1974 United States Senate election in Idaho

The 1974 United States Senate election in Idaho took place on Tuesday, November 5. Democratic incumbent Frank Church was re-elected to a fourth term in office, defeating Republican Bob Smith.^[1]

1974 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1968 November 5, 1974 1980 →

Nominee Frank Church Bob Smith Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 145,140 109,072 Percentage 56.07% 42.14%

County results Church:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Smith:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Frank Church Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Frank Church Democratic

Church announced his presidential campaign in March 1976,^[2][3] off the strength of his victory as well as his high-profile chairmanship of the select Church Commission investigating American intelligence activity.

As of 2024^[update], this was the last time the Democrats won a U.S. Senate election in Idaho.^[4]

Primary elections

The primary was held on Tuesday, August 6.^[5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Frank Church, Boise, incumbent since 1957
• Leon Olson, Boise

Results

Democratic primary results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Church (incumbent)	53,659	85.77%
	Democratic	Leon Olson	8,904	14.23%
Total votes			62,563	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Charles Bolstridge, Nampa
• Bob Smith, Nampa, attorney^[7][8]
• Donald L. Winder, Boise

Results

Republican primary results^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Smith	45,553	71.98%
	Republican	Donald L. Winder	13,406	21.18%
	Republican	Charles Bolstridge	4,331	6.84%
Total votes			63,290	100.00%

General election

Main article: 1974 United States elections

Democratic candidates did extraordinarily well in 1974, in response to the Watergate scandal. This was true even in Republican leaning states and districts, leading commentators to call Church and other Democratic candidates elected that year, "Watergate babies."^[10][11]

Results

1974 United States Senate election in Idaho^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Frank Church (incumbent)	145,140	56.07%	4.19
	Republican	Bob Smith	109,072	42.14%	2.40
	American Independent	Jean L. Stoddard	4,635	1.79%	N/A
Majority			36,068	13.93%	−6.59%
Total votes			258,847	100.00%	+10.09%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1974 United States Senate elections