1976 United States Senate election in Missouri

1976 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1970 November 2, 1976 1982 →

Nominee John Danforth Warren E. Hearnes Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,090,067 813,571 Percentage 56.94% 42.50%

County results Danforth:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Hearnes:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Stuart Symington Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Danforth Republican

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v t e

The 1976 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Stuart Symington decided to retire, instead of seeking a fifth term.

On the Democratic side, former Governor Warren Hearnes competed with Symington's son Congressman James Symington and Congressman Jerry Litton for the Democratic nomination. Litton defeated Hearnes and Symington, but on the night of the primary, Litton was killed in a plane crash on his way to a victory party. In a replacement vote held by the Missouri Democratic Party, Hearnes defeated James Spainhower for the nomination.

On the Republican side, Missouri Attorney General John Danforth, the nominee for this seat in 1970, ran for this seat a second time. Danforth defeated Hearnes, who had been caught up in a federal investigation over his tax returns.