United States Senate elections, 1970

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate elections, 1970
country = United States
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate elections, 1968
previous_year = 1968
next_election = United States Senate elections, 1972
next_year = 1972
seats_for_election = 35 seats in the United States Senate
election_date = November 3, 1970

leader1 = Mike Mansfield
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Montana
last_election1 = 57 seats
seats1 = 54
seat_change1 = -3
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Hugh Scott
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Pennsylvania
last_election2 = 43 seats
seats2 = 44
seat_change2 = +1
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

leader1 = Mike Mansfield
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Montana
last_election1 = 57 seats
seats1 = 54
seat_change1 = -3
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Hugh Scott
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Pennsylvania
last_election2 = 43 seats
seats2 = 44
seat_change2 = +1
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

---

map_size = 300px
map_caption = legend|#800|Republican holds

title = Majority Leader
before_election = Mike Mansfield
before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
after_election = Mike Mansfield
after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

The 1970 United States Senate election was an election for the United States Senate which was a midterm election in the term of President Richard Nixon. Nixon's "Southern strategy" was effective at taking several seats from the Democrats, in spite of this being a midterm election. The Democrats lost a net of three seats, while the Republicans and the Conservative Party of New York picked up one net seat each, and former Democrat Harry F. Byrd, Jr. was re-elected as an independent.

The Republicans picked up one open seat in Ohio, and defeated incumbents Al Gore, Sr. of Tennessee, Joseph D. Tydings of Maryland, and Thomas J. Dodd of Connecticut (Dodd had been censured by the Senate for using campaign funds for personal use). Democrats picked up the seats of Ralph Tyler Smith of Illinois and George Murphy of California. Conservative James L. Buckley defeated Republican incumbent Charles E. Goodell of New York and a Democratic challenger.

enate contests in 1970