Heyo! Saph here. This is gonna be one of those timelines that probably doesn't make much sense at first, but I promise it will begin to make more sense once more updates get released. However, that's kind of the point of this one. Expect updates probably at least once a week, depending on when I can get around to it, and I'll keep you posted!
= PRELUDE I'm still not entirely sure why he didn't run in 72, maybe it was Gene, or Eleanor having concerns about his chances of beating Nixon, but whatever it was likely saved him from total embarrassment.
- Excerpt from the memoirs of Former George McGovern campaign Chief of Staff Gary Hart
When Gene McCarthy announced he was running again for the White House, nobody was shocked. With the amending of primary rules in recent years, it seemed like his score to settle with the DNC might finally be realized. But he just didn't have the same glitter that surrounded his campaign 4 years prior. No doubt was he still the savior of the anti-war youth, but his base just didn't seem to expand beyond that. Despite the early success in Wisconsin no doubt giving him a boost, once he lost California to Humphrey, and New Mexico to Wallace, it was game over. Nobody else really stood much of a shot at the nomination, with Muskie embroiled in scandal, Wallace paralyzed, and nobody else having the recognition to take the nomination. The convention soon became yet another coronation for Humphrey yet again. However the Humphrey of 72 was a different political horse than in 68, having taken a much stronger stance on Vietnam than he had prior. He was also dedicated to bringing in the disaffected youth back into the fold. He had hoped his choice of anti-war icon Fred Harris as his veep would help in this endeavor, but it did only slightly. It was clear Nixon was always going to have the edge in this election, after all Humphrey had lost to him once already. He tried his hardest, but despite Watergate coming to the public eye, it still just wasn't enough...
Nixon had won again. It was clear that the Democrats needed to go back to the drawing board if they wanted to actually win. As luck would have it, things would slowly begin to boil over, as Watergate consumed Nixon, culminating in his resignation just under 2 years after this election. Americans were fed up to the ears with it all, and it was clear that the Democrats would have their lucky break in a couple years, but the question now stood:
Jimmy Carter had long mulled his next move after by all means a successful, popular gubernatorial term. He had ambition for something greater, and truly wished to make a difference with his next move, even considering a presidential bid in '76. However, Carter was comparatively small in the political scene compared to bigger, more established names, and polls that were run at the time showed him at not even 2% nationwide. He knew deep down that a White House bid would be incredibly taxing, due to the massive polling deficit and lack of on-hand cash. Instead Carter was recruited for and chose a more local route. Herman Talmadge had long been a thorn in the national party's side, as they wished to move ever further from their old southern brand. After all, Talmadge remained one of the few ardently segregationist Senators left standing. Carter was drafted by the national party to primary Talmadge, utilizing his popularity as governor and Talmadge's age as key points in the race. The Senator decried a left-wing takeover, but Carter's appeal to rural farmers was able to blunt Talmadge in these notably conservative areas Talmadge was previously dominant in, while also running up the urban vote and actively including black voters in his coalition. By the time the primary happened, it was clear the Talmadge dynasty that held significant sway over Georgia politics for over 40 years was to come to an end...
1974 GEORGIA SENATE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY - AUGUST 13, 1974
James E. "Jimmy" Carter: 49.42% ✓
Herman E. Talmadge (inc.): 41.47%
Other: 9.11%
Carter had little issue winning the general election either, easily defeating Republican opponent Jerry R. Johnson
1974 GEORGIA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
James E. "Jimmy" Carter (Dem): 66.64% ✓
Jerry R. Johnson (GOP): 33.29%
Write-in: 0.07% NON INCUMBENT - DEM HOLD
Carter's dominant election to the senate was one of many democratic victories in the 1974 midterms, with another prominent one coming from Indiana. Famed liberal icon Birch Bayh, the man responsible for the 25th and 26th amendments, was running for a 3rd term, which many believed was a launching point for a seemingly inevitable bid for the White House. However, Richard Lugar, the popular mayor of Indianapolis, made a bid to unseat him, hoping to make the case that Bayh was only interested in the White House, and not serving Indiana's interests. However, with the blue wave that year, this case simply did not stick.
1974 INDIANA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Birch E. Bayh Jr. (Dem) (inc.): 51.04% ✓
Richard G. Lugar (GOP): 45.93%
Don L. Lee (AIP): 3.03% DEM HOLD
And then there was the case of South Dakota. George McGovern was another liberal icon in a conservative state, and one that Republicans saw as particularly vulnerable. They had hoped their war hero candidate Leo Thorsness would be able to triumph over McGovern, but it appeared that McGovern's own decision to not run in '72 leveled a lot of ground the Republicans hoped to use, as like with Bayh, Republicans simply could not successfully pin the Senator to the national party nearly enough to get the victory. This was in part to McGovern's dominance in the eastern portions of the state and in the main cities.
1974 SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
George S. McGovern (Dem) (inc.): 55.04% ✓
Leo K. Thorsness (GOP): 44.96% DEM HOLD
1974 U.S. Senate Election results by state
RESULTS BY STATE (GA, IN, SD featured above)
1974 ALABAMA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
James B. Allen (Dem) (inc.): 95.94% ✓
Alvin Abercrombie (Pro): 4.06% DEM HOLD
1974 ALASKA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Maurice R. "Mike" Gravel (Dem) (inc.): 59.08% ✓
C. R. Lewis (GOP): 40.92% DEM HOLD
1974 ARIZONA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Barry M. Goldwater (GOP) (inc.): 57.45% ✓
Jonathan Marshall (Dem): 42.55% GOP HOLD
1974 ARKANSAS SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Dale L. Bumpers (Dem): 85.80% ✓
John H. Jones (GOP): 14.20% NON INCUMBENT - DEM HOLD
1974 CALIFORNIA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Alan M. Cranston (Dem) (inc.): 61.24% ✓
H. L. Richardson (GOP): 35.50%
Other: 4.26% DEM HOLD
1974 COLORADO SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Gary W. Hart (Dem): 58.03% ✓
Pete Dominick (GOP) (inc.): 38.68%
Other: 3.29% DEM GAIN
1974 CONNECTICUT SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Abraham A. Ribicoff (Dem) (inc.): 64.37% ✓
James Brannen III (GOP): 33.49% DEM HOLD
1974 FLORIDA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Richard B. Stone (Dem) (inc.): 44.06% ✓
Jack Eckerd (GOP): 39.92%
John Grady (AIP): 16.01%
Other: 0.01% DEM GAIN
1974 HAWAII SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Daniel K. Inouye (Dem) (inc.): 84.02% ✓
James D. Kimmel (People's): 15.98% DEM HOLD
1974 IDAHO SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Frank F. Church III (Dem) (inc.): 57.00% ✓
Robert L. Smith (GOP): 41.17%
Jean Stoddard (Amr): 1.83% DEM HOLD
1974 ILLINOIS SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Adlai E. Stevenson III (Dem) (inc.): 62.85% ✓
George M. Burditt (GOP): 36.51%
Other: 0.64% DEM HOLD
1974 IOWA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
John C. Culver (Dem): 50.78% ✓
David M. Stanley (GOP): 48.52%
Other: 0.70% NON INCUMBENT - DEM HOLD
1974 KANSAS SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
William R. Roy (Dem): 50.12% ✓
Robert J. "Bob" Dole (GOP) (inc.): 49.88% DEM GAIN
1974 KENTUCKY SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Wendell H. Ford (Dem): 54.26% ✓
Marlow W. Cook (GOP) (inc.): 43.34%
William E. Parker (Amr): 2.40% DEM GAIN
1974 LOUISIANA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Russell B. Long (Dem) (inc.): 100.00% ✓
DEM HOLD
1974 MARYLAND SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Charles M. Mathias (GOP) (inc.): 56.56% ✓
Barbara A. Mikulski (Dem): 43.44% GOP HOLD
1974 MISSOURI SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Thomas F. Eagleton (Dem) (inc.): 63.07% ✓
Thomas B. Curtis (GOP): 36.24%
Cliff Talmage (Ind): 0.69% DEM HOLD
1974 NEVADA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Harry M. Reid Jr. (Dem): 47.22% ✓
Paul D. Laxalt (GOP): 46.27%
Jack C. Doyle (IAPN): 6.51% NON INCUMBENT - DEM HOLD
1974 NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
John A. Durkin (Dem): 50.37% ✓
Louis C. Wyman (GOP): 48.96%
Carmen C. Chimento (AIP): 0.67% DEM GAIN
1974 NEW YORK SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Jacob K. Javits (GOP) (inc.): 44.38% ✓
Ramsay Clark (Dem): 39.01%
Barbara A. Keating (Con): 16.06%
Other: 0.55% GOP HOLD
1974 NORTH CAROLINA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Robert B. Morgan (Dem): 62.17% ✓
William Stevens (GOP): 37.15%
Other: 0.88% NON INCUMBENT - DEM HOLD
1974 NORTH DAKOTA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
William L. Guy (Dem): 48.84% ✓
Milton R. Young (GOP) (inc.): 47.96% DEM GAIN
1974 OHIO SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
John H. Glenn Jr. (Dem) (inc.): 65.40% ✓
Ralph J. Perk (GOP): 29.90%
Other: 4.7% DEM HOLD
1974 OKLAHOMA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Edmond A. "Ed" Edmondson (Dem): 49.50% ✓
Henry L. Bellmon (GOP) (inc.): 48.70%
Paul E. Trent (Ind): 1.80% DEM GAIN
1974 OREGON SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Wayne L. Morse (Dem): 49.98% ✓
Robert W. "Bob" Packwood (GOP) (inc.): 49.78%
Write-in: 0.24% DEM GAIN
1974 PENNSYLVANIA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Richard S. Schweiker (GOP) (inc.): 52.20% ✓
Peter F. Flaherty (Dem): 46.68%
George W. Shankey (CST): 1.12% GOP HOLD
1974 SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Ernest F. Hollings (Dem) (inc.): 70.10% ✓
Gwen Bush (GOP): 27.90%
Harold Hough (Ind): 2.00% DEM HOLD
1974 UTAH SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
E. Jake Garn (GOP): 49.09% ✓
D. Wayne Owens (Dem): 44.87%
Bruce Bangerter (Amr): 6.04% NON INCUMBENT - GOP HOLD
1974 VERMONT SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Patrick J. Leahy (Dem): 50.18% ✓
C. R. Lewis (GOP): 45.67%
Bernie Sanders (LU): 4.13% DEM GAIN
1974 WASHINGTON SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Warren G. Magnuson (Dem) (inc.): 61.51% ✓
Jack H. Metcalf (GOP): 35.26%
Other: 3.23% DEM HOLD
1974 WISCONSIN SENATE ELECTION - NOVEMBER 5, 1974
Gaylord A. Nelson (Dem) (inc.): 62.60% ✓
Thomas E. "Tom" Petri (GOP): 35.00%
Other: 2.40% DEM HOLD
Map of the 1974 United States gubernatorial elections
Chapter I: Stage II
Perhaps one of the most transformational outcomes of the governor's races was that of California. After eight years of Ronald Reagan's incumbency, the state rebuked the presumed presidential candidate's party and thrusted in a contender for the opposite party - Jerry Brown. Edmund by birth, Jerry shared a lot in common with his dad, including the name, but he also differed quite significantly. Particularly, Jerry was far more ambitious than his father ever was, and "Moonbeam" as he was nicknamed, was looking to beam to the stars. As for whether he could reach them so soon, was another tale. Brown had ground to work with, being an undoubtedly fresh face at just 37, and being solidly anti-war, even having participated in protests in the 60s. But Brown as a politician was untested. He had no resume to pitch as he had just become governor and was already seeking a higher title, definitely not a great look. He was also just a very unorthodox figure as a whole, with some even calling him both the most left and right wing in the Democratic party. For instance he demanded fiscal conservatism in favor of budget surpluses, which raised alarm bells for many liberal democrats who worried that funding would be stripped from key welfare programs as a result. This being without to mention Brown's unorthodox mannerisms, particularly his non-rhotic accent and overall eccentricity. Brown, who favored to walk to work as governor, was going to need to make a big stride in his bid.
These three Senators were titans of the liberal wing of the Democratic party, all had been elected to at least a third term in the senate, and all had at least some aspiration for the White House. Of these, Frank Church was the least ambitious, however. Church was a legislator at heart, and despite his foreign policy expertise being of great use for a president, he was unsure if he was the one for that job. This knocked Church out of the running for the time. Birch Bayh and George McGovern had long been allies, but a rivalry was beginning to brew, as the two saw each other as competition for their respective bids for the White House. This was inherent, as the two were fighting for similar voting blocs - the youth, new dealer farmers, the academics, among these. But even among these two, there were still other candidates abound they had to fight with as well.
Fred Harris had been Humphrey's running mate in 1972, so expectedly one would assume he would be a frontrunner immediately afterwards. Harris, however, was still not a big name in the party even after his stint on the national ticket. He had been out of office for a few years now, and had been relatively quiet prior to announcing his second bid for the White House, and he was never particularly high in polls either. Mo Udall was a towering figure with unbeatable wit, yet despite that he was only a relative newcomer in the national scene. He had significant experience in the House of Representatives, at the time serving his 8th term in the chamber, and was noted as an effective legislator, which would be of great assistance in his relationship with congress as President, but Udall, a former basketball star, would need to make a three pointer if he wanted to win. Then there was Scoop Jackson. Despite being a Kennedy liberal, Jackson was labeled as the conservative candidate due to his hawkish foreign policy and particular support for the Vietnam war. This made him incredibly unpopular among youth voters and academics. He hoped to bank on the Humphrey coalition of laborers and New Dealers in urban cities in the Northeast, but only time would tell if he would get that support. Lastly there was George Wallace. Despite how hated he was nationally, he was still undoubtedly the candidate of the south. And of particular concern was his ability to resonate with midwestern laborers who held more socially conservative beliefs.
Then there was the man at the center of it all - Ford. The accidental president as some branded him was looking to face complete disaster in 76, as his controversial pardon of Nixon left a very bitter taste in people's mouths. Not only was the Republican party looking to be doomed in the fall, but it was looking like the party wouldn't even be able to hold itself together in the primaries. Two insurgent candidates soon emerged on both the right and left sides of him.
The first was Ronald Reagan, who had been speculated as a candidate even before Ford's ascension to the presidency. He was the darling of the archconservative movement and appeared as an outsider within Republican ranks that could transition the party from Nixon's tainted legacy. However, Reagan was a deeply polarizing figure, and it was uncertain if he could even unite the party behind him, or be just another Goldwater
And then there was Charles Mathias, a much more unexpected candidate. Mathias represented a dying breed in the party, and noticing the growing divide from the center in both the Democratic and Republican parties as deeply concerning. After long months of consideration, he finally entered the race as a last hurrah for his ideological camp. It was clear Mathias was not going to be the nominee, but how much damage was he capable of?
So the stage was now set. On the Democratic side, the main story was how much of the vote was going to go to uncommitted delegates. These uncommitted delegates were hoping that two time candidate Hubert Humphrey would enter for a third time, despite his announcement the prior fall that he would not run again. However, the enthusiasm over Humphrey had dwindled some since his loss in 72. Many of the aforementioned candidates had filed in, specifically McGovern, Bayh, Udall, and Harris. McGovern in particular staged an aggressive campaign in Iowa, hoping to use his regional proximity to his advantage. However despite the contention, it was unclear if any of them would even achieve first in the caucus, or fall behind to uncommitted delegates.
IOWA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUSES RESULTS - JANUARY 19, 1976 Uncommitted - 31.94% George S. McGovern - 28.63%
Birch E. Bayh - 16.16%
Fred R. Harris - 12.50%
Morris K. "Mo" Udall - 7.17%
Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson - 3.40%
McGovern had gotten first among the candidates themselves, by a wide margin, and his regional proximity to Iowa contributed greatly to his success. As for how it would translate later on is anyone's guess...
