The 1974 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Senator Edward Gurney, a Republican, declined to seek a second term after being indicted for taking bribes in return for his influence with the Federal Housing Administration. The primary for the Republican nomination pitted Eckerd drug store owner Jack Eckerd against Florida Public Service Commissioner Paula Hawkins. Eckerd won handily, receiving approximately 67.5% of the vote. The Democratic primary, however, was a crowded field with eleven candidates vying for the nomination. Because no candidate received a majority of the votes, U.S. Representative Bill Gunter and Secretary of State of Florida Richard Stone advanced to a run-off election. Stone won by a small margin of 1.68%.
Thus, Eckerd and Stone faced off in the general election. John Grady, a family physician and member of George Wallace's American Independent Party, performed very well for a third-party candidate. On election day, Stone received 43.38% of the vote, Eckerd garnered 40.91% of the vote, and Grady acquired 15.7% of the vote. Stone served only one term in the Senate and would be defeated by Gunter in the Democratic primary in 1980.
Democratic primary
The Democratic primary consisted of a large field of 11 candidates. 13.6% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.
Candidates Bob Brewster George Balmer, body shop owner and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 1970 Bill Gunter, incumbent U.S. Representative from Orlando David B. Higginbottom, lawyer and candidate for the Florida House of Representatives in 1954 and 1956 Mallory Horne, incumbent President of the Florida Senate Neal Justin, professor at Florida Atlantic University and former member of the Arizona House of Representatives Duaine E. Macon, real estate salesman Richard A. Pettigrew, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Richard Stone, incumbent Secretary of State of Florida Glenn W. Turner, owner of multi-level marketing companies Burton Young, President of the Florida Bar
Republican primary The Republican primary was a smaller affair than its Democratic counterpart with two candidates. 4.7% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.
Candidates Jack Eckerd, founder of Eckerd Corporation and 1966 gubernatorial candidate Paula Hawkins, Florida Public Service Commissioner
Results
General election Candidates Timothy L. "Tim" Adams (Independent) Hortense L. Arvan (Independent) Jack Eckerd, founder of Eckerd Corporation and 1966 gubernatorial candidate (Republican) Jim Fair, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections (Independent) John Grady, Mayor of Belle Glade and family physician (American Independent Party) Henry J. Matthews (Independent) Richard Stone, Secretary of State of Florida (Democratic)
Results
See also United States Senate elections, 1974 and 1975
References
Works cited