United States Senate elections, 1956 and 1957
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The 1956 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with the re-election of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, and three special elections were held to fill vacancies. Although Democrats gained two seats in regular elections, the
Republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
gained two seats in special elections, leaving the party balance of the chamber unchanged. Democrats defeated incumbents Herman Welker (R- Idaho), George H. Bender (R- Ohio), and
James H. Duff James Henderson Duff (January 21, 1883 – December 20, 1969) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1951 to 1957. Previously he had served as the 34t ...
(R- Pennsylvania), as well as winning a Republican-held seat in Colorado. Republicans defeated incumbent Earle C. Clements (D- Kentucky) as well as winning Democratic-held seats in Kentucky,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...
, and West Virginia. Thus, this election caused Kentucky's Senate delegation to flip from two Democrats to two Republicans. During the next Congress, Republican
John D. Hoblitzell Jr. John Dempsey Hoblitzell Jr. (December 30, 1912 – January 6, 1962) was an American politician from West Virginia. He was a member of the Republican Party. Hoblitzell was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He graduated from the West Virginia Un ...
was appointed to the seat of deceased Senator
Matthew M. Neely Matthew Mansfield Neely (November 9, 1874January 18, 1958) was an American Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician from West Virginia. He is the only West Virginian to serve in both houses of the United States Congress and as the ...
(D-WV), while Democrat William Proxmire won a special election for the seat of deceased Senator
Joseph McCarthy Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most visi ...
(R- Wisconsin). Also, Democrat Ralph Yarborough won a special election for the seat of
Price Daniel Marion Price Daniel Sr. (October 10, 1910August 25, 1988), was an American jurist and politician who served as a Democratic U.S. Senator and the 38th governor of Texas. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be a member of the Natio ...
(D- Texas), who had resigned from the Senate after being elected
Governor of Texas The governor of Texas heads the state government of Texas. The governor is the leader of the executive and legislative branch of the state government and is the commander in chief of the Texas Military. The current governor is Greg Abbott, who ...
. The net result was to leave the party balance unchanged.


Results summary

''Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.'' Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives


Gains, losses, and holds


Retirements

One Republican and five Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.


Defeats

Four Republicans and one Democrat sought re-election but lost in the general election.


Change in composition


Before the elections


Elections results


Race summaries


Special elections during the 84th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1956 or in 1957 before January 3; ordered by election date, then state.


Races leading to the 85th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1957; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.


Alabama


Arizona


Arkansas


California


Colorado


Connecticut


Florida


Georgia


Idaho


Illinois


Indiana


Iowa


Kansas


Kentucky

Two elections in Kentucky converted both seats from Democratic to Republican. As a result, this marked the first time since
1916 Events Below, the events of the First World War have the "WWI" prefix. January * January 1 – The British Royal Army Medical Corps carries out the first successful blood transfusion, using blood that had been stored and cooled. * ...
that both Senate seats in a state flipped from one party to the other in a single election cycle.


Kentucky (special)

Following the death of Alben Barkley on April 30, 1956, Robert Humphreys was appointed June 21, 1956 to continue the term, pending a special election. Humphreys did not run in the special election to finish the term that would end in 1961. Republican former-senator John Sherman Cooper, who had twice won special elections to that seat in
1946 Events January * January 6 - The 1946 North Vietnamese parliamentary election, first general election ever in Vietnam is held. * January 7 – The Allies recognize the Austrian republic with its 1937 borders, and divide the country into f ...
and
1952 Events January–February * January 26 – Black Saturday in Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. * February 6 ** Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, becomes m ...
, was again elected to finish the term. This time, however, Cooper would be re-elected in 1960 and again in 1966, serving until his 1973 retirement.


Kentucky (regular)

First-term Democrat
Earle Clements Earle Chester Clements (October 22, 1896 – March 12, 1985) was an American farmer and politician. He represented the Commonwealth of Kentucky in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and was its 47th Governor, serving ...
lost re-election to Republican
Thruston B. Morton Thruston Ballard Morton (August 19, 1907 – August 14, 1982) was an American politician. A Republican, Morton represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Early life Morton was born on August 19, 1907, in ...
, who was Eisenhower's Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs.


Louisiana


Maryland


Missouri


Nevada


New Hampshire


New York

In New York, the Republican state convention met on September 10 at Albany, New York, and nominated New York State Attorney General Jacob K. Javits. The
Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...
state convention met on September 10 at Albany, New York, and nominated
Mayor of New York City The mayor of New York City, officially Mayor of the City of New York, is head of the executive branch of the government of New York City and the chief executive of New York City. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property ...
Robert F. Wagner Jr., for the U.S. Senate. The Liberal Party endorsed the Democratic nominee, Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr., for the U.S. Senate. On October 1, a movement was launched to vote for General of the Army
Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...
as a write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate. On October 2, MacArthur disavowed the campaign, and stated that he was not a candidate. The Republican candidate was elected.


North Carolina


North Dakota

In North Dakota, the incumbent, Republican
Milton Young Milton Ruben Young (December 6, 1897 – May 31, 1983) was an American politician, most notable for representing North Dakota in the United States Senate from 1945 until 1981. At the time of his retirement, he was the most senior Republican in the ...
, sought and received re-election to his third term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate
Quentin N. Burdick Quentin Northrup Burdick (June 19, 1908 – September 8, 1992) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, he represented North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives (1959–1960) and the U.S ...
, son of North Dakota congressman
Usher L. Burdick Usher Lloyd Burdick (February 21, 1879 – August 19, 1960) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota. He was the father of Quentin Burdick. Early life and career Burdick was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, the so ...
. Only Young filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic candidate was Quentin Burdick, the son of well-known politician Usher Burdick, and former candidate for Governor of North Dakota. Young and Burdick won the primary elections for their respective parties. One independent candidate,
Arthur C. Townley Arthur Charles Townley (December 30, 1880 – November 7, 1959) was an American political organizer best known as the founder of the Nonpartisan League, National Non-Partisan League (NPL), a farmers' organization which had considerable political ...
, also filed before the deadline. Townley would later seek the state's other senate seat in 1958, and was known for creating the National Non-Partisan League.


Ohio


Oklahoma


Oregon

In Oregon, Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat Wayne Morse decided to seek re-election for his first full term as a Democrat. Morse defeated Republican candidate
Douglas McKay James Douglas McKay (June 24, 1893 – July 22, 1959) was an American businessman and politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served in World War I before going into business, where he was most successful as a car dealership owner in Salem ...
in the hotly contested general election.


Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, incumbent Republican U.S. senator
James H. Duff James Henderson Duff (January 21, 1883 – December 20, 1969) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1951 to 1957. Previously he had served as the 34t ...
sought re-election to another term, but was defeated by the Democratic nominee,
Joseph S. Clark Jr. Joseph Sill Clark Jr. (October 21, 1901January 12, 1990) was an American writer, lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 90th Mayor of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1956 and as a United States Senator from Pennsylvan ...


South Carolina

In South Carolina the regular election was held simultaneously with the special election.


South Carolina (regular)

Incumbent Democrat
Olin D. Johnston Olin DeWitt Talmadge Johnston (November 18, 1896April 18, 1965) was an American politician from the US state of South Carolina. He served as the 98th governor of South Carolina, 1935–1939 and 1943–1945, and represented the state in the Unite ...
handily defeated Republican mayor of Clemson
Leon P. Crawford Leon Polk Crawford (April 9, 1890 – April 8, 1975) was an American politician who served as mayor of Clemson, South Carolina. He is credited for being the only Republican to hold elective office in South Carolina during the Solid South until the ...
.
Olin D. Johnston Olin DeWitt Talmadge Johnston (November 18, 1896April 18, 1965) was an American politician from the US state of South Carolina. He served as the 98th governor of South Carolina, 1935–1939 and 1943–1945, and represented the state in the Unite ...
, the incumbent
Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
, faced no opposition from
South Carolina Democrats The South Carolina Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. History The Democratic Party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 ...
and avoided a
primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
.
Leon P. Crawford Leon Polk Crawford (April 9, 1890 – April 8, 1975) was an American politician who served as mayor of Clemson, South Carolina. He is credited for being the only Republican to hold elective office in South Carolina during the Solid South until the ...
, the mayor of the town of Clemson in the Upstate, faced no opposition from
South Carolina Republicans South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...
and avoided a
primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
. Crawford campaigned as a defender of states' rights and denounced Johnston for backing the
New Deal The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. Major federal programs agencies included the Civilian Cons ...
and the
Fair Deal The Fair Deal was a set of proposals put forward by U.S. President Harry S. Truman to Congress in 1945 and in his January 1949 State of the Union address. More generally. the term characterizes the entire domestic agenda of the Truman administra ...
. The state Republican Party believed that Crawford could have a chance in the election if he galvanized the 128,000 registered black voters, although they were weary of being labeled as the black party. In the end, Johnston remained highly popular with the voters who were still leery of the Republican party and he easily defeated Crawford in the general election.


South Carolina (special)

The special election resulted from the resignation of Senator
Strom Thurmond James Strom Thurmond Sr. (December 5, 1902June 26, 2003) was an American politician who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to 2003. Prior to his 48 years as a senator, he served as the 103rd governor of South Caro ...
on April 4, 1956, who was keeping a campaign pledge he had made in the 1954 election. Thurmond was unopposed in his bid to complete the remaining four years of the term. Senator
Strom Thurmond James Strom Thurmond Sr. (December 5, 1902June 26, 2003) was an American politician who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to 2003. Prior to his 48 years as a senator, he served as the 103rd governor of South Caro ...
faced no opposition from
South Carolina Democrats The South Carolina Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. History The Democratic Party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 ...
and avoided a
primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
. There was a possibility that Governor
George Bell Timmerman Jr. George Bell Timmerman Jr. (August 11, 1912November 29, 1994) was an American politician and World War II veteran who served as the 105th governor of South Carolina from 1955 to 1959. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the ...
might enter the race, but Thurmond was held in such high regard by the voters that there would have been no chance of defeating Thurmond. With no challenge to the remainder of the term, Thurmond did not conduct a campaign and rejoined his old law firm in Aiken until he returned to the Senate after the general election.


South Dakota


Utah


Vermont

In Vermont, incumbent Republican
George Aiken George David Aiken (August 20, 1892November 19, 1984) was an American politician and horticulturist. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 64th governor of Vermont (1937–1941) before serving in the United States Senate for 34 years, ...
ran successfully for re-election to another term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic challenger Bernard G. O'Shea.


Washington


West Virginia (special)

Following the death of
Harley M. Kilgore Harley Martin Kilgore (January 11, 1893 – February 28, 1956) was a United States senator from West Virginia. Biography He was born on January 11, 1893, in Brown, West Virginia. He was born to Quimby Hugh Kilgore and Laura Jo Kilgore. His fat ...
on February 28, 1956,
William Laird III William Ramsey Laird III (June 2, 1916 – January 7, 1974) was a United States senator from West Virginia. Born in Keswick, California, he was educated in the public schools. He graduated from Greenbrier Military School, King University, King C ...
was appointed to fill this seat and assumed office on March 13, 1956. Laird did not opt to run in the special election to fill the remainder of Kilgore's term through the end of the
85th Congress The 85th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1957 ...
on January 3, 1959. , this is the last time the Republicans have won West Virginia's Class 1 seat. This was also the last time until
2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
that the Republicans won a U.S. Senate election in the state.


Wisconsin

Incumbent Republican Senator
Alexander Wiley Alexander Wiley (May 26, 1884 – October 26, 1967) was an American politician who served four terms in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1963. When he left the Senate, he was its most senior Republican member. ...
easily won reelection to a fourth and final term, defeating the Democratic candidate,
Henry W. Maier Henry Walter Maier (February 7, 1918 – July 17, 1994) was an American politician and the longest-serving mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, holding office from 1960 to 1988. A Democrat, Maier was a powerful and controversial figure, presiding over ...
, by a margin of 17.4%. This would be the last time a Republican would win a Senate race in Wisconsin until
Bob Kasten Robert Walter Kasten Jr. (born June 19, 1942) is an American Republican politician from the state of Wisconsin who served as a U.S. Representative from 1975 to 1979 and as a United States Senator from 1981 to 1993. Background Kasten was born in ...
in
1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning System time epoch begins at 00:00 UTC. * January 9 – ...
, and the last time a Republican would win more than 2 terms until Ron Johnson's victory in 2022.


See also

*
1956 United States elections The 1956 United States elections was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1956. The election saw no major change in power as the Republicans defended the presidency and the Democrats retained control of Congress. In the presidential election, Republican ...
**
1956 United States presidential election The 1956 United States presidential election was the 43rd quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1956. President Dwight D. Eisenhower successfully ran for reelection against Adlai Stevenson II, the former Illinois ...
**
1956 United States House of Representatives elections The 1956 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1956 which coincided with the re-election of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. With no major national issues and the econ ...
**
1956 United States gubernatorial elections United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1956, in 30 states, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and presidential election, on November 6, 1956 (September 10 in Maine). The special election in Oregon was due to the death of in ...
* 84th United States Congress * 85th United States Congress


Notes


References


Sources


1956 U.S. Senate Election results
* * * * {{1956 United States elections November 1956 events in the United States