# 1978 United States Senate election in Delaware

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The 1978 United States Senate election in Delaware was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic senator Joe Biden won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican challenger James H. Baxter Jr. in a landslide victory. This is the first of five elections in which Biden won all counties.

## Republican primary

The Republican Party primary was held on September 9, 1978. Venema was previously an independent before declaring himself a candidate in March 1978. Candidates Venema and Baxter were described by The Washington Post as being "two think-alike Reagan conservatives" but differed in terms of background and "personal style".

### Candidates

* James H. Baxter Jr., Sussex County Recorder of Deeds
* James Allyn Venema, cardboard sign manufacturer, anti-desegregation busing activist, president of the Positive Action Committee and the National Association of Neighborhood Schools

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James H. Baxter Jr. | 12,107 | 53.74% |
| | Republican | James Allyn Venema | 10,422 | 46.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,662 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Candidates

* James H. Baxter Jr. (R), Sussex County Recorder of Deeds
* Joe Biden (D), incumbent Delaware Senator running for his first reelection
* Donald G. Gies (A), officer in the US Air Force Reserve

### Results

General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (incumbent) | 93,930 | 57.96% | +7.48% |
| | Republican | James H. Baxter Jr. | 66,479 | 41.02% | −8.08% |
| | American | Donald G. Gies | 1,663 | 1.02% | +0.68% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27,451 | 16.94% | +15.56% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 162,072 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

#### County results

| County | Joseph R. Biden Jr. Democratic | Joseph R. Biden Jr. Democratic | James H. Baxter Jr. Republican | James H. Baxter Jr. Republican | Donald G. Gies American | Donald G. Gies American | Total votes cast |
| County | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total votes cast |
| Kent | 12,860 | 59.95% | 8,485 | 39.95% | 107 | 0.5% | 21,452 |
| New Castle | 66,256 | 58.87% | 44,834 | 39.84% | 1,449 | 1.29% | 112,539 |
| Sussex | 14,814 | 52.75% | 13,160 | 46.86% | 107 | 0.38% | 28,081 |
| Total | 93,930 | 57.96% | 66,479 | 41.02% | 1,663 | 1.03% | 162,072 |