1970 Midterm Elections

In the midterm elections of 1970, the Democratic Party gained 12 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives while Republicans gained two seats in the U.S. Senate. Democrats retained their majorities in both houses of Congress. Democrats also gained ten governorships.

President Nixon set the tone of the campaign on morality, law and order and denouncing antiwar protesters. Democrats focused on the economy, with unemployment and inflation at 6-percent. Democrats increased their majority in the House by a dozen seats. Republicans fared better in the upper chamber, defeating three Democratic Senators, including Al Gore Sr. of Tennessee. Conservative Party candidate James Buckley defeated liberal Republican Charles E. Goodell and the Democratic challenger in New York.