The 1970 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. It took place on November 3, with the 33 seats of Class 1 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. These races occurred in the middle of Richard Nixon's first term as president. 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. This was the first time that Republicans gained Senate seats while losing House seats, which also occurred in 2018. This also occurred for Democrats in 1914, 1962, and 2022. This was the most recent election in which a third party won a seat in the Senate until 2006. , this is also the most recent cycle in which Democrats won Senate elections in Utah and Wyoming, and the most recent in which Republicans won a Senate election in Hawaii. Results summary Source: Office of the Clerk Getting out the vote President Nixon said that rather than violent protests, the best way for the American public to get their opinion heard was by voting: Gains, losses, and holds Retirements One Republican and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election. Defeats Three Republicans and four Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election. Party switches One Democrat ran as an Independent in the general election. Change in composition Before the elections After the elections Race summary Special elections during the 91st Congress In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1970 or before January 3, 1971; ordered by election date, then state. Elections leading to the next Congress In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1971; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. Alaska (special) Republican Ted Stevens was appointed December 24, 1968 to finish the term of Democrat Bob Bartlett, who had died in office. The open primary was held August 25, 1970, in which Stevens received 40,411 votes (55.91%), Key received 29,459 votes (23.94%), State senator Joe Josephson received 12,730 votes (18.22%) and Fritz Singer (R) received 1,349 votes (1.93%). In the November 3, 1970 special election to finish the term, he ran against the Democratic Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Wendell P. Kay.