1966 United States Senate election in Tennessee

The 1966 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 8, 1966, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Republican nominee Howard Baker won the election, defeating Democratic nominee and Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement with 55.7% of the vote.

1966 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1964 (special) November 8, 1966 1972 →

Nominee Howard Baker Frank G. Clement Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 483,063 383,843 Percentage 55.72% 44.27%

County results Baker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Clement:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election Ross Bass Democratic Elected Senator Howard Baker Republican

In the primary, incumbent Democratic Senator Ross Bass lost to Governor Clement by a little over 2%.

Baker became the first Republican to represent Tennessee since the temporary appointment of Newell Sanders in 1912. He was the first Tennessee Republican to win a full term in the Senate since Reconstruction in 1867 and the first ever to win a popular election to the Senate. He was also the first Republican to win a full term to this Senate seat.