The North Carolina United States Senate election of 1978 was held on November 7, 1978 as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. The general election was between the Republican incumbent Jesse Helms and the Democratic nominee John Ingram. Helms won re-election, by a slightly wider margin than in 1972. This was the first Senate election where Republicans were re-elected.
Republican primary
Candidates
Jesse Helms, incumbent Senator since 1973
Results
Jesse Helms won the Republican Party's nomination unopposed.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Lawrence Davis
William Griffin
Joe Felmet, Winston-Salem Journal editorialist, civil rights activist, and candidate for U.S. House in 1974 Luther H. Hodges Jr., chairman of North Carolina National Bank and son of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Luther Hodges John Ingram, North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance since 1973 Dave McKnight Tom Sawyer McNeill Smith, State Senator from Greensboro
Results
General election
Candidates
Jesse Helms, U.S. Senator since 1973 (Republican) John Ingram (Democratic)