Electoral history of Jesse Helms

The electoral history of Jesse Helms begins with his election to Raleigh City Council. However, most of the elections in which he was involved were to the United States Senate. Five consecutive victories gave Jesse Helms a thirty-year Senate career.

United States Senate

1972 election

Main article: 1972 United States Senate election in North Carolina

1972 North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms	92,496	60.13	N/A
	Republican	James Johnson	45,303	29.45	N/A
	Republican	William Booe	16,032	10.42	N/A
Turnout			153,831

1972 North Carolina U.S. Senate election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms	795,247	54.01	+9.61
	Democratic	Nick Galifianakis	677,293	45.99	−9.60
Turnout			1,472,540

1978 election

Main article: 1978 United States Senate election in North Carolina

Helms won the Republican Party's nomination unopposed.

1978 North Carolina U.S. Senate election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms (incumbent)	619,151	54.51	+0.50
	Democratic	John Ingram	516,663	45.49	−0.50
Turnout			1,135,814

1984 election

Main article: 1984 United States Senate election in North Carolina

1984 North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms (incumbent)	134,675	90.65	N/A
	Republican	George Wimbish	13,799	9.35	N/A
Turnout			148,574

1984 North Carolina U.S. Senate election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms (incumbent)	1,156,768	51.66	−2.85
	Democratic	Jim Hunt	1,070,488	47.81	+2.32
	Libertarian	Bobby Emory	9,302	0.42	N/A
	Socialist Workers	Kate Daher	2,493	0.11	N/A
Turnout			2,239,051

1990 election

Main article: 1990 United States Senate election in North Carolina

1990 North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms (incumbent)	157,345	84.32	−6.33
	Republican	L. C. Nixon	15,355	8.23	N/A
	Republican	George Wimbish	13,895	7.45	−1.90
Turnout			186,595

1990 North Carolina U.S. Senate election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms (incumbent)	1,089,012	52.58	+0.92
	Democratic	Harvey Gantt	981,573	47.39	−0.42
	Socialist Workers	Rich Stuart	681	0.03	−0.08
Turnout			2,071,266

1996 election

Main article: 1996 United States Senate election in North Carolina

Helms won the Republican Party's nomination unopposed.

1996 North Carolina U.S. Senate election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jesse Helms (incumbent)	1,436,638	55.89	+3.31
	Democratic	Harvey Gantt	1,097,053	42.68	−4.71
	Libertarian	Ray Ubinger	25,396	0.99	N/A
	Natural Law	Victor Pardo	11,209	0.44	N/A
Turnout			2,570,439

Vice President of the United States

Helms ran for the Republican Party's nomination for Vice President a number of times. However, he always withdrew his nomination before the party national convention. Nonetheless, two 'Draft Helms' movements have led to him winning a number of unsolicited delegates at the convention, placing him second (in a one-horse race) both times.

1976 Republican National Convention

Main article: 1976 Republican National Convention

1976 Republican National Convention nomination for Vice President

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bob Dole	1,921	89.10
	Republican	Jesse Helms	103	4.78	N/A
	Republican	Ronald Reagan	27	1.25
	Republican	Others	105	4.87	N/A
Turnout			2,156

1980 Republican National Convention

Main article: 1980 Republican National Convention

1980 Republican National Convention nomination for Vice President

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George H. W. Bush	1,832	93.33	+93.29
	Republican	Jesse Helms	54	2.75	−2.03
	Republican	Jack Kemp	42	2.14	N/A
	Republican	Others	35	1.78	N/A
Turnout			1,963