# 1970 United States Senate elections

The 1970 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. It took place on November 3, with the 33 seats of Class 1 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. These races occurred in the middle of Richard Nixon's first term as president. The Democrats lost a net of three seats, while the Republicans and the Conservative Party of New York picked up one net seat each, and former Democrat Harry F. Byrd Jr. was re-elected as an independent.
This was the first time that Republicans gained Senate seats while losing House seats, which also occurred in 2018. This also occurred for Democrats in 1914, 1962, and 2022.
This was the most recent election in which a third party won a seat in the Senate until 2006. As of 2025, this is also the most recent cycle in which Democrats won Senate elections in Utah and Wyoming, and the most recent in which Republicans won a Senate election in Hawaii.
Since the deaths of Lowell Weicker and James L. Buckley in 2023, this is the latest Senate election cycle where all first-elected members are deceased.

## Results summary

| 54 | 1 | 1 | 44 |
| Democratic | I | C | Republican |
| Parties | Parties | | | | | | Total |
| Parties | Parties | Democratic | Republican | Conservative | Independent | Other | Total |
| Last elections (1968) | Last elections (1968) | 58 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Before these elections | Before these elections | 57 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Not up | Not up | 32 | 33 | — | 0 | — | 65 |
| Up | Up | 25 | 10 | — | — | — | 35 |
| Class 1 (1964→1970) | Class 1 (1964→1970) | 25 | 8 | — | — | — | 33 |
| Special: Class 2 | Special: Class 2 | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | — | 1 |
| Special: Class 3 | Special: Class 3 | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | — | 1 |
| Incumbent retired | Incumbent retired | 3 | 1 | — | 0 | — | 4 |
| | Held by same party | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 |
| | Replaced by other party | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | — | — | — | 1 |
| | Result | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Incumbent ran | Incumbent ran | 22 | 9 | — | — | — | 31 |
| | Won re-election | 17 | 6 | — | — | — | 23 |
| | Won re-election but changed party | 1 Democrat re-elected as an Independent | 1 Democrat re-elected as an Independent | 1 Democrat re-elected as an Independent | 1 Democrat re-elected as an Independent | — | 1 |
| | Lost re-election | 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 3 Democrats replaced by 3 Republicans 1 Republican replaced by 1 Conservative | 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 3 Democrats replaced by 3 Republicans 1 Republican replaced by 1 Conservative | 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 3 Democrats replaced by 3 Republicans 1 Republican replaced by 1 Conservative | — | — | 6 |
| | Lost renomination, but held by same party | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 |
| | Result | 20 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| Total elected | Total elected | 22 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 |
| Net gain/loss | Net gain/loss | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| Nationwide vote | Nationwide vote | 25,435,247 | 19,373,972 | 2,183,572 | 516,149 | 1,049,884 | 48,558,824 |
| | Share | 52.38% | 39.90% | 4.50% | 1.06% | 2.16% | 100% |
| Result | Result | 54 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
Source: Office of the Clerk

## Getting out the vote

President Nixon said that rather than violent protests, the best way for the American public to get their opinion heard was by voting:
   The most powerful four letter word is a clean word, it’s the most powerful four letter word in the history of men, it's called vote. V-O-T-E. My friends, I say that the answer to those that engage in disruption, to those that shout their filthy slogans, to those that try to shout down speakers, it's not to answer in kind, but go to the polls in election day, and in the quiet of that ballot box, stand up and be counted, the great silent majority of America.

## Gains, losses, and holds
### Retirements

One Republican and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Delaware | John J. Williams | William Roth |
| Florida | Spessard Holland | Lawton Chiles |
| Minnesota | Eugene McCarthy | Hubert Humphrey |
| Ohio | Stephen M. Young | Robert Taft Jr. |

### Defeats

One Republican and four Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election. One Republican sought election to finish the unexpired term but lost in the special election and one Republican sought election to a full term but lost in the general election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| California | George Murphy | John V. Tunney |
| Connecticut | Thomas J. Dodd | Lowell Weicker |
| Illinois | Ralph Tyler Smith | Adlai Stevenson III |
| Maryland | Joseph Tydings | J. Glenn Beall Jr. |
| New York | Charles Goodell | James L. Buckley |
| Tennessee | Albert Gore Sr. | Bill Brock |
| Texas | Ralph Yarborough | Lloyd Bentsen |

### Independent gain

One Democrat ran as an Independent in the general election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Virginia | Harry F. Byrd Jr. | Harry F. Byrd Jr. |

### Post-election changes

| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Georgia | Richard Russell Jr. | David H. Gambrell |
| Louisiana | Allen J. Ellender | Elaine Edwards |
| Vermont | Winston L. Prouty | Robert Stafford |

## Change in composition
### Before the elections

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ Minn. Retired | D$_{39}$ Mich. Ran | D$_{38}$ Mass. Ran | D$_{37}$ Md. Ran | D$_{36}$ Maine Ran | D$_{35}$ Ind. Ran | D$_{34}$ Fla. Retired | D$_{33}$ Conn. Ran | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ Miss. Ran | D$_{42}$ Mo. Ran | D$_{43}$ Mont. Ran | D$_{44}$ Nev. Ran | D$_{45}$ N.J. Ran | D$_{46}$ N.M. Ran | D$_{47}$ N.D. Ran | D$_{48}$ Ohio Ran | D$_{49}$ R.I. Ran | D$_{50}$ Tenn. Ran |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{51}$ Texas Ran |
| R$_{41}$ N.Y. Ran | R$_{42}$ Pa. Ran | R$_{43}$ Vt. Ran | D$_{51}$ Va. Ran | D$_{56}$ Wyo. Ran | D$_{55}$ Wis. Retired | D$_{54}$ W.Va. Ran | D$_{53}$ Wash. Ran | D$_{52}$ Utah Ran | D$_{51}$ Texas Ran |
| R$_{40}$ Neb. Ran | R$_{39}$ Ill. (sp) Ran | R$_{38}$ Hawaii Ran | R$_{37}$ Del. Retired | R$_{36}$ Calif. Ran | R$_{35}$ Ariz. Ran | R$_{34}$ Alaska (sp) Ran | R$_{33}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ |
| R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ |
| R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |

### After the elections

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ Mo. Re-elected | D$_{39}$ Miss. Re-elected | D$_{38}$ Minn. Hold | D$_{37}$ Mich. Re-elected | D$_{36}$ Mass. Re-elected | D$_{35}$ Maine Re-elected | D$_{34}$ Ind. Re-elected | D$_{33}$ Fla. Hold | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ Mont. Re-elected | D$_{42}$ Nev. Re-elected | D$_{43}$ N.J. Re-elected | D$_{44}$ N.M. Re-elected | D$_{45}$ N.D. Re-elected | D$_{46}$ R.I. Re-elected | D$_{47}$ Texas Hold | D$_{48}$ Utah Re-elected | D$_{49}$ Wash. Re-elected | D$_{50}$ W.Va. Re-elected |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{51}$ Wis. Re-elected |
| R$_{41}$ Conn. Gain | R$_{42}$ Md. Gain | R$_{43}$ Ohio Gain | R$_{44}$ Tenn. Gain | C$_1$ N.Y. Gain | I$_1$ Va. Re-elected/Gain | D$_{54}$ Ill. (sp) Gain | D$_{53}$ Calif. Gain | D$_{52}$ Wyo. Re-elected | D$_{51}$ Wis. Re-elected |
| R$_{40}$ Vt. Re-elected | R$_{39}$ Pa. Re-elected | R$_{38}$ Neb. Re-elected | R$_{37}$ Hawaii Re-elected | R$_{36}$ Del. Hold | R$_{35}$ Ariz. Re-elected | R$_{34}$ Alaska (sp) Elected | R$_{33}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ |
| R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ |
| R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |
| Key: | C$_#$ Conservative (New York) D$_#$ Democratic R$_#$ Republican I$_#$ Independent |

## Race summary
### Special elections during the 91st Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1970 or before January 3, 1971; ordered by election date, then state.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alaska (Class 2) | Ted Stevens | Republican | 1968 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 3, 1970. | ▌Y Ted Stevens (Republican) 59.6% ▌Wendell P. Kay (Democratic) 40.4% |
| Illinois (Class 3) | Ralph Tyler Smith | Republican | 1969 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected November 3, 1970. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Adlai Stevenson III (Democratic) 57.4% ▌Ralph Tyler Smith (Republican) 42.2% |

### Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1971; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Arizona | Paul Fannin | Republican | 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Paul Fannin (Republican) 56.0% ▌Sam Grossman (Democratic) 44.0% |
| California | George Murphy | Republican | 1964 1964 (Appointed) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain Incumbent resigned January 1, 1971 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed January 2, 1971. | ▌Y John V. Tunney (Democratic) 53.9% ▌George Murphy (Republican) 44.3% ▌Robert Scheer (Peace and Freedom) 0.9% ▌Charles C. Ripley (American Independent) 0.9% |
| Connecticut | Thomas J. Dodd | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent lost renomination, then ran as an Independent candidate but lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Lowell Weicker (Republican) 41.7% ▌Joseph Duffey (Democratic) 33.8% ▌Thomas J. Dodd (Independent) 24.5% |
| Delaware | John J. Williams | Republican | 1946 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. Incumbent resigned December 31, 1970 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed January 1, 1971. | ▌Y William Roth (Republican) 58.8% ▌Jacob Zimmerman (Democratic) 40.1% |
| Florida | Spessard Holland | Democratic | 1946 (Appointed) 1946 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Lawton Chiles (Democratic) 53.9% ▌William C. Cramer (Republican) 46.1% |
| Hawaii | Hiram Fong | Republican | 1959 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Hiram Fong (Republican) 51.6% ▌Cecil Heftel (Democratic) 48.4% |
| Indiana | Vance Hartke | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Vance Hartke (Democratic) 50.1% ▌Richard L. Roudebush (Republican) 49.9% |
| Maine | Edmund Muskie | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Edmund Muskie (Democratic) 61.9% ▌Neil S. Bishop (Republican) 38.3% |
| Maryland | Joseph Tydings | Democratic | 1964 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y J. Glenn Beall Jr. (Republican) 50.7% ▌Joseph Tydings (Democratic) 48.1% |
| Massachusetts | Ted Kennedy | Democratic | 1962 (special) 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Ted Kennedy (Democratic) 62.1% ▌Josiah Spaulding (Republican) 37.0% |
| Michigan | Philip Hart | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Philip Hart (Democratic) 66.8% ▌Lenore Romney (Republican) 32.9% |
| Minnesota | Eugene McCarthy | DFL | 1958 1964 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. DFL hold. | ▌Y Hubert Humphrey (DFL) 57.8% ▌Clark MacGregor (Republican) 41.6% |
| Mississippi | John C. Stennis | Democratic | 1947 (special) 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John C. Stennis (Democratic) 88.4% ▌William R. Thompson (Independent) 11.6% |
| Missouri | Stuart Symington | Democratic | 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Stuart Symington (Democratic) 51.1% ▌John Danforth (Republican) 48.1% Others ▌Gene Chapman (American Independent) 0.8% ▌E. J. DiGirolamo (Independent) 0.04% |
| Montana | Mike Mansfield | Democratic | 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Mike Mansfield (Democratic) 60.5% ▌Harold E. Wallace (Republican) 39.5% |
| Nebraska | Roman Hruska | Republican | 1954 (special) 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Roman Hruska (Republican) 52.5% ▌Frank B. Morrison (Democratic) 47.5% |
| Nevada | Howard Cannon | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Howard Cannon (Democratic) 57.7% ▌William Raggio (Republican) 41.2% |
| New Jersey | Harrison A. Williams | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Harrison A. Williams (Democratic) 54.0% ▌Nelson G. Gross (Republican) 42.2% |
| New Mexico | Joseph Montoya | Democratic | 1964 (special) 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Joseph Montoya (Democratic) 52.3% ▌Anderson Carter (Republican) 46.6% |
| New York | Charles Goodell | Republican | 1968 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Conservative gain. | ▌Y James L. Buckley (Conservative) 38.8% ▌Richard Ottinger (Democratic) 36.8% ▌Charles Goodell (Republican) 24.3% |
| North Dakota | Quentin Burdick | Democratic-NPL | 1960 (special) 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Quentin Burdick (Democratic-NPL) 61.3% ▌Thomas S. Kleppe (Republican) 37.8% |
| Ohio | Stephen M. Young | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Robert Taft Jr. (Republican) 49.7% ▌Howard Metzenbaum (Democratic) 47.5% |
| Pennsylvania | Hugh Scott | Republican | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Hugh Scott (Republican) 51.4% ▌William Sesler (Democratic) 45.4% |
| Rhode Island | John Pastore | Democratic | 1950 (special) 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John Pastore (Democratic) 67.5% ▌John McLaughlin (Republican) 31.5% |
| Tennessee | Albert Gore Sr. | Democratic | 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Bill Brock (Republican) 51.3% ▌Albert Gore Sr. (Democratic) 47.4% |
| Texas | Ralph Yarborough | Democratic | 1957 (special) 1958 1964 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Lloyd Bentsen (Democratic) 53.5% ▌George H. W. Bush (Republican) 46.4% |
| Utah | Frank Moss | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Frank Moss (Democratic) 56.2% ▌Laurence J. Burton (Republican) 42.5% ▌Clyde B. Freeman (American Independent) 1.4% |
| Vermont | Winston L. Prouty | Republican | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Winston L. Prouty (Republican) 58.9% ▌Philip H. Hoff (Democratic) 40.2% |
| Virginia | Harry F. Byrd Jr. | Democratic | 1965 (Appointed) 1966 (special) | Incumbent ran as an Independent and was re-elected. Independent gain. | ▌Y Harry F. Byrd Jr. (Independent) 53.5% ▌George Rawlings (Democratic) 31.2% ▌Ray Garland (Republican) 15.3% |
| Washington | Henry M. Jackson | Democratic | 1952 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Henry M. Jackson (Democratic) 82.4% ▌Charles W. Elicker (Republican) 16.0% Others ▌Bill Massey (Socialist Workers) 0.9% ▌E.S. "Pinky" Fisk (Buffalo) 0.7% |
| West Virginia | Robert Byrd | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Robert Byrd (Democratic) 77.6% ▌Elmer H. Dodson (Republican) 22.4% |
| Wisconsin | William Proxmire | Democratic | 1957 (special) 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y William Proxmire (Democratic) 70.8% ▌John E. Erickson (Republican) 28.5% |
| Wyoming | Gale W. McGee | Democratic | 1958 1964 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Gale W. McGee (Democratic) 55.8% ▌John S. Wold (Republican) 44.2% |

## Closest races

Fourteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:
| State | Party of winner | Margin |
| Indiana | Democratic | 0.2% |
| New York | Conservative (flip) | 2.0% |
| Ohio | Republican (flip) | 2.2% |
| Maryland | Republican (flip) | 2.6% |
| Missouri | Democratic | 3.0% |
| Hawaii | Republican | 3.2% |
| Tennessee | Republican (flip) | 3.9% |
| Nebraska | Republican | 5.0% |
| New Mexico | Democratic | 5.7% |
| Pennsylvania | Republican | 6.0% |
| Texas | Democratic | 7.1% |
| Florida | Democratic | 7.8% |
| Connecticut | Republican (flip) | 7.9% |
| California | Democratic (flip) | 9.6% |

## Alaska (special)

Republican Ted Stevens was appointed December 24, 1968 to finish the term of Democrat Bob Bartlett, who had died in office. The open primary was held August 25, 1970, in which Stevens received 40,411 votes (55.91%), Key received 29,459 votes (23.94%), State senator Joe Josephson received 12,730 votes (18.22%) and Fritz Singer (R) received 1,349 votes (1.93%). In the November 3, 1970 special election to finish the term, he ran against the Democratic Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Wendell P. Kay. Stevens easily won with almost 60% of the vote.
1970 United States Senate special election in Alaska :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ted Stevens (Incumbent) | 47,908 | 59.61 |
| | Democratic | Wendell P. Kay | 32,456 | 40.39 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,452 | 18.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 80,364 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Arizona

Incumbent Republican Paul Fannin decided to run for re-election to a second term, running unopposed in the Republican primary. Fannin defeated Democratic businessman Sam Grossman in the general election.
Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sam Grossman | 78,006 | 65.24 |
| | Democratic | John Kruglick, Doctor | 27,324 | 22.85 |
| | Democratic | H. L. Kelly | 14,238 | 11.91 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 119,568 | 100.00 |
1970 United States Senate election in Arizona :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Fannin (Incumbent) | 228,284 | 55.98 |
| | Democratic | Sam Grossman | 179,512 | 44.02 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 48,772 | 11.96 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 407,796 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## California

In 1964, Republican actor George Murphy defeated Democrat and Lyndon B. Johnson's Press Secretary, Pierre Salinger, in a close contest with about 52% of the vote. Murphy faced a primary challenge from billionaire Norton Simon, who took nearly 33% of the vote in the Republican primary. Democrats nominated John V. Tunney after a close-fought contest between Tunney and Representative George Brown Jr..
In the general election, Murphy lost re-election to Tunney by nearly ten points. Murphy's recent surgery and staunch support for the lingering Vietnam War worked against him, as did reports that he had continued to receive a salary from Technicolor after taking office. Tunney's successful Senate race in 1970 was reportedly the inspiration for the 1972 Robert Redford film The Candidate.
1970 United States Senate election in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John V. Tunney | 3,496,558 | 53.86 |
| | Republican | George Murphy (Incumbent) | 2,877,617 | 44.32 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Robert Scheer | 61,251 | 0.94 |
| | American Independent | Charles C. Ripley | 56,731 | 0.87 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 618,941 | 9.54 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,492,157 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Connecticut

Republican Lowell P. Weicker Jr. defeated Democrat Joseph Duffey and incumbent Thomas J. Dodd who ran this time as an independent. Dodd entered the race at the last minute and split the Democratic vote, allowing Weicker to win with only 42% of the vote.
Connecticut general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lowell P. Weicker Jr. | 454,721 | 41.74 |
| | Democratic | Joseph Duffey | 368,111 | 33.79 |
| | Independent | Thomas J. Dodd (Incumbent) | 266,497 | 24.46 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 86,610 | 7.95 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,089,329 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Delaware

Republican John J. Williams was originally elected in 1946 to the U.S. Senate. Williams was easily re-elected three more times but decided to retire in 1971. Republican Representative William Roth faced Democrat potato farmer Jacob Zimmerman in the general election. Roth defeated Zimmerman by a landslide eighteen percentage points in the general election. He was re-elected in 1976, 1982, 1988, and 1994 before losing re-election to Democrat Tom Carper in 2000. This was despite the state trending Democratic; Roth himself served most of his tenure with future President Joe Biden.
Four-term Republican John J. Williams decided to retire, rather than run for re-election. Republican William Roth easily defeated Democrat Jacob Zimmerman by a margin of eighteen percentage points, and went on to serve thirty years in the Senate.
1970 United States Senate election in Delaware :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William Roth | 94,979 | 58.83 |
| | Democratic | Jacob W. Zimmerman | 64,740 | 40.10 |
| | American Independent | Donald G. Gies | 1,720 | 1.07 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30,239 | 18.73 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 161,439 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Florida

Incumbent Democrat Spessard Holland retired instead of seeking a fifth term. During the Democratic primary, former Governor C. Farris Bryant and State senator Lawton Chiles advanced to a run-off, having received more votes than Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Frederick H. Schultz, attorney Alcee Hastings, and State Representative Joel T. Daves, III. Chiles soundly defeated Bryant in the run-off election, scoring a major upset due to his comparatively small name recognition prior to the election. To acquire name recognition and media coverage, Chiles walked about 1,003 miles (1,614 km) across the state of Florida and was given the nickname "Walkin' Lawton".
The Republican primary exposed an in-party feud between Governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. and U.S. Representative William C. Cramer. In the election, Cramer handily defeated G. Harrold Carswell and body shop owner George Balmer; the former was a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals judge favored by Kirk and had been rejected as a Supreme Court of the United States nominee a few months prior to the primary. Chiles won the election by a relatively small margin of 7.8%, receiving 902,438 votes against Cramer's 772,817 votes.
Incumbent Spessard Holland, who served in the Senate since 1946, decided to retire rather than seek a fifth term. Although the Democratic Party had dominated state elections since the Reconstruction Era, Claude R. Kirk Jr. and Edward Gurney, both Republicans, were elected senator and Governor in 1966 and 1968, respectively.
Democratic Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | C. Farris Bryant | 240,222 | 32.90 |
| | Democratic | Lawton Chiles | 188,300 | 25.79 |
| | Democratic | Frederick H. Schultz | 175,745 | 24.07 |
| | Democratic | Alcee Hastings | 91,948 | 12.59 |
| | Democratic | Joel Daves | 33,939 | 4.65 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 730,154 | 100.00 |
Democratic Party primary runoff results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lawton Chiles | 474,420 | 65.74 |
| | Democratic | Farris Bryant | 247,211 | 34.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 721,631 | 100.00 |
Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | William C. Cramer | 220,553 | 62.52 |
| | Republican | G. Harrold Carswell | 121,281 | 34.38 |
| | Republican | George Balmer, body shop owner | 10,947 | 3.10 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 352,781 | 100.00 |
1970 United States Senate election in Florida :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Lawton Chiles | 902,438 | 53.87 | −10.09% |
| | Republican | William C. Cramer | 772,817 | 46.13 | +10.09% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 129,621 | 7.74 | −20.17% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,675,255 | [?] | [?] |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## Hawaii

Republican Hiram Fong had served as the inaugural Class 1 senator from the state of Hawaii since 1959. From the state's admission into the union, voters tended to lean Democratic, and this trend only continued over time. Fong initially won election to each of his first two terms with 53% of the vote, but in 1970 he faced backlash from voters for his support of the Vietnam War. Cecil Heftel, owner of a radio conglomerate, won the Democratic nomination.
Fong was narrowly re-elected over Heftel with 52% of the vote in what would prove to be the closest election of his career. This would ultimately mark the last time that Republicans won a U.S. Senate seat in the state of Hawaii or win more than 44% of the vote.
1970 United States Senate election in Hawaii :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Hiram Fong (Incumbent) | 124,163 | 51.57 |
| | Democratic | Cecil Heftel | 116,597 | 48.43 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,566 | 3.14 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 240,760 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Illinois (special)

A special election was held to fill the remainder of the term of Republican Everett Dirksen, who had died in office. Republican Ralph Tyler Smith had been appointed to fill the seat after Dirksen's death, and he lost the special election to Democrat Adlai Stevenson III.
1970 United States Senate special election in Illinois :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Adlai Stevenson III | 2,065,054 | 57.37 |
| | Republican | Ralph Tyler Smith (Incumbent) | 1,519,718 | 42.22 |
| | Socialist Workers | Lynn Henderson | 8,859 | 0.25 |
| | Socialist Labor | Louis Fisher | 5,564 | 0.15 |
| | None | Scattering | 77 | 0.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 545,336 | 15.15 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,599,272 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Indiana

Democrat Vance Hartke was first elected in 1958 over Republican Harold W. Handley with 56% of the vote. He won re-election in 1964 (a landslide year for Democrats) with a lower share of 54%.
In 1970, he faced his closest contest to date against Republican Representative Richard L. Roudebush. Unlike voters in Hawaii, Indiana voters generally supported the Vietnam War, but Hartke opposed the war. This led Roudebush to run a close race that ultimately was decided after a recount. Hartke won by just about 4,200 votes.
This would be Hartke's last win in a U.S. Senate election. In 1976, he was defeated by Republican Richard Lugar.
1970 United States Senate election in Indiana :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Vance Hartke (Incumbent) | 870,990 | 50.12 |
| | Republican | Richard L. Roudebush | 866,707 | 49.88 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,283 | 0.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,737,697 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Maine

1970 United States Senate election in Maine :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edmund S. Muskie (Incumbent) | 199,954 | 61.74 |
| | Republican | Neil S. Bishop | 123,906 | 38.26 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76,048 | 23.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 323,860 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Maryland

In 1970, Republican J. Glenn Beall ran for re-election to a third term in the U.S. Senate but was defeated by Democrat Joseph Tydings in a landslide, 63-37%. Tydings ran for re-election to a second term in 1970.
Republicans nominated Representative J. Glenn Beall Jr., the son of J. Glenn Beall. Tydings faced a primary challenge from segregationist George P. Mahoney but won with 53% of the vote. However, Republican Glenn Beall Jr. won the general election with nearly 51% of the vote to 48% for Tydings. He would serve just one term, losing in 1976 to Democrat Paul Sarbanes.
1970 United States Senate election in Maryland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Glenn Beall Jr. | 484,960 | 50.71 |
| | Democratic | Joseph D. Tydings (Incumbent) | 460,422 | 48.14 |
| | American Independent | Harvey Wilder | 10,988 | 1.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,538 | 2.57 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 956,370 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Massachusetts

Incumbent Democrat Ted Kennedy defeated his challengers. This was Kennedy's first election run since the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident. Kennedy won 62.2%, down from 74.3% that he won in the previous election in 1964; this decrease was due to numerous factors including Chappaquiddick and a far more favorable environment for the Republicans than the Democratic landslide year of 1964.
The Republican nominee was Josiah Spaulding, a businessman and Republican leader in Massachusetts. He led a group of delegates at the 1968 Republican National Convention who unsuccessfully sought to nominate Nelson A. Rockefeller over Richard Nixon.
Other candidates were Lawrence Gilfedder (Socialist Labor) and Mark R. Shaw (Prohibition), a former Prohibition Party candidate for U.S. senator from Massachusetts in 1946, 1952, 1958, 1969, 1962, and 1966. He was the party's candidate for governor of Massachusetts in 1948 and 1956. In 1964, he was the Prohibition Party's candidate for vice-president of the United States.
General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Edward M. Kennedy (Incumbent) | 1,202,856 | 62.16 | −12.1 |
| | Republican | Josiah Spaulding | 715,978 | 37.00 | +11.58 |
| | Socialist Labor | Lawrence Gilfedder | 10,378 | 0.54 | +0.33 |
| | Prohibition | Mark R. Shaw | 5,944 | 0.31 | +0.19 |
| | None | Scattering | 451 | 0.02 | +0.02 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 486,878 | 25.16 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,935,607 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## Michigan

1970 United States Senate election in Michigan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Philip Hart (Incumbent) | 1,744,672 | 66.83 |
| | Republican | Lenore Romney | 858,438 | 32.88 |
| | Socialist Workers | Paul Ludieu | 3,861 | 0.15 |
| | Socialist Labor | James Sim | 3,254 | 0.12 |
| | None | Scattering | 538 | 0.02 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 886,234 | 33.95 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,610,763 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Minnesota

Incumbent Democrat Eugene McCarthy retired instead of seeking a third term. Former Democratic U.S. senator, Vice President and 1968 presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey defeated Republican U.S. Representative Clark MacGregor.
Democratic primary election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Hubert H. Humphrey | 338,705 | 79.25 |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Earl D. Craig | 88,709 | 20.76 |
Republican primary election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Clark MacGregor | 220,353 | 93.31 |
| | Republican | John D. Baucom | 15,797 | 6.69 |
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Hubert H. Humphrey | 788,256 | 57.75 |
| | Republican | Clark MacGregor | 568,025 | 41.62 |
| | Socialist Workers | Nancy Strebe | 6,122 | 0.45 |
| | Industrial Government | William Braatz | 2,484 | 0.18 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 220,231 | 16.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,364,887 | |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |

## Mississippi

1970 United States Senate election in Mississippi :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John C. Stennis (Incumbent) | 286,622 | 88.40 |
| | Independent | William Richard Thompson | 37,593 | 11.60 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 249,029 | 76.80 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 324,215 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Missouri

Incumbent Democrat Stuart Symington was originally elected in 1952 over Republican James P. Kem with 54% of the vote. He won re-election in landslide victories with 66% of the vote in 1958 and 1964. He ran for a fourth term in 1970.
Symington faced little primary opposition. Republican Missouri Attorney General John Danforth won the Republican primary. In the general election, Symington led in polling, but Danforth closed the gap during the campaign and ran closely against Symington. Symington defeated Danforth 51-48%. This would be Symington's closest election to the U.S. Senate, and Danforth would succeed him in 1976, serving for three terms.
1970 United States Senate election in Missouri :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Stuart Symington (Incumbent) | 654,831 | 51.03 |
| | Republican | John C. Danforth | 617,903 | 48.15 |
| | American Independent | Gene Chapman | 10,065 | 0.78 |
| | Independent | E. J. DiGirolamo | 513 | 0.04 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36,928 | 2.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,283,312 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Montana

Democratic incumbent Mike Mansfield, the Senate Majority Leader who was first elected to the Senate in 1952, and was re-elected in 1958 and 1964, ran for re-election. Mansfield won the primary against several opponents, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Harold E. Wallace, a sporting goods salesman and the Republican nominee. While his margin of victory decreased slightly from 1964, Mansfield still managed to defeat Wallace overwhelmingly, winning his fourth and (what would turn out to be his) final term in the Senate.
Democratic Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Mansfield (Incumbent) | 68,146 | 77.17 |
| | Democratic | Tom McDonald | 10,773 | 12.20 |
| | Democratic | John W. Lawlor | 19,384 | 10.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 88,303 | 100.00 |
Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Harold E. Wallace | 45,549 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,549 | 100.00 |
1970 United States Senate election in Montana :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Mike Mansfield (Incumbent) | 150,060 | 60.54 | −3.97% |
| | Republican | Harold E. Wallace | 97,809 | 39.46 | +3.97% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 52,251 | 21.08 | −7.95% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 247,869 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## Nebraska

The incumbent Republican Roman Hruska was re-elected.
1970 United States Senate election in Nebraska :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roman Hruska (Incumbent) | 240,894 | 52.49 |
| | Democratic | Frank B. Morrison | 217,681 | 47.43 |
| | None | Scattering | 391 | 0.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,213 | 5.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 458,966 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Nevada

Democrat Howard Cannon, the incumbent since 1959, won re-election to a third term over William Raggio, the Washoe County District Attorney.
In the Senate, Cannon was known as a moderate in the Democratic Party. He served as chairman of several committees, including the rules committee and the inaugural arrangements committee. Cannon was nearly defeated for re-election in 1964 by Republican Lieutenant Governor Paul Laxalt in one of the closest election in history. However, he became more popular over the next few years and defeated D.A. William Raggio, whose 1970 senate campaign began his long political career. Raggio ran for the Nevada Senate in 1972 and won. He then served there for decades to come.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Howard Cannon (Incumbent) | 85,187 | 57.65 | +7.63% |
| | Republican | William Raggio | 60,838 | 41.17 | −8.81% |
| | American Independent | Harold G. DeSellem | 1,743 | 1.18 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,349 | 16.48 | +16.44% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 147,768 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## New Jersey

1970 United States Senate election in New Jersey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Harrison A. Williams (Incumbent) | 1,157,074 | 56.17 |
| | Republican | Nelson G. Gross | 903,026 | 43.83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 254,048 | 12.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,060,100 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## New Mexico

Incumbent Democrat Joseph Montoya successfully ran for re-election to a second term, defeating Republican Anderson Carter.
Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph Montoya, Incumbent | 85,285 | 73.10 |
| | Democratic | Richard B. Edwards | 31,381 | 26.90 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53,904 | 46.20 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 116,666 | 100.00 |
Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Anderson Carter | 32,122 | 57.76 |
| | Republican | David Cargo, Governor of New Mexico | 16,951 | 32.28 |
| | Republican | Harold G. Thompson | 5,544 | 9.97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,171 | 25.48 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,617 | 100.00 |
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph Montoya, Incumbent | 151,486 | 52.26 |
| | Republican | Anderson Carter | 135,004 | 46.57 |
| | People's Constitutional | William Higgs | 3,382 | 1.17 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,482 | 5.69 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 289,872 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## New York

Incumbent Republican Charles Goodell, who was recently appointed to the seat by Governor Nelson Rockefeller after senator Bobby Kennedy (D) was assassinated, ran for a full term, but was defeated by the Conservative Party of New York nominee James L. Buckley. Other candidates included: Richard Ottinger, U.S. Congressman (1965–1971, 1975–1985), Kevin P. McGovern, Paul O'Dwyer, Former New York City Council Member from Manhattan, Ted Sorensen, Former Advisor and Speechwriter to President John F. Kennedy, Richard D. McCarthy, U.S. Congressman (1965–1971).
Conservative Party Convention results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | James L. Buckley | 37,940 | 91.38 |
| | Conservative | Kevin P. McGovern | 3,580 | 8.62 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,520 | 100.00 |
Democratic Party Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Ottinger | 366,789 | 39.61 |
| | Democratic | Paul O'Dwyer | 302,438 | 32.66 |
| | Democratic | Ted Sorensen | 154,434 | 16.68 |
| | Democratic | Richard D. McCarthy | 102,224 | 11.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 925,885 | 100.00 |
Republican Party Convention results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charles Goodell (Incumbent) | 311 | 86.39 |
| | | Abstaining | 49 | 13.61 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 360 | 100.00 |
Liberal Party Convention results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Charles Goodell (Incumbent) | 201 | 67.00 |
| | Liberal | Paul O'Dwyer | 48 | 16.00 |
| | Liberal | Richard D. McCarthy | 33 | 11.00 |
| | Liberal | Richard Ottinger | 12 | 4.00 |
| | Liberal | Ted Sorensen | 6 | 2.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 300 | 100.00 |
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | James L. Buckley | 2,288,190 | 38.95 |
| | Democratic | Richard Lawrence Ottinger | 2,171,232 | 36.96 |
| | Republican | Charles Goodell (Incumbent) | 1,178,679 | |
| | Liberal | Charles Goodell (Incumbent) | 225,793 | |
| | Republican + Liberal Party | Charles Goodell (Incumbent) | 1,404,472 | 23.91 |
| | Communist | Arnold Johnson | 4,097 | 0.07 |
| | Socialist Workers | Kipp Dawson | 3,549 | 0.06 |
| | Socialist Labor | John Emanuel | 3,204 | 0.06 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116,958 | 1.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,904,744 | |
| | Conservative gain from Republican | Conservative gain from Republican | Conservative gain from Republican | Conservative gain from Republican |

## North Dakota

Incumbent Democratic-NPL Party Senator Quentin N. Burdick was re-elected to his third term, defeating Republican candidate Thomas S. Kleppe, who later became the United States Secretary of the Interior.
Only Burdick filed as a Dem-NPLer, and the endorsed Republican candidate was Thomas S. Kleppe, who was finishing his second and final term as a Representative for North Dakota's second congressional district. Burdick and Kleppe won the primary elections for their respective parties.
One independent candidate, Russell Kleppe, also filed before the deadline.
1970 United States Senate election in North Dakota :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic–NPL | Quentin Burdick (Incumbent) | 134,519 | 61.27 |
| | Republican | Thomas S. Kleppe | 82,996 | 37.80 |
| | Independent | Russell Kleppe | 2,045 | 0.93 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51,523 | 23.47 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 219,560 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Ohio

Democrat Stephen M. Young had served in the U.S. Senate since 1958 after defeating Republican John W. Bricker in a close election. Young was re-elected in 1964 over Republican Representative Robert Taft Jr., whose father Robert A. Taft represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 1939 until his death in 1953. Young opted to retire in 1971.
Taft Jr. faced a tough primary challenge against Ohio governor Jim Rhodes. He won a bitterly-fought primary by just under 6,000 votes to advance to the general election. Democrat Howard Metzenbaum competed in an equally-competitive primary, defeating former astronaut John Glenn. Metzenbaum and Glenn would both later represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.
Taft Jr. defeated Metzenbaum in a close election, taking nearly 50% of the vote to just above 47% for Metzenbaum. Metzenbaum would defeat Taft Jr. in a rematch election in 1976, serving until 1995 alongside Glenn.
1970 United States Senate election in Ohio :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert Taft Jr. | 1,565,682 | 49.68 |
| | Democratic | Howard M. Metzenbaum | 1,495,262 | 47.45 |
| | American Independent | Richard B. Kay | 61,261 | 1.94 |
| | Socialist Labor | John O'Neill | 29,069 | 0.92 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70,420 | 2.23 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,151,274 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Pennsylvania

Incumbent Republican Hugh Scott won re-election, defeating Democratic nominee State senator William Sesler.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Hugh Scott (Incumbent) | 1,874,106 | 51.43 | +0.84% |
| | Democratic | William Sesler | 1,653,774 | 45.38 | −3.74% |
| | Constitution | Frank W. Gaydosh | 85,813 | 2.36 | +2.36% |
| | American Independent | W. Henry McFarland | 18,275 | 0.50 | +0.50% |
| | Socialist Labor | Herman A. Johnson | 4,375 | 0.12 | −0.02% |
| | Socialist Workers | Robin Maisel | 3,970 | 0.11 | −0.04% |
| | Consumer | William R. Mimms | 3,932 | 0.11 | +0.11% |
| | N/A | Other | 60 | 0.00 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 220,332 | 6.05 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,644,305 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Rhode Island

1970 United States Senate election in Rhode Island :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John O. Pastore (Incumbent) | 230,469 | 67.54 |
| | Republican | John McLaughlin | 107,351 | 31.46 |
| | Peace and Freedom | David N. Fenton | 2,406 | 0.71 |
| | Socialist Workers | Daniel B. Fein | 996 | 0.29 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 123,118 | 36.08 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 341,222 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Tennessee

Republican Bill Brock defeated incumbent senator Albert Gore Sr.
1970 United States Senate election in Tennessee :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Brock | 562,645 | 51.29 |
| | Democratic | Albert Gore Sr. (Incumbent) | 519,858 | 47.39 |
| | American Independent | Cecil Pitard | 8,691 | 0.79 |
| | Independent | Dan R. East | 5,845 | 0.53 |
| | None | Scattering | 2 | 0.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42,787 | 3.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,097,041 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Texas

Incumbent Democrat Ralph Yarborough was defeated by former Representative Lloyd Bentsen in the Democratic primary. Bentsen then defeated Representative George H. W. Bush in the general election. When Bush was running for president in 1988, his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, selected Bentsen as his vice presidential running mate.
1970 United States Senate election in Texas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lloyd Bentsen | 1,226,568 | 53.34 |
| | Republican | George H. W. Bush | 1,071,234 | 46.58 |
| | None | Scattering | 1,808 | 0.08 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 155,334 | 6.76 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,299,610 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Utah

1970 United States Senate election in Utah :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank Moss (Incumbent) | 210,207 | 56.16 |
| | Republican | Laurence J. Burton | 159,004 | 42.48 |
| | American Independent | Clyde B. Freeman | 5,092 | 1.36 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51,203 | 13.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 374,303 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Vermont

Republican Winston L. Prouty was first elected in 1958, succeeding Republican Ralph Flanders. He was re-elected in 1964 in a realigning period for Vermont politics. Democrat Philip H. Hoff became the state's first Democratic governor since 1853, while William H. Meyer succeeded Prouty in the House of Representatives. Prouty faced a more difficult challenge in 1964 and won with just 53% of the vote.
In 1970, Prouty faced Hoff and Meyer in the general election, with Meyer nominated by the Liberty Union party. Prouty prevailed with 59% of the vote to 40% for Hoff and just 1% for Meyer. He would not serve the full term, as he died in 1971 and was succeeded by Republican Robert Stafford.
1970 United States Senate election in Vermont :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Winston L. Prouty (Incumbent) | 91,198 | 58.88 |
| | Democratic | Philip H. Hoff | 62,271 | 40.20 |
| | Liberty Union | William H. Meyer | 1,416 | 0.91 |
| | None | Scattering | 14 | 0.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28,927 | 18.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 154,899 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Virginia

Incumbent 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. He beat George C. Rawlings Jr. (D), a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and Ray L. Garland (R), a member of Virginia House of Delegates.
1970 United States Senate election in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Harry F. Byrd Jr. (Incumbent) | 506,237 | 53.54 | +53.54% |
| | Democratic | George Rawlings | 294,582 | 31.15 | −22.15% |
| | Republican | Ray L. Garland | 144,765 | 15.31 | −22.07% |
| | Write-ins | | 30 | <0.01 | −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 |

## Washington

1970 United States Senate election in Washington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Henry M. Jackson (Incumbent) | 879,385 | 82.43 |
| | Republican | Charles W. Elicker | 170,790 | 16.01 |
| | Socialist Workers | Bill Massey | 9,255 | 0.87 |
| | Buffalo | Edison S. 'Pinky' Fisk | 7,377 | 0.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 708,595 | 66.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,066,807 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## West Virginia

1970 United States Senate election in West Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert C. Byrd (Incumbent) | 345,965 | 77.64 |
| | Republican | Elmer H. Dodson | 99,658 | 22.36 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 246,307 | 54.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 445,623 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Wisconsin

1970 United States Senate election in Wisconsin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William Proxmire (Incumbent) | 948,445 | 70.83 |
| | Republican | John E. Erickson | 381,297 | 28.48 |
| | American Independent | Edmond E. Hou-Seye | 6,137 | 0.46 |
| | Independent | Elizabeth (Betty) Boardman | 2,022 | 0.15 |
| | Socialist Workers | Martha M. Quinn | 580 | 0.04 |
| | Socialist Labor | Adolf Wiggert | 428 | 0.03 |
| | None | Scattering | 58 | 0.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 567,148 | 42.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,338,967 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Wyoming

1970 United States Senate election in Wyoming :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gale W. McGee (Incumbent) | 67,207 | 55.78 |
| | Republican | John S. Wold | 53,279 | 44.22 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,928 | 11.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 120,486 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |