1962 United States Senate election in Florida

The 1962 United States Senate election in Florida took place on November 6, 1962. Incumbent Democratic Senator George Smathers won re-election to a third term. As of 2023, this is the last time that a winning United States Senate candidate carried all counties in Florida for the Class 3 Senate seat from Florida and the last time that a winning United States Senate candidate carried all counties in Florida for a Senate seat from Florida until 1994.

1962 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1956November 6, 19621968 →
 
NomineeGeorge SmathersEmerson Rupert
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Popular vote657,633281,381
Percentage70.02%29.96%

County results
Smathers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election

George Smathers
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

George Smathers
Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 8, 1962.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2][3][4][5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticGeorge Smathers (incumbent) 587,562 84.18
DemocraticRoger L. Davis74.56510.68
DemocraticDouglas Randolph Voorhees35,8325.13
Total votes697,959

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Emerson H. Rupert, businessman,[6] unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Governor in 1960

Results

Republican primary results[2][3][7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanEmerson H. Rupert unopposed

General election

Results

1962 United States Senate election in Florida[8][9][10][11][12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticGeorge Smathers (Incumbent) 657,633 70.02
RepublicanEmerson Rupert281,38129.96
NoneScattering1930.02
Majority376,25240.06
Turnout939,207
Democratic hold

See also

References

Bibliography