The 1974 United States Senate election in Idaho took place on Tuesday, November 5. Democratic incumbent Frank Church was re-elected to a fourth term in office, defeating Republican Bob Smith.
Church announced his presidential campaign in March 1976, off the strength of his victory as well as his high-profile chairmanship of the select Church Commission investigating American intelligence activity.
As of 2026, this was the last time the Democrats won a U.S. Senate election in Idaho.
Contents
Primary elections
The primary was held on Tuesday, August 6.
Democratic primary
Frank Church, Boise, incumbent since 1957
Leon Olson, Boise
Republican primary
Charles Bolstridge, Nampa
Bob Smith, Nampa, attorney
Donald L. Winder, Boise
General election
Democratic candidates did extraordinarily well in 1974, in response to the Watergate scandal. This was true even in Republican leaning states and districts, leading commentators to call Church and other Democratic candidates elected that year, "Watergate babies."