1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries
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| 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election name | 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries |
| Country | United States |
| Type | presidential |
| Previous election | 1964 Democratic Party presidential primaries |
| Previous year | 1964 |
| Next election | 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries |
| Next year | 1972 |
| Election date | March 12 to June 11, 1968 |
| Votes for election | 2,622 delegates to the 1968 Democratic National Convention |
| Needed votes | 1,312 (majority) |
| Nominee1 | Hubert Humphrey |
| Home state1 | Minnesota |
| Delegate count1 | 1,760 |
| Popular vote1 | 166,463 |
| Percentage1 | 2.2% |
| Nominee2 | Robert F. Kennedy |
| Home state2 | New York |
| Delegate count2 | 393 |
| Popular vote2 | 2,304,542 |
| Percentage2 | 30.6% |
| Nominee3 | Eugene McCarthy |
| Home state3 | Minnesota |
| Delegate count3 | 258 |
| Popular vote3 | 2,328,027 |
| Percentage3 | 38.7% |
| Title | Democratic nominee |
| Before election | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Before party | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After election | Hubert Humphrey |
| After party | Democratic Party (United States) |
1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries were a defining and tumultuous series of contests that fractured the Democratic Party during a year of profound national crisis. The primaries were dominated by the escalating Vietnam War and intense domestic unrest, leading to the withdrawal of an incumbent president and the assassination of a leading candidate. The eventual nominee, Hubert Humphrey, secured the nomination without entering a single primary, a decision that fueled significant intra-party discord and shaped the general election against Richard Nixon.
Background and political context
The political landscape was dominated by the increasingly unpopular Vietnam War, which had expanded dramatically under President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Tet Offensive in early 1968 shattered public confidence in the administration's claims of progress, galvanizing the anti-war movement. Simultaneously, the nation was reeling from urban unrest following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and widespread protests on university campuses like Columbia University. This climate of violence and disillusionment created a powerful challenge to the New Deal coalition and the Democratic establishment from both the party's left wing and the segregationist right.
Candidates and campaigns
The field was initially defined by the anti-war challenge of Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, whose strong second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary demonstrated Johnson's vulnerability. This prompted Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York to enter the race, mobilizing a coalition of African Americans, working-class whites, and anti-war activists. Following Johnson's stunning withdrawal from the race in March, his Vice President, Hubert Humphrey, announced his candidacy, choosing to bypass the primaries and secure delegates through the support of party leaders like Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago. Other candidates included Senator George McGovern, who entered after Kennedy's death, and favorite-son candidates like Roger D. Branigin of Indiana.
Primary elections and results
Key early contests included McCarthy's strong showing in New Hampshire and Kennedy's crucial victory in Indiana. The California primary emerged as the decisive battle between Kennedy and McCarthy. On June 4, Kennedy won a narrow victory in California, but was assassinated hours later at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. In total, McCarthy won the most popular votes and states, including victories in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. However, Humphrey's strategy of courting unpledged delegates from non-primary states like Illinois, Ohio, and Texas gave him an overwhelming lead in committed convention delegates.
Key issues and voter sentiment
The central issue was unequivocally the Vietnam War, with McCarthy and Kennedy demanding a negotiated settlement or withdrawal. Domestic issues included the Civil Rights Movement, poverty, and rising crime, which fueled a "law and order" backlash exploited by both Nixon and Wallace. The Chicago police response to protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention later epitomized the era's social fractures. Voter sentiment was deeply polarized, splitting between the anti-war New Left, the traditional labor union base, and Southern conservatives alienated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Convention and nomination
The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago was a scene of chaos and confrontation. Inside the International Amphitheatre, the party was divided over the Vietnam War plank of the platform, with Humphrey defeating a peace plank backed by McCarthy and McGovern. Outside, violent clashes occurred between police, the Illinois National Guard, and thousands of anti-war protesters in Grant Park. Humphrey secured the nomination on the first ballot with strong support from the party apparatus, but the televised images of violence severely damaged his candidacy and the party's unity.
Aftermath and historical impact
Humphrey's loss to Richard Nixon in the 1968 United States presidential election was a direct consequence of the primaries' divisions. The turmoil led the McGovern–Fraser Commission to radically reform the delegate selection process, establishing a system of binding primaries and caucuses that diminished the power of party bosses. This fundamentally transformed American presidential politics, leading to more open but also more ideologically polarized nomination contests. The events of 1968 marked the end of the New Deal coalition's dominance and left a lasting legacy on the Democratic Party's structure and electoral strategy.
Category:1968 United States presidential election Category:Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries