# 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky

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vte :
The 1978 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Senator Walter Dee Huddleston won reelection to a second term. This remains the most recent occurrence of a Democrat winning Kentucky's Class 2 Senate seat, which has been held by Mitch McConnell since his victory over Huddleston in 1984.

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Louie Guenthner Jr, Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
* Oline Carmical
* Thurman Jerome Hamlin

### Results

Republican Primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Louie Guenthner Jr. | 14,218 | 47.21% |
| Republican | Oline Carmical | 9,346 | 31.04% |
| Republican | Thurman Jerome Hamlin | 6,550 | 21.75% |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Walter Huddleston, incumbent U.S. Senator
* Jack Watson
* William Taylor
* George Tolhurst

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) | 89,333 | 75.62% |
| Democratic | Jack Watson | 13,177 | 11.15% |
| Democratic | William Taylor | 8,710 | 7.37% |
| Democratic | George Tolhurst | 6,921 | 5.86% |

## General election
### Results

General election results :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Walter Dee Huddleston (incumbent) | 290,730 | 60.98% |
| Republican | Louie Guenthner Jr. | 175,766 | 36.87% |
| Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |