United States Senate elections, 1952

United States Senate elections, 1952
1950 ←
 November 4, 1952
 → 1954
36 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate
49 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Robert Taft Ernest McFarland
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat Ohio Arizona (lost seat)
Last election 47 seats 49 seats
Seats before 46 49
Seats won 48 47
Seat change +2 -2
  Republican holds
  Republican pickups
  Democratic holds
  Democratic pickups
Majority Leader before election

Ernest McFarland
Democratic

 Elected Majority Leader

Robert Taft
Republican

The U.S. Senate election, 1952 was an election for the United States Senate which coincided with the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower to the presidency by a large margin. The Republicans managed to make a net gain of two seats, which was reduced to one when Wayne L. Morse (R-OR) became an independent after his pro-New Deal positions and support for Adlai Stevenson alienated Republican leaders. The Republicans held a 49 to 47 seat majority after Morse's switch.

Republicans took the open seat in Maryland and defeated five Democratic incumbents:

Democrats defeated four Republican incumbents:

Notable freshmen are future President John F. Kennedy (D-MA) and future presidential candidate Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), future Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-MT), as well as Al Gore Sr. (D-TN), father of future Vice President Al Gore and Prescott Bush (R-CT), father of future President George H. W. Bush and grandfather of future President George W Bush.

Complete summary of results

All elections are for the Class 1 seats, unless otherwise indicated.

State Incumbent Party Result Opposing Candidates
Arizona Ernest W. McFarland Democratic Lost re-election, 51.3 - 48.7
Republican gain		 Barry Goldwater (Republican)
California William F. Knowland Republican Re-elected, 87.7 - 11.9 Reuben W. Borough (Independent Progressive)
Connecticut William Benton Democratic Lost re-election, 52.5 - 44.4
Republican gain		 William A. Purtell (Republican)
Connecticut
Special (class 3)		 William A. Purtell Republican Interim appointee retired to run for the Class 1 seat
Republican hold, 51.2 - 48.5		 Prescott S. Bush (Republican)
Abraham A. Ribicoff (Democratic)
Delaware John J. Williams Republican Re-elected, 54.5 - 45.5 A. I. du Pont Bayard (Democratic)
Florida Spessard Holland Democratic Re-elected, 99.8
Indiana William E. Jenner Republican Re-elected, 52.4 - 46.8 Henry F. Schricker (Democratic)
Kentucky
Special (class 2)		 Thomas R. Underwood Democratic Lost re-election, 51.5 - 48.5
Republican gain		 John S. Cooper (Republican)
Maine Ralph O. Brewster Republican Lost renomination
Republican hold, 58.7 - 34.9 - 6.4		 Frederick G. Payne (Republican)
Roger P. Dube (Democratic)
Earl S. Grant (Independent)
Maryland Herbert R. O'Conor Democratic Retired
Republican gain, 52.5 - 47.5		 James Glenn Beall (Republican)
George P. Mahoney (Democratic)
Massachusetts Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Republican Lost re-election, 51.4 - 48.4
Democratic gain		 John F. Kennedy (Democratic)
Michigan Blair Moody Democratic Lost re-election, 50.6 - 49.0
Republican gain		 Charles E. Potter (Republican)
Minnesota Edward John Thye Republican Re-elected, 56.6 - 42.5 William E. Carlson (Democratic)
Mississippi John C. Stennis Democratic Re-elected, unopposed
Missouri James P. Kem Republican Lost re-election, 54.0 - 45.9
Democratic gain		 Stuart Symington (Democratic)
Montana Zales N. Ecton Republican Lost re-election, 50.8 - 48.6
Democratic gain		 Mike Mansfield (Democratic)
Nebraska Hugh Butler Republican Re-elected, 69.1 - 27.8 Stanley D. Long (Democratic)
Nebraska
Special (class 2)		 Fred Andrew Seaton Republican Retired
Republican hold, 63.6 - 36.4		 Dwight Griswold (Republican)
William Ritchie (Democratic)
Nevada George W. Malone Republican Re-elected, 51.7 - 48.3 Thomas B. Mechling (Democratic)
New Jersey H. Alexander Smith Republican Re-elected, 55.5 - 43.6 Archibald S. Alexander (Democratic)
New Mexico Dennis Chavez Democratic Re-elected, 51.1 - 48.9 Patrick J. Hurley (Republican)
New York Irving M. Ives Republican Re-elected, 55.2 - 36.1 - 7.0 John Cashmore (Democratic)
George Counts (Liberal)
North Dakota William Langer Republican Re-elected, 66.4 - 23.3 - 10.4 Harold A. Morrison (Democratic)
Fred G. Aandahl (Independent)
Ohio John W. Bricker Republican Re-elected, 54.6 - 45.4 Michael V. DiSalle (Democratic)
Pennsylvania Edward Martin Republican Re-elected, 51.6 - 48.0 Guy K. Bard (Democratic)
Rhode Island John O. Pastore Democratic Re-elected, 54.8 - 45.2 Bayard Ewing (Republican)
Tennessee Kenneth D. McKellar Democratic Lost renomination
Democratic hold, 74.2 - 20.9		 Albert Gore, Sr. (Democratic)
Hobart F. Atkins (Republican)
Texas Tom Connally Democratic Retired
Democratic hold, unopposed		 Price Daniel (Democratic)
Utah Arthur V. Watkins Republican Re-elected, 54.3 - 45.7 Walter K. Granger (Democratic)
Vermont Ralph E. Flanders Republican Re-elected, 72.3 - 27.7 Allan R. Johnston (Democratic)
Virginia Harry F. Byrd Democratic Re-elected, 73.4 - 12.7 - 12.4 H. M. Vise, Sr. (Independent)
Clarke T. Robb (Independent)
Washington Harry P. Cain Republican Lost re-election, 56.2 - 43.5
Democratic gain		 Henry M. Jackson (Democratic)
West Virginia Harley M. Kilgore Democratic Re-elected, 53.6 - 46.4 Chapman Revercomb (Republican)
Wisconsin Joseph R. McCarthy Republican Re-elected, 54.2 - 45.6 Thomas E. Fairchild (Democratic)
Wyoming Joseph C. O'Mahoney Democratic Lost re-election, 51.6 - 48.4
Republican gain		 Frank A. Barrett (Republican)

Senate composition before and after elections

82nd Congress Senate Composition   83rd Congress Senate Composition
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
Color Key:   = Republican   = Democratic   = Independent

See also

Pre-17th Amendment
Post-17th Amendment