Results -- Conservative pickups in orange, Independent pickups in yellow, Republican holds in light red, pickups in dark red, Democratic holds in light blue, pickups in dark blue

The U.S. Senate election, 1970 was an election for the United States Senate which was a midterm election in the term of President Richard M. 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 State picked up one net seat each, and Democrat Harry F. Byrd, Jr. was re-elected as an independent.

The Republicans picked up one open seat in Ohio, and defeated incumbents Albert Gore, Sr. (D-TN), Joseph D. Tydings (D-MD), and Thomas J. Dodd (D-CT) (who had been censured by the Senate for using campaign funds for personal use). Democrats picked up the seats of Ralph Tyler Smith (R-IL) and George Murphy (R-CA). Conservative James L. Buckley defeated Republican incumbent Charles E. Goodell (R-NY) and a Democratic challenger.

Senate contests in 1970

¹ special election held due to death of Bob Bartlett (D-AK)

² special election held due to death of Everett M. Dirksen (R-IL)

See also

• U.S. Senate election, 1968
• U.S. Senate election, 1972
• U.S. House election, 1970

Senate composition before and after elections