1948 United States Senate elections in North Carolina

1948 United States Senate election in North Carolina

←  1942 November 2, 1948 1950 (special)  →

Nominee J. Melville Broughton John A. Wilkinson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 540,762 220,307 Percentage 70.73% 28.81%

County results Scott:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90-100% West:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Senator before election William B. Umstead Democratic Elected Senator J. Melville Broughton Democratic

Two Senate elections took place on November 2, 1948 in North Carolina as part of the 1948 Senate elections. The incumbent Democratic Senator Josiah Bailey died 4 years into his third term on December 15, 1946; as a result, a special election for the final month of this term was held concurrently with the regular election. William B. Umstead, a former Representative for the 6th district, was appointed to the vacant seat. Umstead was defeated in both of the Democratic primaries by former Governor of North Carolina J. Melville Broughton. Broughton was unopposed in the special election, and defeated Republican John A. Wilkinson in the regular election by a margin of 42%, outperforming Harry S. Truman, the Democratic candidate in the presidential election held the same day, by 13%. ^[1]

Broughton would die two months after taking office. ^[2] Frank Porter Graham was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Special election

Democratic primary

Democratic primary ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Melville Broughton	206,605	52.30
	Democratic	William B. Umstead (Incumbent)	188,420	47.70
Majority			18,196	4.60
Turnout			395,025

Results map

Results map

Primary election
Broughton:      50–59%     60–69%     70–79%     80–89%
Umstead:      50–59%     60–69%     70–79%     80–89%

Results

1948 United States Senate Special election in North Carolina ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Melville Broughton	534,917	100.00
	Democratic hold

Regular election

Democratic primary

Democratic primary ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Melville Broughton	207,981	53.10
	Democratic	William B. Umstead (Incumbent)	183,865	46.90
Majority			23,894	6.10
Turnout			391,846

Results

1948 United States Senate election in North Carolina ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	J. Melville Broughton	540,762	70.73	+4.82
	Republican	John A. Wilkinson	220,307	28.81	−5.28
	Progressive	William T. Brown	3,490	0.46	+0.46
Majority			320,455	41.91
Turnout			764,559
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "1948 Presidential General Election Results - North Carolina". US Election Atlas. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
2. Moyle, William. "Broughton, Joseph Melville". NCpedia. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
3. North Carolina Manual 1949-50. North Carolina Secretary of State. pp. 232–234. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
4. Kalb, Deborah, ed. (2010). Guide to U.S. Elections. Washington, DC: CQ Press. p. 1458. ISBN   978-1-60426-536-1.