VOL. 51, NO.8 THE UNIVERSITY OF

VIRGINIA CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS IN 1974: THE YEAR OF THE DEMOCRATS By

Mr. Sabato is a graduate student in the percent over two other cand id ates, but The Fourth 0 istrict provided one of Woodrow Wilson School of Public and only 8.1 percent of the registered voters the most interesting contests, although International Affairs at Princeton and a former participated in the election. Joseph L. Republican Robert Daniel won a second Research Aide at the Institute of Government. Fisher won a spirited four-way battle for term with a 47 percent plurality that the Democratic nomination in the Tenth INTRODUCTION mi rrored the 1972 resu It. The opposition District with 42.2 percent of the total, The lingering effects of the Watergate to him was effectively split between the but voter participation (11.1 percent of scandals and a worsening economy Democratic candidate, Delegate Lester E. registered voters) was also minimal. All combined to produce a major Democratic Schlitz of Portsmouth, and a black other Democratic candidates and all victory throughout the nation and in Independent, Reverend Curtis Harris of Republican candidates were chosen in Virginia in the 1974 congressional Hopewell. After a brief unsuccessful bid party nominating conventions. elections. The long-ailing Virginia for the Democratic nomination, Harris Democratic party was at least temporarily resolved to run as an Independent despite GENERAL ELECTION rejuvenated by a turnover of two repeated pleas from Democratic officials Results of the Virginia congressional Republican seats in the Eighth and Tenth and most black political leaders in the election by districts can be fou nd in district who believed that no black could districts, giving it a total of five of the Table 1. Two incumbent conservative win the Fourth in either a two- or state's ten congressional districts. Too, Democrats-Thomas N. Downing of the three-way race and that a black candidacy the vote percentages of every incumbent First 0 istrict and W. C. "Dan" Daniel of would irreparably damage Democratic Republican congressman but one were the Fifth District-were unopposed, as chances of victory. reduced from 1972 levels (a pattern they have been in several previous Schlitz, a liberal Democrat strongly generally characteristic of congressional elections. A third incumbent Democrat, backed by former Lieutenant Governor elections following presidential contests). conservative David E. Satterfield III of Henry Howell, ran a consumer-oriented, Though the total vote cast in 1974 for the Third 0 istrict, was opposed by a populist-styled campaign in a district \ndependent and for minor party Socialist Labor party candidate but no Howell carried with 58 percent of the candidates increased slightly over Republican. votes in 1973. The Schlitz nomination, previous congressional elections, such In the urban-suburban Second District, however, was considerably slowed by the candidates had much less influence on the incumbent Republican G. William Harris candidacy; much time and congressional outcomes than in recent Whitehurst defeated Democrat Robert organizational effort was expended in a elections for state offices. Only three Richards by the largest margin (60 fratricidal battle with Harris for black independent cand idates plus one from the percent) in any of the seriously contested votes. The result, of course, was a American Independent party and one Virginia congressional races. Incumbency from the Socialist Labor party were on plurality of 47.2 percent for Daniel, with and effective political organization built the congressional ballot, and only two of 35.9 percent for Schl itz and 16.9 percent up through three terms enabled the five (Curtis Harris in the Fourth for Harris. Schlitz and Harris together Whitehurst to dispose handily of his District and Warren Saunders in the Sixth polled almost 53 percent of the votes, relatively unknown and underfinanced District) proved to have noteworthy and it is probable that Schl itz would have Democratic opponent. The Republican impact on the outcome. defeated the incumbent Republican in a candidate fared much better in suburban two-way race. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES Virginia Beach (with 65.9 percent of the Schlitz's base was primarily urban, and Reflecting the continuing decline of vote) than in central city Norfolk (where he secured 43.6 percent of these urban the Democratic party primary in he secured only 55.8 percent). votes, while Harris polled 11.2 percent. candidate selection, only two districts Whitehurst, then, easily survived the Daniel and Harris fared better in the more held primaries in 1974. In the Eighth nation al issues of Watergate and the rural areas of the Fourth, however. The District, Herbert E. Harris won the economy as well as a local bank scandal Republican candidate won an absolute Democratic nomination with 52.5 which touched him marginally. majority (51. 1 percent) of ruraI votes,

INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT / / CHARLOTTESVILLE / APRIL 1975 30 with 28.0 percent for Harris and a miserly Another Republican incumbent won Saunders of the American Independent 20.9 percent for Democrat Schlitz. re-election by a plurality in the Sixth party, was responsible for the poor Significantly, however, urban cities and District, but his victory could not be showing of the candidates of the two counties accounted for two-thirds of the attributed to Democratic in-fighting. major parties. With a Wallace-style 1974 total vote in the newly-constituted Caldwell Butler, whose pro-impeachment "plague on both your houses" campaign, Fourth District. This urban presence, stand as a member of the House Judiciary Saunders benefited from Republican combined with a large increase in rural Committee brought him both national disaffection with Butler's black voter registration, minimizes the attention and Republican backlash, pro-impeachment vote and the importance of the once omnipotent secured a second term with 45.1 percent. "anti-politics" sentiment which Watergate Southside vote in Fourth District politics. In a heavily Republican district which had aroused. Saunders won 26.1 percent Overall in 1974, though, a spl it in had not elected a Democratic of the district vote, and ran well in both Democratic ranks allowed Daniel to carry congressman since 1950, Butler's urban and rural areas. Significantly, the by plurality or majority thirteen of electoral performance was poor. Butler American Independent carried the three sixteen municipalities in the Fourth. was not seriously threatened by the Sixth District localities won by George Schlitz won only Chesapeake and Democratic candidate, Paul Puckett, who Wallace in 1968 (Bedford city and Portsmouth, and Harris placed first in a garnered on Iy 27 percent of the vote. county, and Amherst). Of the remaining single county-rural and black Surry. Rather, a third candidate, Warren D. sixteen localities in the district, Butler carried fourteen and Puckett only two. Table 1 General Elections in Virginia for U.S. House of Representatives, 1974 While Butler was penalized for his Number Percent impeachment vote by some conservative Candidates of Votes of Votes First 0 istrict: Republicans, he gained the support of Thomas N. Downing* (D) 58,338 99.8 some Democratic voters for his actions. Write-ins 136 .2 Thus he partially neutralized the effects TOTALS 58,474 100.0 of Watergate which had produced a Second 0 istrict: Democratic trend in other districts. This Robert Richards (D) 32,923 40.0 underlying Democratic surge, however, G. William Whitehurst* (R) 49,369 60.0 Write-ins 7 was evident even in Butler's congressional district, as simultaneous elections to fill TOTALS 82,299 100.0 vacancies in the state Senate and House Third District: David E. Satterfield 111* (D) 64,627 88.5 of Delegates produced unexpected Alan R. Ogden (Soc. Labol 7,574 10.4 Democratic victories for two traditionally Write-ins 795 1.1 Republican seats. TOTALS 72,996 100.0 An intense contest developed in 1974 Fourth 0 istrict: for the Seventh District congressional seat Robert Daniel* (R) 48,032 47.2 Lester Schlitz (D) 36,489 35.9 between two-term Republican incumbent Curtis Harris (Indol 17,224 16.9 J. Kenneth Robins~n and a youthful Write-ins 3 Democratic challenger, George H. TOTALS 101,748 100.0 Gilliam. The issues were almost Fifth 0 istrict: exclusively national in focus, with W. C. "Dan" Daniel* (D) 52,459 99.4 Write-ins 292 .6 political moderate Gilliam forging a rare Democratic party unity around economic TOTALS 52,751 100.0 Sixth 0 istrict: conditions, the Republican's "negative" M. Caldwell Butler* (R) 45,805 45.1 voting record, and Robinson's strong Pau I Puckett (D) 27,350 27.0 support for former President Nixon. Warren D. Saunders (an Ind.) 26,466 26.1 Timothy McGay (Indol 1,832 1.8 Gilliam's ebullient and aggressive Write-ins 10 campaign style was in marked contrast to the subdued and low-keyed Robinson TOTALS 101,463 100.0 Seventh 0 istrict: effort, and the election resu Its suggested George Gilliam (D) 48,611 47.2 the relative effectiveness of the two Kenneth Robinson* (R) 54,267 52.6 methods. Robinson won a marginal Write-ins 222 .2 victory of 52.6 percent, despite the TOTALS 103,100 100.0 conservative and Republican nature of Eighth District: Herbert Harris (D) 53,074 57.6 the district. In the six urban corridor Stanford Parris* (R) 38,997 42.4 localities of the Seventh, Gilliam actually Write-ins \11 polled a majority (51.5 percent). It was in TOTALS 92,082 100.0 many rural areas-which comprise over Ninth District: three-fourths of the district-that Charles J. Horne (D) 65,783 49.1 Robinson won convincing victories, with William C. Wampler* (R) 68,183 50.9 Write-ins 3 54. 1 percent of the rural vote overall for the Republican. TOTALS 133,969 100.0 Another classic confrontation between Tenth District: Joel T. Broyhill* (R) 56,649 45.2 Democrat and Republican occurred in the Joseph L. Fisher (D) 67,184 53.6 "Fightin' Ninth" congressional district, a Francis J. Speh (Indol 1,465 1.2 Write-ins 6 wholly rural area which is fiercely competitive in the . political arena. TOTALS 125,304 100.0 Virginia's closest 1974 contest was SOURCE: Compiled from election results provided by the State Board of Elections. *Denotes Incumbent. narrowly won by incumbent Republican 31

William C. Wampler, a five-term veteran, information on his income tax payments VOTING PARTICIPATION with 50.9 percent of the vote. Wampler's at a time when voters were seething over well-financed and union-backed the Nixon tax scandal. The cumulative Only 924,186 of Virginia's registered Democratic challenger, Charles J. Horne, result was the defeat of the dean of the voters went to the polls in 1974; the hammered away at the Republican's Southern Republican delegation by his turnout of 45.1 percent was lower than in voting record on miners' black-lung Democratic opponent, Joseph L. Fisher, any midterm congressional election since benefits, and linked Wampler with the an economist and member of the 1962. When only seriously contested "Republican recession." The incumbent Arlington County board of supervisors. d istr ict s are considered, voter fought back, with a vigorous campaign Fisher won 53.6 percent to Broyhill's participation rises but slightly-to 51.8 characteristic of Ninth District politics. In 45.2 percent, carrying every local ity but percent of the registered. Further, only the end, Wampler carried twelve of the City of Fairfax. Fisher's largest 27.8 percent of Virginia's potential vote twenty-one local ities. margin, surprisingly, was in suburban, (population age eighteen and over) cast a Virginia's two new Democratic usually Republican Fairfax County. ballot in the 1974 election. congressmen come from an area more Suburban voters also were the key to Approximately 38 percent of Virginians appropriately characterized as the victory for Herbert E. Harris in his defeat over eighteen years of age are Washington, D.C. suburbs rather than a of Republican Parris in the Eighth unregistered, and an almost equal number part of Virginia. This "Washington District. Two years earlier Parris eked out of registered Virginians did not exercise complex" helps to explain the stunning a 44 percent plurality win over-divided their franchise in 1974. In all, then, more upset of eleven-term Republican Democratic opposition, the lowest than 70 percent of the potential voters incumbent Joel T. Broyhill and the percentage victory of any Virginia stayed home. Yet interesting\y, the electoral trouncing of freshman congressman in 1972. With this narrow decrease in the 1974 total congressional incumbent Republican Stanford Parris. base of support and the twin issues of vote compared to the 1972 presidential Both Broyh ill and Parris were Watergate and the economy, Parris faced election (-27.3 percent) scarcely differs conservative Republicans closely a difficult re-election battle. The from the decreases experienced after each identified with former President Nixon in unexpected unity of Eighth District presidential election since 1960.1 an area where Watergate was virtually Democrats who had tired of self-inflicted "Iocal" news. The impact of the national defeats sealed Parris' fate. The liberal BLACK VOTING Republican scandals, then, was greater in Harris ran a well-organized campaign that the Eighth and Tenth districts than in any produced a 58 percent landslide win in other Virgi nia congressional contest. the heavily suburban Eighth. The results from sample black News of the economic crisis was also The overall results in 1974 favored precincts ind icate that blacks again more pronounced. Several neither party decisively. Democrats contributed substantially to Democratic Watergate-related issues affected Broyhill garnered 54.8 percent to 39.1 percent for vote totals, but that black voters were less in particular. A report by a Ralph Nader the Republicans when the unopposed interested in the 1974 congressional research group and articles in Democratic districts are included in the elections than in the previous year's Washingtonian Magazine and the totals. A more representative gauge of gubernatorial election. As Table 2 shows, Washington Post accused the congressman party strength, though, can be found in of conflict-of-interest votes, incomplete an examination of party contested financial disclosure, special-interest districts alone. The G.O.P. fared 1For a more detailed discussion of Virginia favoritism, and a host of other misdeeds. considerably better in this tabulation, voting and registration trends, see the author's Broyhill ran one of the most expensive receiving a 48.8 percent plurality of votes forthcoming Aftermath of Armageddon: An campaigns in the nation at a time when compared with 44.8 percent for the Analysis of the 1973 Virginia Gubernatorial voters were sensitive to the influence of Democratic party and 6.4 percent for Election (I nstitute of Government, University money. Broyhill refused to release other candidates. of Virginia). Table 2 Voting in Selected Predominantly Black Precincts in the 1974 Virginia Congressional Elections No. of Total No. Vote for Vote for Vote for City Precincts of Votes Republican Candidate Democratic Candidate Other Candidates Second District: Wh itehurst Richards Norfolk 1~ 6,484 13.2% 86.8% Virginia Beach 1 402 19.9 80.1 Third District: Satterfield Ogden , Richmond 3,986 59.5 40.5 Fourth District: Daniel Schlitz Harris Portsmouth 2,468 2.3 71.4 26.3% Suffolk 360 2D lOB 87.2 Emporia 242 4.1 8.3 87.6 Petersburg 2,091 2.1 27.7 70.2 Sixth District: Butler Puckett Saunders Lynchburg 435 25.1 63.2 9.7 McGay 2.1 Seventh District:. Robinson Gilliam Charlottesville l' 421 16.0 84.0 SOURCE: Compiled from figures provided by State Board of Elections. aprecincts 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9, 17,42 bSeatack Precinct cprecincts 1,4,5,6, 18, 19,24,46,55,62,63,64,65,66,67 dprecincts 26 and 27 epleasant H ill-Saratoga Precinct fWard II g5th Ward; 6th Ward, 1st Precinct; 6th Ward, 2nd Precinct ~Precinct 1-1 'Firehouse Precinct 32

Democrats Richards, Puckett, and Gilliam the latter}. The Howell-backed Schlitz The spectre of Watergate received overwhelming though not campaign in the Fourth District seems to overshadowed all other issues in 1974 unanimous black support in the sample have had some, but not complete success and permitted the state Democratic party precincts. Republican candidates did in securing the support of urban to shed the millstone of McGovernism. make some inroads in all three districts, Wallaceites in Portsmouth, Chesapeake, For the first time in modern Virginia however, since Henry Howell received and Virginia Beach precincts. Democrat history, the Democrats nominated party almost 95 percent of the votes cast in Schlitz won 49.3 percent of the votes in liberals who were able successfully to these precincts in the 1973 gubernatorial the Wallace precincts, while Republican contest general elections. Victories by contest. The heart of the Fourth District Daniel won 48.1 percent. While these liberal candidates in the Eighth and Tenth Democratic split in 1974 can be seen in precincts have supported candidates with districts, and near-m isses in the Seventh the black vote. Democrat Schlitz secured Daniel's conservative ideology, Howell and Ninth, have strengthened the hold of a large black majority in his urban home garnered over 60 percent of their votes in liberals on the Democratic party. base, but Independent Harris received the 1973. Daniel appears to have balanced For the moment, 1974 Democratic lion's share of black support in the rest of Schlitz's urban Wallace support with gains in Virginia have restored the 1968 the districts-thus ensuring the re-election victories in all five rural Fourth District level of a five-to-five party split in the of Republican Daniel, who garnered only municipalities carried by Wallace in 1968. delegation. As the 1975 General 2 percent of the black vote. In the Third The RepubIica n received 51.1 percent to Assembly elections approach, the outlook District, blacks gave the Socialist Labor Schlitz's 20.5 percent of the votes in is excellent for Democratic retention of candidate, Alan Ogden, more than 40 Dinwiddie, Greensville, Isle of Wight, both houses by wide margins; two-party percent of their votes against the Prince George, and Southampton competition and party realignment itself ----Fl-emo·cratrc-incumben-r:-This-sopport can counties. have not yet fiJlly reachedtllTSelec ive probably be interpreted as a protest vote level. The 1976 contests will provide the against the archconservative Satterfield. next real indication of party strengths. FUTURE IMPLICATIONS Several Republican congressmen­ The recession of Republican fortunes including William Wampler and J. THE WALLACE VOTE and the resurgence of Democratic support Kenneth Robinson-may again be Because of precinct boundary changes, in Virginia may, of course, be a vulnerable. Barring another Independent only a few precincts which gave George temporary phenomenon, the product of candidacy in the Fourth District that split Wallace at least a majority in 1968 are two powerful issues-scandal and the the normal Democratic vote, Robert still intact. Almost all of these precincts economy-which are not likely to arise Daniel may also be found in electoral are concentrated in the Fourth again in tandem. Virginia Republicans difficulty. At the same time, Virginia will congressional district, and therefore this have, after all, achieved major successes in probably continue its support of review of the 1974 Wallace vote is every statewide election since 1966. But Republican presidential candidates, since necessarily restricted to that district. In the congressional elections of 1974 may the national Democratic party is unlikely previous elections, both before and after suggest that, after all the tumult of party to nominate anyone palatable to a 1968, the Wallace precincts tended to realignment in the last decade, Virginia majority of Virginians. Finally, Senator give their support to conservative wi II soon have two strong parties, each Harry Byrd, Jr. will have considerable cand id ates-whether Democratic, capable of successfully contesting influence on the future of party Republican, or Independent. Henry statewide elections in the future. It realignment and Independent candidacies Howell, however, was an exception; and appears that neither party will be able to in 1976; his choice of the Republican his popu list-oriented campaigns establish a Byrd-like hegemony; and this, party or Independent label for his apparently attracted many Wallace voters in itself, marks a considerable political re-election bid will be a crucial one for in rural and urban areas (most heavily in watershed for the Old Dominion. the Virginia political system.

THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Entered as second-class matter Charlottesville. Virginia NEWS LET TER

Editor / Clifton McCleskey Published each month from September th rough August by the I nstltute of Government, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not be be Interpreted as representing the official position of the Institute or the University. Entered as second-class matter January 2, 1925, at the post office at Charlottesville, Virginia, under the aet of August 24, 1912. @1975 by The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.