1974 United States elections
elections in the United States in 1974
Elections were held on November 5, 1974. The elections occurred in the wake of the Watergate scandal and three months into the term of Republican President Gerald Ford. Democrats expanded their majorities in both houses of Congress.
Ford's granting of a pardon to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, along with soaring inflation caused by the 1973 oil crisis, created a tough environment for the Republican Party. Democrats won net gains of four seats in the Senate, 49 seats in the House of Representatives, and four seats in the gubernatorial elections. Many of the newly elected Democrats were Northern liberals, shifting the balance of power away from conservative Southern Democrats.
Federal elections
United States Senate
The Democrats made a net gain of total four Senate seats from the Republicans. Democrat John A. Durkin won a special election in New Hampshire after the Senate voided the original contested election. After the special election, Democrats possessed 60 seats to 38 for the Republicans, with one independent who caucused with the Democrats and one Conservative who caucused with the Republicans.
United States House of Representatives
The Democrats won the nationwide popular vote for the House of Representatives by a margin of 16.8 points.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “1974 United States elections” is elections in the United States in 1974. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through United, States and elections, not as a finished interpretation.
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