1978 United States Senate election in Virginia

1978 United States Senate election in Virginia

← 1972 November 7, 1978 1984 →
 
Nominee John Warner Andrew P. Miller
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 613,232 608,511
Percentage 50.17% 49.79%

County and independent city results
Warner:      50–60%      60–70%
Miller:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

William Lloyd Scott
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Warner
Republican

The 1978 United States Senate election in Virginia was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Republican Senator William L. Scott did not run for re-election to a second term. Republican former Secretary of the Navy John Warner narrowly defeated Democratic Attorney General of Virginia Andrew P. Miller to succeed him. Originally, this election was a match between Republican Richard Obenshain and Miller, then Obenshain died in a plane crash, leaving the party in disarray. Warner was then nominated to run in Obenshain's place, and his victorious election thrust him into a thirty-year career in the United States Senate, which started with this election.