United States Senate elections, 1978

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate elections, 1978
country = United States
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate elections, 1976
previous_year = 1976
next_election = United States Senate elections, 1980
next_year = 1980
seats_for_election = 36 seats in the United States Senate
election_date = November 7, 1978

leader1 = Robert Byrd
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = West Virginia
last_election1 = 61 seats
seats1 = 58
seat_change1 = -3
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Howard Baker
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Tennessee
last_election2 = 38 seats
seats2 = 41
seat_change2 = +3
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

leader1 = Robert Byrd
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = West Virginia
last_election1 = 61 seats
seats1 = 58
seat_change1 = -3
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Howard Baker
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Tennessee
last_election2 = 38 seats
seats2 = 41
seat_change2 = +3
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

---

map_size = 300px
map_caption = legend|#800|Republican holds

title = Majority Leader
before_election = Robert Byrd
before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
after_election = Robert Byrd
after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

The United States Senate election of 1978 in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter's term. The Democrats lost a net of three seats to the Republicans, leaving the balance of the chamber 58-41 in favor of the Democrats.

Republicans took three open seats, including one in Minnesota (a special election was called after the death of Hubert Humphrey (D-MN)), as well as in Mississippi and South Dakota. They also defeated five Democratic incumbents: Floyd Haskell (D-CO), Dick Clark (D-IA), William Hathaway (D-ME), Wendell Anderson (D-MN), and Thomas McIntyre (D-NH). The two Republican victories in Minnesota saw the state's Senate delegation change from two Democrats to two Republicans in the same election. These were partially balanced by Democratic defeats of Edward Brooke (R-MA) and Robert Griffin (R-MI), and captures of Republican open seats in Nebraska, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.

Notable freshmen included future Defense Secretary William Cohen (R-ME), future Senate Majority Whip Alan K. Simpson (R-WY), and Paul Tsongas (D-MA), who would run for President in 1992.

enate contests in 1978

A bolded state name indicates an article about that state's election.

See also

*U.S. House elections, 1978