The 1976 United States Senate election in California took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator John V. Tunney ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Republican S. I. Hayakawa.
Alphonzo E. Bell Jr., U.S. Representative from Santa Monica
Hannibal C. Burchette V
Robert H. Finch, former Lieutenant Governor of California, United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and advisor to President Richard Nixon
John L. Harmer, former Lieutenant Governor and State Senator
S. I. Hayakawa, professor of semantics and president emeritus of San Francisco State University