1970 United States Senate election in California

The 1970 United States Senate election in California was held on November 3, 1970.

Incumbent Republican Senator George Murphy lost re-election to a second term to Democratic Congressman John V. Tunney. This election was the first since 1860 in which California sent two Democrats to the U.S. Senate.

Candidates

 * Robert Amequista
 * Robert R. Barry, former U.S. Representative from New York and unsuccessful candidate for Representative from California in 1966, 1967, and 1968
 * Katharine Marros
 * George Murphy, incumbent Senator
 * Norton Simon, billionaire industrialist and philanthropist

Candidates

 * Eileen Anderson, candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles in 1969
 * Arthur Bell Jr.
 * George E. Brown Jr., U.S. Representative from Monterey Park
 * Louis Di Salvo
 * Kenneth Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor
 * Leonard Kurland
 * John V. Tunney, U.S. Representative from Riverside

Candidates

 * George Murphy, incumbent Senator since 1965 (Republican)
 * Charles C. Ripley (American Independent)
 * Robert Scheer, journalist (Peace and Freedom)
 * John V. Tunney, U.S. Representative from Riverside (Democratic)