1954 United States Senate election in Montana

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1954 United States Senate election in Montana
Flag of Montana (1905-1981).svg
  1948 November 2, 1954 1960  
  M001108.jpg Wesley D'Ewart (Montana Congressman).jpg
Nominee James E. Murray Wesley A. D'Ewart
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote114,591112,863
Percentage50.38%49.62%

1954 United States Senate election in Montana results map by county.svg
County results
Murray:     50–60%     60–70%
D'Ewart:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election

James E. Murray
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

James E. Murray
Democratic

The 1954 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, 1942, and 1948, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary against trivial opponents, he advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Wesley A. D'Ewart, the Republican nominee and the United States Congressman from Montana's 2nd congressional district. A contentious and close election ensued, but ultimately, Murray was able to narrowly win re-election over D'Ewart to a final term in the Senate.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James E. Murray (incumbent) 65,896 86.94%
Democratic Ray E. Gulick4,9616.55%
Democratic Sam G. Feezell4,9416.52%
Total votes75,798 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Wesley A. D'Ewart 49,964 82.36%
Republican Robert Yellowtail10,70517.64%
Total votes60,669 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1954 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic James E. Murray (incumbent) 114,591 50.38% -6.27%
Republican Wesley A. D'Ewart 112,86349.62%+6.88%
Majority1,7280.76%-13.15%
Turnout 227,454
Democratic hold Swing

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References

  1. 1 2 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, July 20, 1954" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1954" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.