November 7, 1978, marked a significant political upset in the U.S., particularly affecting two prominent Black politicians:

? Mervyn Dymally Defeated in California

• Mervyn Dymally, the first Black Lieutenant Governor of California (1975–1979), lost his re-election bid to Republican Mike Curb.
• Dymally had previously served in the California State Assembly and Senate before becoming Lt. Governor.
• Despite his defeat, he later returned to politics, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–1993).

? Senator Edward W. Brooke Defeated in Massachusetts

• Edward W. Brooke, the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote (1966), lost his re-election bid to Democrat Paul Tsongas.
• A moderate Republican, Brooke was known for his work on civil rights, housing, and opposition to Nixon’s Watergate cover-up.
• His defeat marked a significant shift in Massachusetts politics, as Tsongas represented a rising liberal movement.

Both losses reflected broader political shifts in the late 1970s, with a more conservative trend in California and a progressive wave in Massachusetts.