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Eugene J. McCarthy

Democratic

Picture of Eugene J. McCarthy
Library of Congress
Date Party Office Votes Result
11-05-1968 Californians for an Alternative in November President 20721 Loss
11-08-1988 Consumer President 234 Loss
 

Candidate Biography:

Born: March 29, 1916 in Watkins, Minnesota
Married: Abigail Quigley
Children: Mary, Michael, Ellen, and Margaret
Died: December 10, 2005 in Washington, DC.

1949-1959: Member of Congress [Minnesota]
1959-1971: Member, United States Senate [Minnesota]
1968: Primary Candidate for President (Lost)*
1972: Primary Candidate for President (Lost)
1982: Primary Candidate for US Senate [Minnesota]
1992: Primary Candidate for President (Lost)

  • According to Ballot Access News, the 58,412 votes that McCarthy received in California as a write-in candidate in 1976, was "the largest vote total in each state for a write-in presidential candidate in the general election" [Source: Ballot Access News, Volume 25, Number 8 (Jan. 2010)]
  • In 1968, McCarthy lost the Presidential primary to Robert F. Kennedy by 150,000 votes. Minutes after announcing his victory in California, Kennedy was assassinated as he left his victory party in Los Angeles.