Interesting question about senators

[Andy Hine]

When was the last time that a senator who ran for his parties nomination lost their bid for reelection in the same year?

[Vosem]

The last time an incumbent Senator did not win the nomination of their party was Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, in 2012. 2016 has been very unusual in the lack of any serious challenges to incumbent Senators; in 2014, 4 Senators were held to single-digits by challengers, though all the incumbents narrowly won (Lamar Alexander, R-TN; Thad Cochran, R-MS; Pat Roberts, R-KS; and Brian Schatz, D-HI).

[DavidB.]

The last time an incumbent Senator did not win the nomination of their party was Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, in 2012. 2016 has been very unusual in the lack of any serious challenges to incumbent Senators; in 2014, 4 Senators were held to single-digits by challengers, though all the incumbents narrowly won (Lamar Alexander, R-TN; Thad Cochran, R-MS; Pat Roberts, R-KS; and Brian Schatz, D-HI).

I think the OP asks about incumbent senators that ran for the presidential nomination of their party, lost that bid, and subsequently lost re-election to the Senate too.

[Vosem]

The last time an incumbent Senator did not win the nomination of their party was Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, in 2012. 2016 has been very unusual in the lack of any serious challenges to incumbent Senators; in 2014, 4 Senators were held to single-digits by challengers, though all the incumbents narrowly won (Lamar Alexander, R-TN; Thad Cochran, R-MS; Pat Roberts, R-KS; and Brian Schatz, D-HI).

I think the OP asks about incumbent senators that ran for the presidential nomination of their party, lost that bid, and subsequently lost re-election to the Senate too.

Going from the start of the primary system in 1972, Senators who ran for President, then lost reelection in the next election:
Sen. Frank Church (D-ID); ran 1976, lost reelection 1980
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT); ran 2004, lost primary reelection 2006, became independent and won reelection anyway (incomplete example)

Senators who won their next Senatorial reelection, but lost reelection eventually:
Sen. George McGovern (D-SD); ran 1972, reelected 1974, lost reelection 1980
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN); ran 1996, reelected 2000, 2006, lost primary reelection 2012

Not a very common phenomenon.

[Green Line]

All I know is, it won't happen this year!

[Andy Hine]

The last time an incumbent Senator did not win the nomination of their party was Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, in 2012. 2016 has been very unusual in the lack of any serious challenges to incumbent Senators; in 2014, 4 Senators were held to single-digits by challengers, though all the incumbents narrowly won (Lamar Alexander, R-TN; Thad Cochran, R-MS; Pat Roberts, R-KS; and Brian Schatz, D-HI).

I think the OP asks about incumbent senators that ran for the presidential nomination of their party, lost that bid, and subsequently lost re-election to the Senate too.

Yes, that's what I was asking. I guess it could happen to Rubio this year, although he is favored at the moment.

[Andy Hine]

The last time an incumbent Senator did not win the nomination of their party was Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, in 2012. 2016 has been very unusual in the lack of any serious challenges to incumbent Senators; in 2014, 4 Senators were held to single-digits by challengers, though all the incumbents narrowly won (Lamar Alexander, R-TN; Thad Cochran, R-MS; Pat Roberts, R-KS; and Brian Schatz, D-HI).

I think the OP asks about incumbent senators that ran for the presidential nomination of their party, lost that bid, and subsequently lost re-election to the Senate too.

Going from the start of the primary system in 1972, Senators who ran for President, then lost reelection in the next election:
Sen. Frank Church (D-ID); ran 1976, lost reelection 1980
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT); ran 2004, lost primary reelection 2006, became independent and won reelection anyway (incomplete example)

Senators who won their next Senatorial reelection, but lost reelection eventually:
Sen. George McGovern (D-SD); ran 1972, reelected 1974, lost reelection 1980
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN); ran 1996, reelected 2000, 2006, lost primary reelection 2012

Not a very common phenomenon.

Yes, but they did not lose reelection in the same year as their presidential run. Frank Church lost 4 years after he sought the nomination.

[Miles]

For the House, it almost happened with Bachmann in 2012.

[Vosem]

The last time an incumbent Senator did not win the nomination of their party was Richard Lugar, Republican of Indiana, in 2012. 2016 has been very unusual in the lack of any serious challenges to incumbent Senators; in 2014, 4 Senators were held to single-digits by challengers, though all the incumbents narrowly won (Lamar Alexander, R-TN; Thad Cochran, R-MS; Pat Roberts, R-KS; and Brian Schatz, D-HI).

I think the OP asks about incumbent senators that ran for the presidential nomination of their party, lost that bid, and subsequently lost re-election to the Senate too.

Going from the start of the primary system in 1972, Senators who ran for President, then lost reelection in the next election:
Sen. Frank Church (D-ID); ran 1976, lost reelection 1980
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT); ran 2004, lost primary reelection 2006, became independent and won reelection anyway (incomplete example)

Senators who won their next Senatorial reelection, but lost reelection eventually:
Sen. George McGovern (D-SD); ran 1972, reelected 1974, lost reelection 1980
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN); ran 1996, reelected 2000, 2006, lost primary reelection 2012

Not a very common phenomenon.

Yes, but they did not lose reelection in the same year as their presidential run. Frank Church lost 4 years after he sought the nomination.

Nobody has done that in the history of the presidential primary.