# 1976 United States Senate election in Wyoming

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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 Republican State Senator Malcolm Wallop.
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 lost nationwide. In the end, despite McGee's ability to significantly outperform other Democratic candidates, he lost to Wallop, winning just 45% of the vote to Wallop's 55%. Since Wallop took office in 1977, Republicans have held both of Wyoming’s Senate seats, which they had last done in 1954.
This is the last time that a Senator from Wyoming lost re-election.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Gale W. McGee, incumbent U.S. Senator

### Results

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gale McGee (inc.) | 44,437 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,437 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Malcolm Wallop, State Senator, 1974 Republican candidate for Governor
* Nels T. Larson
* Doyle Henry, perennial candidate

### Results

Republican primary :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 54,137 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Results

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