United States Senate election in Idaho, 1974

United States Senate elections, 1974

1972 ← November 5, 1974 → 1976

34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority   Majority party Minority party   Leader Mike Mansfield Hugh Scott Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat Montana Pennsylvania Last election 56 seats 42 seats Seats before 56 42 Seats won 60 38 Seat change 4 4 Popular vote 22,544,761 16,145,793 Percentage 55.2% 39.6% Swing 9.7% 12.8%   Third party Fourth party   Party Independent Conservative (N.Y.) Last election 1 seat 1 seat Seats before 1 1 Seats won 1 1 Seat change

Democratic gain   Democratic hold   Republican gain   Republican hold

Majority Leader before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected Majority Leader Mike Mansfield Democratic

Mike Mansfield
Democratic

Mike Mansfield
Democratic

The United States Senate elections, 1974 were held in the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon's resignation from the presidency, and Gerald Ford's subsequent pardon of Nixon. Economic issues, specifically inflation and stagnation, were also a factor that contributed to the Republican losses.Democrats made a net gain of three seats from the Republicans. Following the election, the Democratic caucus controlled 60 seats (including one independent) and the Republican caucus controlled 39 seats (including one Conservative). Democrats would gain an additional seat when Democrat John A. Durkin (D-NH) won a 1975 special election that was held after the 1974 election resulted in two recounts and an extended dispute in the Senate. This was the last election to date where a member of a political party other than the Democrats or Republicans had one or more seats in the chamber. This is also the last Senate election where the Democrat won Orange County, California in a race with Republican opposition.