1950 United States Senate special election in Connecticut

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1950 United States Senate special election in Connecticut
Flag of Connecticut.svg
  1946 November 7, 1950 1952  
  Former Conn. Senator William Benton.jpg PrescottBush.jpg
Nominee William Benton Prescott Bush
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote431,413430,311
Percentage50.06%49.94%

1950 United States Senate special election in Connecticut results map by county.svg
1950 United States Senate special election in Connecticut results map by municipality.svg
Benton:      40–50%     50–60%     60-70%
Bush:      50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%
Tie:      50%

U.S. senator before election

William Benton
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

William Benton
Democratic

The 1950 United States Senate special election in Connecticut took place on November 7, 1950 in Connecticut, as part of the 1950 Senate elections. The incumbent Republican Senator Raymond E. Baldwin resigned on December 16, 1949, to accept appointment to the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors. [1] William Benton, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, was appointed to the vacant seat. Benton defeated Prescott Bush in the special election by a margin of 1,102 votes, the closest Senate election of that year. In the concurrent regular election, Brien McMahon won re-election by a margin of 5.1%. Benton would go on to lose election to a full term in the 1952 regular election, while Bush would be elected to the other seat in the special election.

Contents

Democratic nomination

The Democratic Party held a convention between July 28 and 29. Baldwin defeated former governor Charles Wilbert Snow for the nomination. [2]

General election

Candidates

Results

1950 United States Senate election in Connecticut [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic William Benton (incumbent) 431,413 50.06 +9.58
Republican Prescott Bush 430,31149.94−5.90
Socialist John J. Gillespie15,4411.76−1.46
Majority 1,1020.08
Turnout 877,165
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. "Raymond Earl Baldwin". Museum of Connecticut History. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  2. "HARD BATTLE SEEN FOR M'MAHON SEAT; Democratic Senator to Operate Independent Campaign in Connecticut This Fall To Operate Independently Bowles Doesn't Agree". New York Times. 9 July 1950. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  3. "SUMMARY OF VOTE FOR STATE OFFICERS, UNITED STATES SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE, NOVEMBER 7, 1950" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved 8 August 2025.