1964 United States Senate election in California

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1964 United States Senate election in California

← 1958 November 3, 1964 1970 →

Nominee George Murphy Pierre Salinger Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 3,628,552 3,411,915 Percentage 51.54% 48.46%

County Results Murphy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Salinger:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Pierre Salinger Democratic Elected U.S. Senator George Murphy Republican

Elections in California
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The 1964 United States Senate election in California was held on November 3, 1964.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Clair Engle was suffering from an advanced brain tumor and ended his campaign for re-election in April. He died in office in July. Pierre Salinger, Press Secretary to Lyndon Johnson and the winner of the Democratic primary, was appointed in his place.

Salinger lost re-election to a full term to Republican George Murphy, a retired Hollywood star. This was the only Senate seat Republicans gained in 1964.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Emanuel Braude
• Walter Buchanan, candidate for U.S. Representative in 1934 and 1962
• Demos Cordeiro
• Alan Cranston, California Controller
• Harold E. Fields
• Lynn Johnston, candidate for U.S. Representative in 1963
• George H. McLain, perennial candidate, nativist, and pensioner advocate
• Henry A. Mermel
• Mark Morris
• Guido Joseph Pavia, resident of Napa
• Pierre Salinger, White House Press Secretary

Declined to run[]

• Stanley Mosk, California Attorney General (appointed to California Supreme Court)

Withdrew[]

• Clair Engle, incumbent Senator (died July 30)

Campaign[]

A major point of contention during the primary and general elections was Salinger's eligibility to run. He was working at the White House and officially a resident of Virginia, meaning he could not vote for himself.

Results[]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Fred Hall, former Governor of Kansas
• Leland M. Kaiser
• George Murphy, retired actor and former President of the Screen Actors Guild

Results[]

General election[]

Results[]

General election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George Murphy	3,628,552	51.54%	8.61
	Democratic	Pierre Salinger	3,411,915	48.46%	8.55
Total votes			7,040,467	100.00

See also[]

• 1964 United States Senate elections

References[]