Democratic senator Robert S. Kerr, who won re-election to his third term in 1960, died in office on January 1, 1963.

Edmondson ran for election in the ensuing special election, and faced strong competition from former governor Raymond D. Gary and State Senator Fred R. Harris.

In the general election, Harris faced former Oklahoma Sooners football coach Bud Wilkinson, the Republican nominee.

Even though President Lyndon B. Johnson won Oklahoma by a wide margin over Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, the Senate race was much closer.

Ultimately, Harris only narrowly defeated Wilkinson by just 2% of the vote.