Margaret Madeline Chase Smith was an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, she served as a U.S. representative (1940–1949) and a U.S. senator (1949–1973) from Maine. She was the first woman to serve in both houses of the United States Congress, and the first woman to represent Maine in either. A Republican, she was among the first to criticize the tactics of Joseph McCarthy in her 1950 speech, "Declaration of Conscience".
The 1972 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, with the 33 seats of Class 2 contested in regular elections. They coincided with the landslide re-election of Republican President Richard Nixon. Despite Nixon's landslide victory, Democrats increased their majority by two seats. The Democrats picked up open seats in Kentucky and South Dakota, and defeated four incumbent senators: Gordon Allott of Colorado, J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, Jack Miller of Iowa, and Margaret Chase Smith of Maine. The Republicans picked up open seats in New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, and defeated one incumbent, William B. Spong Jr. of Virginia.
The 1960 United States Senate elections coincided with the election of John F. Kennedy as president on November 8, 1960. The 33 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections. A special election was also held on June 28, 1960, for a mid-term vacancy in North Dakota where Democrats flipped a seat to expand their majority to 66–34. As Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson was elected Vice President, Mike Mansfield became the new majority leader.
The 1958 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate which occurred in the middle of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's second term. Thirty-two seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, the new state of Alaska held its first Senate elections for its Class 2 and 3 seats, and two special elections were held to fill vacancies.
The 1932 United States Senate elections coincided with Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt's landslide victory over incumbent Herbert Hoover in the presidential election. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies.
Horace Augustus Hildreth was born in Gardiner, Maine, the son of an attorney. Hildreth attended local schools before graduating from Bowdoin College in the class of 1925 and receiving his LL.B. from Harvard University in 1928.
Sumner Sewall was an American Republican politician and airline executive who served as the 58th Governor of Maine from 1941 to 1945. He began his aviation career during World War I as a fighter ace.
The 1948 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 13, 1948. Incumbent Republican Governor Horace A. Hildreth, was term limited and seeking election to the United States Senate, thus did not run. Republican mayor of Augusta Frederick G. Payne faced off against Democratic challenger Louis B. Lausier, defeating him in a landslide. Neil S. Bishop unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination
The 1944 Maine gubernatorial election took place on September 11, 1944. Incumbent Republican Governor Sumner Sewall, chose -in keeping with tradition- not to seek re-election after two terms. Republican Maine Senate President Horace Hildreth faced off against Democrat Paul J. Jullien, and defeated him in one of the most lopsided elections in Maine history.
The 1978 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator William Hathaway ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by William Cohen, the Republican U.S. Representative from Maine's 2nd congressional district.
The 1972 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith ran for re-election to a fifth term, but was defeated by Democrat William Hathaway. As of 2024, this was the last time the Democrats won the Class 2 Senate seat from Maine.
The 1930 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 8, 1930. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Arthur Gould, who had been elected to complete the term of the late Senator Bert Fernald, did not run for re-election to a full term.
The 1936 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 14, 1936. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Wallace White was re-elected to a second term over Governor Louis J. Brann.
The 1942 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 14, 1942. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Wallace White was re-elected to a third term over Fulton J. Redman.
The 1954 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 13, 1954. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith was re-elected to a second term over Democrat Paul Fullam.
The 1958 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 8, 1958 to elect a United States senator. Incumbent Republican Senator Frederick G. Payne lost re-election to a second term.
The 1964 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent Democrat Edmund Muskie was re-elected to a second term in office over Republican U.S. Representative Clifford McIntire. This was the first senate race for this particular seat in which the election was held in November and not September. This was the first time since 1851 that an incumbent Democratic Senator from Maine was re-elected or won re-election.
The 1966 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 8, 1966. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith was re-elected to a fourth term over Democratic State Senator Elmer H. Violette.
The 1960 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 8, 1960. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith was re-elected to a third term over Democratic State Senator Lucia Cormier.
The 1972 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 7, 1972. Incumbent U.S. Senator John L. McClellan was re-elected to a sixth term in office, defeating U.S. Representative David Pryor in a hotly contested primary. In the general election, McClellan easily defeated Republican physician Wayne Babbitt. This was McClellan's final campaign; he died in his sleep in 1977. Pryor was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1974 and won the race to succeed McClellan in 1978.
