United States Senate elections, 1958 and 1959

United States Senate elections, 1958 and 1959
United States
November 4, 1958
(September 8, 1958 in Maine)
(And other dates for special elections)

32 of the 98 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
49 seats needed for a majority

  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Lyndon Johnson Everett Dirksen
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat Texas Illinois
Seats before 49 47
Seats after 61 35
Seat change Increase 12 Decrease 12
Popular vote 20,620,465 16,180,851
Percentage 55.0% 43.1%
Swing Increase 4.4% Decrease 5.4%
Seats up 12 20
Races won 24 8

Results including special elections
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold

Majority Leader before election

Lyndon Johnson
Democratic

Elected Majority Leader

Lyndon B. Johnson
Democratic

The United States Senate elections of 1958 (and subsequent special elections in 1959) were elections for the United States Senate which occurred in the middle of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's second term. As is common in midterm elections, the party in the White House lost seats, but losses this year were more than usual, perhaps due to the high unemployment of the Recession of 1958. The Eisenhower Administration's position on right-to-work issues galvanized labor unions which supported Democrats. The launch of Sputnik may also have been a factor.

The Democratic Party took 12 Republican seats and a special election seat (10 of them by defeating incumbents), and also won both Senate seats in the new state of Alaska. Senate elections in 1959 in the new state of Hawaii were split between the two parties; combined with the 1958 results, this yielded an aggregate gain of 16 seats for the Democrats for a party balance of 65-35. This is the largest swing in the history of the Senate, and is only the second time in U.S. history that 10 or more Senate seats changed hands in a midterm election (after 1946).

New seats

New Democratic seats

  1. Alaska (class 2): won by Bob Bartlett
  2. Alaska (class 3): won by Ernest Gruening

Incumbents retiring

Democrats

No Democrats retired.

Republican seats held by Republicans

  1. New York: Irving M. Ives, replaced by Kenneth B. Keating
  2. Pennsylvania: Edward Martin, replaced by Hugh Scott
  3. Vermont: Ralph E. Flanders, replaced by Winston L. Prouty

Republicans replaced by Democrats

  1. California: William F. Knowland, replaced by Clair Engle
  2. Indiana: William E. Jenner, replaced by Vance Hartke
  3. New Jersey: H. Alexander Smith, replaced by Harrison A. Williams, Jr.

Incumbents who lost re-election (or appointee who lost election)

Democrats replaced by Republicans

No Democrats lost re-election.

Republicans replaced by Democrats

West Virginia's delegation changed from two Republicans to two Democrats.

  1. Connecticut: William A. Purtell, lost to Thomas J. Dodd
  2. Maine: Frederick G. Payne, lost to Edmund S. Muskie
  3. Michigan: Charles E. Potter, lost to Philip A. Hart
  4. Minnesota: Edward John Thye, lost to Eugene McCarthy
  5. Nevada: George W. Malone, lost to Howard W. Cannon
  6. Ohio: John W. Bricker, lost to Stephen M. Young
  7. Utah: Arthur V. Watkins, lost to Frank E. Moss
  8. West Virginia: William C. Revercomb, lost to Robert C. Byrd
  9. West Virginia (Class 2): John D. Hoblitzell, Jr., lost to Jennings Randolph
  10. Wyoming: Frank A. Barrett, lost to Gale McGee

Results summary

For the November 5 and November 25, 1958 general and special elections.

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties Total
Democratic Republican
Before these elections 49 47 96
Not up 37 26 63
Class 2 (1954) 20 11 31
Class 3 (1956) 17 15 32
Up 12 21 33
General: Class 1 12 20 32
Special: Class 2 1 1
Special: Class 3 0
Incumbent retired 6 6
Held by same party 3 3
Replaced by other party Decrease3 Republicans replaced by Increase3 Democrats IncreaseDecrease3
Result 3 3 6
Incumbent ran 12 15 27
Won re-election 12 5 17
Lost re-election Decrease10 Republicans replaced by Increase10 Democrats IncreaseDecrease10
Lost renomination
but held by same party
Result 22 5 27
New state 2 2
Total elected 27 8 35
Net change Increase15 Decrease13 Increase2
Result 64 34 98

Change in Senate composition

Before the general elections

  D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9
D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28
D38
Ran
D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31 D30 D29
D39
Ran
D40
Ran
D41
Ran
D42
Ran
D43
Ran
D44
Ran
D45
Ran
D46
Ran
D47
Ran
D48
Ran
Majority → D49
Ran
R39
Ran
R40
Ran
R41
Ran
R42
Retired
R43
Retired
R44
Retired
R45
Retired
R46
Retired
R47
Retired
R38
Ran
R37
Ran
R36
Ran
R35
Ran
R34
Ran
R33
Ran
R32
Ran
R31
Ran
R30
Ran
R29
Ran
R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28
Ran
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

After the general elections

  D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9
D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28
D38
Re-elected
D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31 D30 D29
D39
Re-elected
D40
Re-elected
D41
Re-elected
D42
Re-elected
D43
Re-elected
D44
Re-elected
D45
Re-elected
D46
Re-elected
D47
Re-elected
D48
Re-elected
Majority → D49
Re-elected
D58
Gain
D57
Gain
D56
Gain
D55
Gain
D54
Gain
D53
Gain
D52
Gain
D51
Gain
D50
Gain
D59
Gain
D60
Gain
D61
Gain
R35
Hold
R34
Hold
R33
Hold
R32
Re-elected
R31
Re-elected
R30
Re-elected
R29
Re-elected
R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28
Re-elected
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

After the special elections

  D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9
D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10
D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29
D39 D38 D37 D36 D35
Appointee elected
D34 D33 D32 D31 D30
D40 D41 D42 D43 D44 D45 D46 D47 D48 D49
Majority → D50
D59 D58 D57 D56 D55 D54 D53 D52 D51
D60 D61 D62
Gain
D63
New state
D64
New state
R34 R33 R32 R31 R30
R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29
R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10
  R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9

After the admission of Hawaii

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10
D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11
D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30
D40 D39 D38 D37 D36 D35 D34 D33 D32 D31
D41 D42 D43 D44 D45 D46 D47 D48 D49 D50
Majority → D51
D60 D59 D58 D57 D56 D55 D54 D53 D52
D61 D62 D63 D64 D65
New state
R35
New state
R34 R33 R32 R31
R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28 R29 R30
R20 R19 R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican

Race summaries

Special elections during the 85th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1958 or before January 3, 1959; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
North Carolina
(Class 2)
Benjamin Everett Jordan Democratic 1958 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected November 4, 1958. Benjamin Everett Jordan (Democratic) 70.0%
Richard C. Clarke, Jr. (Republican) 30.0%
West Virginia
(Class 2)
John D. Hoblitzell, Jr. Republican 1958 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost election.
New senator elected November 4, 1958.
Democratic gain.
Jennings Randolph (Democratic) 59.3%
John D. Hoblitzell, Jr. (Republican) 40.7%
Alaska
(Class 2)
Alaska admitted as a state January 3, 1959. New state.
New senator elected November 25, 1958.
Democratic gain.
Bob Bartlett (Democratic) 83.8%
R. E. Robertson (Republican) 15.0%
Keith Capper (write in) 1.2%
Alaska
(Class 3)
Alaska admitted as a state January 3, 1959. New state.
New senator elected November 25, 1958.
Democratic gain.
Ernest Gruening (Democratic) 52.6%
Mike Stepovich (Republican) 47.4%

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1959; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Arizona Barry Goldwater Republican 1952 Incumbent re-elected. Barry Goldwater (Republican) 56.1%
Ernest W. McFarland (Democratic) 43.9%
California William F. Knowland Republican 1945 (Appointed)
1946 (Special)
1952
Incumbent retired to run for California Governor.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Clair Engle (Democratic) 57.0%
Goodwin J. Knight (Republican) 42.9%
Connecticut William A. Purtell Republican 1952 (Appointed)
1952 (Retired)
1952
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Thomas J. Dodd (Democratic) 57.3%
William A. Purtell (Republican) 42.4%
Vivien Kellems (write-in) 0.3%
Delaware John J. Williams Republican 1946
1952
Incumbent re-elected. John J. Williams (Republican) 53.3%
Elbert N. Carvel (Democratic) 46.7%
Florida Spessard Holland Democratic 1946 (Appointed)
1946
1952
Incumbent re-elected. Spessard Holland (Democratic) 71.2%
Leland Hyzer (Republican) 28.8%
Indiana William E. Jenner Republican 1944 (Special)
1946
1952
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Vance Hartke (Democratic) 56.5%
Harold W. Handley (Republican) 42.4%
John Stelle (Prohibition) 1.1%
Maine Frederick G. Payne Republican 1952 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Edmund S. Muskie (Democratic) 60.8%
Frederick G. Payne (Republican) 39.2%
Maryland James Glenn Beall Republican 1952 Incumbent re-elected. James Glenn Beall (Republican) 51.0%
Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr. (Democratic) 49.0%
Massachusetts John F. Kennedy Democratic 1952 Incumbent re-elected. John F. Kennedy (Democratic) 73.2%
Vincent J. Celeste (Republican) 26.2%
Michigan Charles E. Potter Republican 1952 (Special)
1952
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Philip A. Hart (Democratic) 53.6%
Charles E. Potter (Republican) 46.1%
Minnesota Edward John Thye Republican 1946
1952
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Eugene McCarthy (Democratic) 52.9%
Edward John Thye (Republican) 46.6%
William M. Curran (Socialist Workers) 0.5%
Mississippi John C. Stennis Democratic 1947 (Special)
1952
Incumbent re-elected. John C. Stennis Unopposed
Missouri Stuart Symington Democratic 1952 Incumbent re-elected. Stuart Symington (Democratic) 66.5%
Hazel Palmer (Republican) 33.6%
Montana Mike Mansfield Democratic 1952 Incumbent re-elected. Mike Mansfield (Democratic) 76.2%
Lou W. Welch (Republican) 23.8%
Nebraska Roman L. Hruska Republican 1954 (Special) Incumbent re-elected. Roman L. Hruska (Republican) 55.6%
Frank B. Morrison (Democratic) 44.4%
Nevada George W. Malone Republican 1946
1952
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Howard W. Cannon (Democratic) 57.7%
George W. Malone (Republican) 42.3%
New Jersey H. Alexander Smith Republican 1944 (Special)
1946
1952
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (Democratic) 51.4%
Robert W. Kean (Republican) 46.9%
New Mexico Dennis Chavez Democratic 1935 (Appointed)
1936 (Special)
1940
1946
1952
Incumbent re-elected. Dennis Chavez (Democratic) 62.7%
Forrest S. Atchley (Republican) 37.3%
New York Irving M. Ives Republican 1946
1952
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Kenneth B. Keating (Republican) 50.8%
Frank S. Hogan (Democratic) 48.4%
North Dakota William Langer Republican 1940
1946
1952
Incumbent re-elected. William Langer (Republican) 57.2%
Raymond Vensdel (Democratic) 41.5%
Ohio John W. Bricker Republican 1946
1952
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Stephen M. Young (Democratic) 52.5%
John W. Bricker (Republican) 47.5%
Pennsylvania Edward Martin Republican 1946
1952
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Hugh Scott (Republican) 51.2%
George M. Leader (Democratic) 48.4%
Rhode Island John O. Pastore Democratic 1950 (Special)
1952
Incumbent re-elected. John O. Pastore (Democratic) 64.5%
Bayard Ewing (Republican) 35.5%
Tennessee Albert Gore, Sr. Democratic 1952 Incumbent re-elected. Albert Gore, Sr. (Democratic) 79.0%
Hobart F. Atkins (Republican) 19.0%
Texas Ralph Yarborough Democratic 1957 (Special) Incumbent re-elected. Ralph Yarborough (Democratic) 74.6%
Roy Whittenburg (Republican) 23.6%
Utah Arthur V. Watkins Republican 1946
1952
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Frank E. Moss (Democratic) 38.7%
Arthur V. Watkins (Republican) 34.8%
J. Bracken Lee (Independent) 26.4%
Vermont Ralph E. Flanders Republican 1946 (Appointed)
1946 (Special)
1952
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Winston L. Prouty (Republican) 52.2%
Frederick J. Fayette (Democratic) 47.8%
Virginia Harry F. Byrd Democratic 1933 (Appointed)
1933 (Special)
1934
1940
1946
1952
Incumbent re-elected. Harry F. Byrd (Democratic) 69.3%
Louise Wensel (Independent) 26.3%
Washington Henry M. Jackson Democratic 1952 Incumbent re-elected. Henry M. Jackson (Democratic) 67.3%
William B. Bantz (Republican) 31.4%
West Virginia Chapman Revercomb Republican 1942
1948 (Lost)
1956 (Special)
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Robert C. Byrd (Democratic) 59.2%
Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 40.8%
Wisconsin William Proxmire Democratic 1957 (Special) Incumbent re-elected. William Proxmire (Democratic) 57.1%
Roland J. Steinle (Republican) 42.7%
Wyoming Frank A. Barrett Republican 1952 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Gale McGee (Democratic) 50.8%
Frank A. Barrett (Republican) 49.2%

Elections during the 86th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated after January 3, 1959.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Hawaii
(Class 1)
Hawaii admitted as a state August 21, 1959. New seat.
New senator elected July 28, 1959.
Republican gain.
Hiram Fong (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Hawaii
(Class 3)
Hawaii admitted as a state August 21, 1959. New seat.
New senator elected July 28, 1959.
Democratic gain.
Oren E. Long (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]

Complete list of races

Connecticut

In Connecticut, Democratic Thomas J. Dodd defeated incumbent senator William A. Purtell who ran for a second term.

United States Senate election in Connecticut, 1958[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Thomas J. Dodd 554,841 57.29%
Republican William A. Purtell 410,622 42.40%
Independent Vivien Kellems 3,043 0.31%
Majority 144,219 14.89
Turnout 968,506
Swing to Democratic from Republican Swing

Montana

In Montana, incumbent United States Senator Mike Mansfield, who was first elected to the Senate in 1952, ran for re-election. Mansfield won the Democratic primary comfortably, and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Lou W. Welch, a millworker and the Republican nominee. In contrast to the close campaign in 1952, Mansfield defeated Welch in a landslide and won his second term in the Senate easily.

Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Mansfield (inc.) 97,207 91.72
Democratic J. M. Nickey 4,710 4.44
Democratic Thomas G. Stimatz, former State Representative 4,061 3.83
Total votes 105,978 100.00
Republican Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lou W. Welch, millworker 19,860 50.30
Republican Blanche Anderson 19,624 49.70
Total votes 39,484 100.00
General election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Mike Mansfield (inc.) 174,910 76.22% Increase25.47%
Republican Lou W. Welch 54,573 23.78% Decrease24.77%
Majority 120,337 52.44% Increase50.25%
Turnout 229,483
Democratic hold Swing

Nevada

In Nevada, incumbent Republican U.S. Senator George W. Malone ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Democrat Howard Cannon.

General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Howard Cannon, City Attorney of Las Vegas 48,732 57.65% Increase7.63%
Republican George W. Malone (inc.) 35,760 42.32% Decrease9.35%
Majority 12,972 15.35% Increase12.00%
Turnout 84,492
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

North Dakota

In North Dakota, the incumbent, Republican and former Non-Partisan League (NPL) Senator William Langer, was re-elected to a fourth term, defeating North Dakota Democratic NPL Party (Dem-NPL) candidate Raymond G. Vendsel.[3]

Only Langer filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic-NPL candidate was Raymond G. Vendsel. Langer and Vendsel won the primary elections for their respective parties.

Two independent candidates, Arthur C. Townley and Custer Solem, also filed before the deadline but had minimal impact on the outcome of the election, totaling less than 3,000 votes combined. Townley was known as the creator of the National Non-Partisan League, and had previously sought North Dakota's other senate seat in 1956.

1958 United States Senate election, North Dakota
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican William Langer (incumbent) 117,070 57.21
Democratic Raymond G. Vendsel 84,892 41.49
Independent Arthur C. Townley 1,700 0.83
Independent Custer Solem 973 0.48
Majority
Turnout 204,635

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Edward Martin did not seek re-election. The Republican nominee, Hugh Scott, defeated Democratic nominee George M. Leader for the vacant seat.

General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Hugh Scott 2,042,586 51.21% Decrease0.37%
Democratic George M. Leader 1,929,821 48.38% Increase0.40%
Socialist Labor George S. Taylor 10,431 0.26% Increase0.26%
Socialist Workers Ethel Peterson 5,742 0.14% Increase0.14%
N/A Other 42 0.00% N/A
Totals 3,988,622 100.00%

Vermont

In Vermont, incumbent Republican Ralph Flanders did not run for re-election to another term in the United States Senate. Republican candidate Winston L. Prouty defeated Democratic candidate Frederick J. Fayette to succeed him.

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Winston L. Prouty 31,866 64.6
Republican Lee E. Emerson 17,468 35.4
Republican Other 4 0.0
Total votes 49,338 100
Democratic primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Frederick J. Fayette 6,546 99.5
Democratic Other 32 0.5
Total votes 6,578 100
General election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Winston L. Prouty 64,900 52.2
Democratic Frederick J. Fayette 59,536 47.8
N/A Other 6 0.0
Total votes 124,442 100

Virginia

In Virginia, incumbent Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr. was re-elected after defeating Independent Louise Wensel and Social Democrat Clarke Robb.

General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Harry F. Byrd, Sr. (inc.) 317,221 69.32% Decrease4.03%
Independent Louise Wensel 120,224 26.27% Increase26.27%
Social Democratic Clarke T. Robb 20,154 4.40% Decrease7.98%
write-ins 41 0.01% Decrease1.54%
Majority 196,997 43.05%
Turnout 457,640
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=7721
  2. 1 2 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, June 3, 1958" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1958" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  5. "General Election Results - U.S. Senator - 1914-2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
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