
| | Democratic | Leslie W. Craven | 28,583 | 0.87% |
| | Democratic | Millard F. Slover | 28,108 | 0.85% |
| | Write-in | All others | 25 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,299,925 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Alphonzo E. Bell Jr., 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, former Lieutenant Governor and State Senator
* S. I. Hayakawa, professor of semantics and president emeritus of San Francisco State University
* Henry Hill
* Michael A. Hirt
* Walter Hollywood
* Clyde F. Tracy
* James A. Ware, perennial candidate

### Results

1976 Republican U.S. Senate primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | S. I. Hayakawa | 886,743 | 38.25% |
| | Republican | Robert H. Finch | 614,240 | 26.49% |
| | Republican | Alphonzo E. Bell Jr. | 532,969 | 22.99% |
| | Republican | John L. Harmer | 197,252 | 8.51% |
| | Republican | Walter Hollywood | 28,163 | 1.22% |
| | Republican | Clyde F. Tracy | 17,784 | 0.77% |
| | Republican | James A. Ware | 14,990 | 0.65% |
| | Republican | Henry Hill | 10,290 | 0.44% |
| | Republican | Michael A. Hirt | 9,941 | 0.43% |
| | Republican | Hannibal C. Burchette V | 6,222 | 0.27% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,318,594 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | S. I. Hayakawa | 3,748,973 | 50.12% |
| | Democratic | John V. Tunney (incumbent) | 3,502,862 | 46.89% |
| | Peace and Freedom | David Wald | 104,383 | 1.40% |
| | American Independent | Jack McCoy | 82,739 | 1.11% |
| | Independent | Omari Musa | 31,629 | 0.42% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 246,111 | 3.23% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,470,586 | 100.00% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |