United States Senate elections, 1952

United States Senate elections, 1952

November 4, 1952[1]
36 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Robert Taft Lyndon Johnson Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat Ohio Texas Seats before 46 50 Seats after 48 48 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 23,241,687 20,028,738 Percentage 51.9% 44.7% Swing 2.0% 2.5% Seats up 19 13 Races won 21 11
Results including special elections      Democratic gains      Republican gains      Democratic holds      Republican holds
Majority Leader before election Ernest McFarland Democratic Elected Majority Leader Robert Taft Republican

The United States Senate elections of 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 Morse (R-OR) became an independent. The Republicans held a 49 to 47 seat majority after Morse's switch. This election was the second time in history (after 1932) that the party in power lost their majority and the Senate Majority Leader lost his own re-election bid. (In addition, this was the second consecutive election in which a sitting Senate leader lost his seat.)

Retirements

Democrat who was replaced by a Republican

1. Maryland: Herbert O'Conor was replaced by James Glenn Beall.

Democratic hold

1. Texas: Tom Connally was replaced by Price Daniel.

Republican holds

Both Republican holds were in special elections.

1. Connecticut: Appointee William A. Purtell retired to run for the Class 1 seat and was replaced by Prescott Bush.
2. Nebraska: Appointee Fred Andrew Seaton retired and was replaced by Dwight Griswold.

Incumbent losses

Renomination

Democratic hold

1. Tennessee: Kenneth D. McKellar lost to Albert Gore, Sr., who later won the general election.

Republican hold

1. Maine: Ralph O. Brewster lost to Frederick G. Payne, who later won the general election.

Re-election

Democrats who lost to Republicans

1. Arizona: Ernest W. McFarland, the Majority Leader, lost to Barry Goldwater.
2. Connecticut: William Benton lost to William A. Purtell.
3. Kentucky: Appointee Thomas R. Underwood lost to John S. Cooper in a special election.
4. Michigan: Blair Moody lost to Charles E. Potter in a special election.
5. Wyoming: Joseph C. O'Mahoney lost to Frank A. Barrett.

Republicans who lost to Democrats

1. Massachusetts: Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. lost to John F. Kennedy.
2. Missouri: James P. Kem lost to Stuart Symington.
3. Montana: Zales N. Ecton lost to Mike Mansfield.
4. Washington: Harry P. Cain lost to Henry M. Jackson.

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

Going into the November 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 Ran	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 Retired
Majority →									D49 Retired
R39 Ran	R40 Ran	R41 Ran	R42 Ran	R43 Ran	R44 Ran	R45 Ran	R46 Ran	R47 Ran
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
R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9
		R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8

Results of 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	D38 Re-elected	D36	D35	D34	D33	D32	D31	D30	D29
D39 Re-elected	D40 Re-elected	D41 Re-elected	D42 Re-elected	D47 Hold	D48 Hold	D45 Gain	D46 Gain	D47 Gain	D48 Gain
Majority, with VP's vote ↓
R39 Re-elected	R40 Re-elected	R41 Re-elected	R42 Re-elected	R43 Hold	R44 Gain	R45 Gain	R46 Gain	R47 Gain	R48 Gain
R38 Re-elected	R37 Re-elected	R36 Re-elected	R35 Re-elected	R34 Re-elected	R33 Re-elected	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

Results of the special 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	D37	D36	D35	D34	D33	D32	D31	D30	D29
D39	D40	D41	D42	D43	D44	D45	D46	D47	R49 Gain
Majority →
R39	R40	R41	R42	R43	R44	R45	R46 Hold	R47 Hold	R48 Gain, same as general
R38	R37	R36	R35	R34	R33	R32	R31	R30	R29
R19	R20	R21	R22	R23	R24	R25	R26	R27	R28
R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9
		R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8

Beginning of the next Congress

		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	D37	D36	D35	D34	D33	D32	D31	D30	D29
D39	D40	D41	D42	D43	D44	D45	D46	D47	I1 Changed
Majority using VP's vote ↓
R39	R40	R41	R42	R43	R44	R45	R46	R47	R48
R38	R37	R36	R35	R34	R33	R32	R31	R30	R29
R19	R20	R21	R22	R23	R24	R25	R26	R27	R28
R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9
		R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8

Key:	D# Democratic I# Independent R# Republican

Race summaries

Special elections during the 82nd Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1952 or before January 3, 1953; ordered by election date, then state.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Connecticut (Class 3)	William A. Purtell	Republican	1952 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired to run for the Class 1 seat. New senator elected November 4, 1952. Republican hold.	√ Prescott Bush (Republican) 51.2% Abraham A. Ribicoff (Democratic) 48.5%
Kentucky (Class 2)	Thomas R. Underwood	Democratic	1951 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected November 4, 1952. Republican gain.	√ John S. Cooper (Republican) 51.5% Thomas R. Underwood (Democratic) 48.5%
Michigan (Class 1)	Blair Moody	Democratic	1951 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected November 4, 1952. Republican gain. Winner was also elected to the next term, see below.	√ Charles E. Potter (Republican) 51.2% Blair Moody (Democratic) 48.7%[2]
Nebraska (Class 2)	Fred Andrew Seaton	Republican	1951 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 4, 1952. Republican hold.	√ Dwight Griswold (Republican) 63.6% William Ritchie (Democratic) 36.4%

Races leading to the 83rd Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1953; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Arizona	Ernest McFarland	Democratic	1940 1946	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	√ Barry Goldwater (Republican) 51.3% Ernest McFarland (Democratic) 48.7%
California	William F. Knowland	Republican	1945 (Appointed) 1946 (Special) 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ William F. Knowland (Republican) 87.7% Reuben W. Borough (Independent Progressive) 11.9%
Connecticut	William Benton	Democratic	1949 (Appointed) 1950 (Special)	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	√ William A. Purtell (Republican) 52.5% William Benton (Democratic) 44.4%
Delaware	John J. Williams	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John J. Williams (Republican) 54.5% Alexis I. du Pont Bayard (Democratic) 45.5%
Florida	Spessard Holland	Democratic	1946 (Appointed) 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Spessard Holland (Democratic) 99.8%
Indiana	William E. Jenner	Republican	1944 (Special) 1944 (Retired) 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ William E. Jenner (Republican) 52.4% Henry F. Schricker (Democratic) 46.8%
Maine	Owen Brewster	Republican	1940 1946	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican hold. Incumbent resigned December 31, 1952.	√ Frederick G. Payne (Republican) 58.7% Roger P. Dube (Democratic) 34.9% Earl S. Grant (Independent) 6.4%
Maryland	Herbert O'Conor	Democratic	1946	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain.	√ James Glenn Beall (Republican) 52.5% George P. Mahoney (Democratic) 47.5%
Massachusetts	Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.	Republican	1936 1942 1944 (Resigned) 1946	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	√ John F. Kennedy (Democratic) 51.4% Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (Republican) 48.4%[3]
Michigan	Blair Moody	Democratic	1951 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Republican gain Winner was also elected to finish the term, see above.	√ Charles E. Potter (Republican) 50.6% Blair Moody (Democratic) 49.0%[2]
Minnesota	Edward John Thye	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Edward John Thye (Republican) 56.6% William E. Carlson (Democratic) 42.5%
Mississippi	John C. Stennis	Democratic	1947 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John C. Stennis (Democratic) Unopposed
Missouri	James P. Kem	Republican	1946	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	√ Stuart Symington (Democratic) 54.0% James P. Kem (Republican) 45.9%
Montana	Zales N. Ecton	Republican	1946	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	√ Mike Mansfield (Democratic) 50.8% Zales N. Ecton (Republican) 48.6%
Nebraska	Hugh Butler	Republican	1940 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Hugh Butler (Republican) 69.1% Stanley D. Long (Democratic) 27.8%
Nevada	George W. Malone	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ George W. Malone (Republican) 51.7% Thomas B. Mechling (Democratic) 48.3%
New Jersey	H. Alexander Smith	Republican	1944 (Special) 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ H. Alexander Smith (Republican) 55.5% Archibald S. Alexander (Democratic) 43.6%
New Mexico	Dennis Chavez	Democratic	1935 (Appointed) 1936 (Special) 1940 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Dennis Chavez (Democratic) 51.1% Patrick J. Hurley (Republican) 48.9%
New York	Irving M. Ives	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Irving M. Ives (Republican) 55.2% John Cashmore (Democratic) 36.1% George Counts (Liberal) 7.0%
North Dakota	William Langer	Republican	1940 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ William Langer (Republican) 66.4% Harold A. Morrison (Democratic) 23.3% Fred G. Aandahl (Independent) 10.4%
Ohio	John W. Bricker	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John W. Bricker(Republican) 54.6% Michael V. DiSalle (Democratic) 45.4%
Pennsylvania	Edward Martin	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Edward Martin (Republican) 51.6% Guy K. Bard (Democratic) 48.0%
Rhode Island	John O. Pastore	Democratic	1950 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	√ John O. Pastore (Democratic) 54.8% Bayard Ewing (Republican) 45.2%
Tennessee	Kenneth D. McKellar	Democratic	1916 1922 1928 1934 1940 1946	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator re-elected. Democratic hold.	√ Albert Gore, Sr. (Democratic) 74.2% Hobart F. Atkins (Republican) 20.9%
Texas	Tom Connally	Democratic	1928 1934 1940 1946	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	√ Price Daniel (Democratic) Unopposed
Utah	Arthur V. Watkins	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Arthur V. Watkins (Republican) 54.3% Walter K. Granger (Democratic) 45.7%
Vermont	Ralph E. Flanders	Republican	1946 (Appointed) 1946 (Special) 1952	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Ralph E. Flanders (Republican) 72.3% Allan R. Johnston (Democratic) 27.7%
Virginia	Harry F. Byrd	Democratic	1933 (Appointed) 1933 (Special) 1934 1940 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Harry F. Byrd (Democratic) 73.4% H. M. Vise, Sr. (Independent) 12.7% Clarke T. Robb (Independent) 12.4%
Washington	Harry P. Cain	Republican	1946 1946 (Appointed)	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	√ Henry M. Jackson (Democratic) 56.2% Harry P. Cain (Republican) 43.5%
West Virginia	Harley M. Kilgore	Democratic	1940 1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Harley M. Kilgore (Democratic) 53.6% Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 46.4%
Wisconsin	Joseph R. McCarthy	Republican	1946	Incumbent re-elected.	√ Joseph R. McCarthy (Republican) 54.2% Thomas E. Fairchild (Democratic) 45.6%
Wyoming	Joseph C. O'Mahoney	Democratic	1933 (Appointed) 1934 1940 1946	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	√ Frank A. Barrett (Republican) 51.6% Joseph C. O'Mahoney (Democratic) 48.4%

Special elections during the 83rd Congress

There were no elections in 1953 to the 83rd Congress.

Complete list of races

Arizona

California

Connecticut

Connecticut (Special)

Delaware

Florida

Indiana

Kentucky (Special)

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

General election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	John F. Kennedy	1,211,984	51.34
	Republican	Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (Incumbent)	1,141,247	48.35
	Socialist Labor	Thelma Ingersoll	4,683	0.20
	Prohibition	Mark R. Shaw	2,508	0.11
Majority			70,737	3.0
Turnout			2,360,422
	Democratic gain from Republican

Michigan

Michigan (Special)

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Massachusetts

New York

In New York, the Liberal State Committee met on August 28, and nominated Dr. George S. Counts, Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, for the U.S. Senate.^[4] The Republican State Committee re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Irving M. Ives. The Democratic State Committee met on August 28, and nominated Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore for the U.S. Senate.^[5]

The Republican incumbent Ives was re-elected with the then largest plurality^[6] in state history.

Republican	Irving M. Ives	3,853,934
Democratic	John Cashmore	2,521,736
Liberal	George S. Counts	489,775
American Labor	Corliss Lamont	104,702
Socialist Workers	Michael Bartell[7]	4,263
Socialist	Joseph G. Glass[8]	3,382
Industrial Government	Nathan Karp[9]	2,451

North Dakota

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

Texas

Rhode Island

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

See also

• United States elections, 1952
  • United States presidential election, 1952
  • United States House of Representatives elections, 1952
• 82nd United States Congress
• 83rd United States Congress

Notes

References

• "FINAL STATE COUNT GIVES RECORD VOTE; Eisenhower Carried New York by 848,214 Margin as Total of 7,216,054 Cast Ballots". The New York Times. December 9, 1952. (Subscription required (help)).