1968 United States Senate election in North Carolina

The North Carolina United States Senate election of 1968 was held on November 5, 1968 as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. The general election was fought between the Democratic incumbent Sam Ervin and the Republican nominee Robert Somers. Ervin won re-election to a third full term, with over 60% of the vote.^[1] This was the last time any incumbent was re-elected in this seat until 2010.^[2] To date, this is also the last time a Democrat was re-elected as a senator in North Carolina.^[3]

1968 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1962 November 5, 1968 1974 →

Nominee Sam Ervin Robert Somers Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 870,406 566,834 Percentage 60.56% 39.44%

County results Ervin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Somers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Sam Ervin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Sam Ervin Democratic

This is the last time that a U.S. Senate candidate was elected in North Carolina at the same time that a presidential candidate of a different political party won the state.

Primaries

Democratic primary

22.2% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.^[4]

Democratic primary results (U.S. Senate) – May 4, 1968 ^[5][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Ervin (incumbent)	499,392	78.25%
	Democratic	Charles Pratt	60,362	9.46%
	Democratic	John Gathings Sr.	48,357	7.58%
	Democratic	Fred Brummitt	30,126	4.72%

Republican primary

4.6% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.^[4]

Republican primary results (U.S. Senate) – May 4, 1968 (first round)^[7][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert Somers	48,351	36.62%
	Republican	J.L. Zimmerman	43,644	33.06%
	Republican	Edwin Tenney Jr.	40,023	30.32%

Republican primary results (U.S. Senate) – June 1, 1968 (runoff) ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert Somers	8,816	60.59%
	Republican	J.L. Zimmerman	5,734	39.41%

General election

The general election was held on November 5, 1968.^[8]

1968 North Carolina U.S. Senate election – November 5, 1968 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Ervin	870,406	60.56%
	Republican	Robert Somers	566,934	39.44%