1968 United States Senate election in Ohio
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1968 United States Senate election in Ohio
| country = Ohio
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1962 United States Senate election in Ohio
| previous_year = 1962
| next_election = 1974 United States Senate election in Ohio
| next_year = 1974
| election_date = November 5, 1968
| image1 = William B. Saxbe (1).jpg
| nominee1 = William B. Saxbe
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 1,928,964
| percentage1 = 51.53%
| image2 = John J. Gilligan 89th Congress 1965 (1).jpg
| nominee2 = John J. Gilligan
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 1,814,152
| percentage2 = 48.47%
| map_image = File:1968 United States Senate election in Ohio results map by county.svg
| map_size = 210px
| map_caption = County results
Saxbe: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
Gilligan: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Frank J. Lausche
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = William Saxbe
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsOH}}
The 1968 United States Senate election in Ohio took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Senator Frank Lausche ran for re-election to a third term, but lost the Democratic primary to former U.S. Representative John J. Gilligan. Before losing the primary to the more solidly liberal Gilligan, Lausche had one of the most conservative voting record among Senate Democrats outside of The South, leaving the Democratic Party very disappointed. In the general election, Gilligan lost to Republican Ohio Attorney General William Saxbe in a close race. Saxbe's victory increased the number of Senate Republicans in the 91st Congress. He would serve 5 years in the Senate before being nominated by President Richard Nixon to be U.S Attorney General, he resigned the seat after being confirmed. Gilligan, who in January 1974 was serving as the Governor of Ohio, named Saxbe's successor.
Democratic primary
= Candidates =
- John J. Gilligan, former U.S. Representative from Cincinnati (1965–67)
- Frank Lausche, incumbent Senator since 1957
{{Election box begin no change | title=Democratic primary results{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264075|title=Our Campaigns - OH US Senate - D Primary Race - May 07, 1968|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = John J. Gilligan
|votes = 544,814
|percentage = 55.40%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Frank Lausche (incumbent)
|votes = 438,588
|percentage = 44.60%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 983,402
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
= Candidates =
- Albert Edward Payne
- William B. Saxbe, Attorney General of Ohio
- William L. White, perennial candidate from Newark
{{Election box begin no change | title=Republican primary results{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=264076|title=Our Campaigns - OH US Senate - R Primary Race - May 07, 1968|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = William B. Saxbe
|votes = 575,178
|percentage = 82.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = William L. White
|votes = 71,191
|percentage = 10.91%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Albert Edward Payne
|votes = 52,393
|percentage = 7.50%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 698,762
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Results
{{Election box begin | title=1968 United States Senate election in Ohio{{cite web|title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1968|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1968election.pdf|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|access-date=31 Dec 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=7051|title=Our Campaigns - OH US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1968|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = William B. Saxbe
|votes = 1,928,964
|percentage = 51.53%
|change = {{increase}}13.09
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = John J. Gilligan
|votes = 1,814,152
|percentage = 48.47%
|change = {{decrease}}13.09
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Richard Wingerter (write-in)
|votes = 2
|percentage = 0.00%
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Eugene P. Okey (write-in)
|votes = 1
|percentage = 0.00%
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Socialist Labor Party (United States)
|candidate = Peter M. Kapitz (write-in)
|votes = 1
|percentage = 0.00%
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = 3,743,120
|percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}