1968 United States Senate election in North Carolina

The North Carolina United States Senate election of 1968 was held on 5 November 1968 as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. The general election was fought between the Democratic incumbent Sam Ervin and the Republican nominee Robert Somers. Ervin won re-election to a third full term, with over 60% of the vote.

1968 United States Senate election in North Carolina

November 5, 1968

Nominee Sam Ervin Robert Somers Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 870,406 566,834 Percentage 60.6% 39.4%

County results Ervin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Somers:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Sam Ervin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Sam Ervin Democratic

Primaries

Democratic primary

The first round of the 1968 North Carolina Primary Election was held on 4 May.[1] The runoff for the Republican Party candidates took place on June 1.[2]

1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate Democratic primary election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sam Ervin	499,392	82.12%
	Democratic	Charles Pratt	60,362	9.90%
	Democratic	John Gathings	48,357	7.95%
Turnout			608,111

Republican primary

1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election – First round

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert Somers	48,351	36.63%
	Republican	J. L. Zimmerman	43,644	33.06%
	Republican	B. E. Sweatt	40,023	30.32%
Turnout			132,018

1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election – Second round

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert Somers	8,816	60.59%
	Republican	J. L. Zimmerman	5,734	39.41%
Turnout			14,550

Results

1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sam Ervin (incumbent)	870,406	60.56%
	Republican	Robert Somers	566,834	39.44%
Turnout			901,978

Footnotes

1. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=132138
2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=132139