1978 United States Senate elections

The 1978 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter's term. The 33 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies.

1978 United States Senate elections
November 7, 1978
35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate
51 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Robert Byrd Howard Baker
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 3, 1977 January 3, 1977
Leader's seat West Virginia Tennessee
Seats before 61 38
Seats after 58 41
Seat change 3 3
Popular vote 15,302,929 14,794,225
Percentage 49.9% 48.2%
Seats up 18 17
Races won 15 20
  Third party
 
Party Independent
Seats before 1
Seats after 1
Seat change
Seats up 0
Races won 0
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     No election
Rectangular inset (Ala. & Minn.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election

Robert Byrd
Democratic

 Elected Majority Leader

Robert Byrd
Democratic

Thirteen seats changed hands between parties, resulting in a net gain of three seats for the Republicans allowing them to break the Democrats' filibuster-proof majority. Democrats nevertheless retained a 58–41 majority.

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