1954 United States Senate elections in Nebraska

Last updated
1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska
Flag of Nebraska.svg
  1952 (special) November 2, 1954 1960  
  Carl Curtis.png KeithNeville.jpg
Nominee Carl Curtis Keith Neville
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote255,695162,990
Percentage61.07%38.93%

1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg
County results
Curtis:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Neville:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Hazel Abel
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Carl Curtis
Republican

The 1954 United States Senate elections in Nebraska took place on November 2, 1954, for the Class II United States Senate seat. Incumbent Republican Senator Kenneth S. Wherry was elected to a second term in 1948, and died in office on November 29, 1951. Governor Val Peterson appointed Fred A. Seaton to hold the seat until the 1952 election. At the 1952 special election, former Governor Dwight Griswold was elected to serve out the remaining two years of Wherry's term. However, Griswold died on April 12, 1954, prompting another special election. Governor Robert B. Crosby appointed Eva Bowring to fill the seat until the November 2, 1954, special election.

Contents

At the same time as the special election, a regular election was held on the same day to elect a Senator to serve for the next six-year term. Senator Bowring did not seek re-election. Hazel Abel, the vice-chairman of the State Republican Central Committee, won the Republican primary for the special election and defeated Democratic nominee William H. Meier in the general election. On the same day, Congressman Carl Curtis, a Republican, defeated former Governor Keith Neville, the Democratic nominee, for the full six-year term.

Coincidentally, on the same day, another special election was held to fill the remaining four years of the term of the late Senator Hugh A. Butler, who was elected at the 1952 regular election and died on July 1, 1954.

Democratic primary

Regular election

Candidates

  • Keith Neville, former Governor of Nebraska
  • Joseph V. Benesch, former State Senator [1]
  • Edward A. Dosek, Lincoln attorney, 1950 and 1944 Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor [2]

Results

Democratic primary [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Keith Neville 38,114 52.83%
Democratic Joseph V. Benesch17,99224.94%
Democratic Edward A. Dosek15,92022.07%
Democratic Scattering1160.16%
Total votes72,142 100.00%

Special election

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic William H. Meier 26,885 39.83%
Democratic Mabel Gillespie21,02931.15%
Democratic Charles R. Herrick19,55928.97%
Democratic Scattering330.05%
Total votes67,506 100.00%

Republican primary

Regular election

Candidates

Results

Republican primary [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Carl Curtis 64,410 39.42%
Republican Robert B. Crosby43,58026.67%
Republican Terry Carpenter30,76718.83%
Republican David Martin18,28311.19%
Republican James L. Harrison2,7821.70%
Republican Walter A. Nielsen2,5921.59%
Republican John P. Overgaard9540.58%
Republican Scattering200.01%
Total votes163,388 100.00%

Special election

Candidates

Results

Republican primary [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Hazel Abel 32,321 22.63%
Republican Richard R. Dempster13,8959.73%
Republican N. W. Anderson12,8629.01%
Republican John R. Jirdon11,3967.98%
Republican Hugh Carson10,4367.31%
Republican Chris C. Beck8,9396.26%
Republican S. E. Torgeson8,8266.18%
Republican Max A. Denney8,8246.18%
Republican Myles Standish6,8464.79%
Republican E. W. Gustafson6,6964.69%
Republican Mac Baldrige5,9374.16%
Republican Joseph Alexis4,4613.12%
Republican William Keeshan3,1932.24%
Republican H. P. Heiliger2,8441.99%
Republican Gerald Merritt2,7291.91%
Republican John S. Samson2,5441.78%
Republican Scattering650.05%
Total votes142,814 100.00%

General election

Regular election

1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Carl Curtis 255,695 61.07% −2.50%
Democratic Keith Neville 162,99038.93%+2.51%
Write-in 60.00%
Majority92,70522.14%−5.01%
Total votes418,691 100.00%
Republican hold

Special election

1954 United States Senate special election in Nebraska [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Hazel Abel 233,589 57.76% −5.81%
Democratic William H. Meier170,82842.24%+5.82%
Write-in 50.00%
Majority62,76115.52%−11.63%
Total votes404,422 100.00%
Republican hold

References

  1. "Benesch To File For Senate". Lincoln Journal Star . Lincoln, Nebraska. April 16, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "State GOP Picture Clearing; Demos Feel 'This Is the Year'". Hastings Tribune . Hastings, Nebraska. July 17, 1954. p. 11. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marsh, Frank (1954). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board: Primary Election, August 10, 1954, General Election, November 2, 1954 (PDF).
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Drake, William A. (August 6, 1954). "Many Candidates Feel Their Party Owes Them Short Term". Columbus Telegram . Columbus, Nebraska. p. 4. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Standish, Harrison Pay Filing Fees To Enter Senate Race". Lincoln Star . Lincoln, Nebraska. May 22, 1954. p. 11. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  6. "Omahan Seeks Senate Seat". Fremont Tribune . Fremont, Nebraska. April 9, 1954. p. 15. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  7. "Political Front Buzzing As Deadline Nears". Star-Herald . Scottsbluff, Nebraska. June 30, 1954. p. 3. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  8. "Senate Race by Dempster". Omaha World-Herald . Omaha, Nebraska. April 28, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  9. "16 Republicans File For Short Senate Term". Star-Herald . Scottsbluff, Nebraska. July 2, 1954. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  10. "J. R. Jirdon Considers Filing for Short Term". Fremont Tribune . Fremont, Nebraska. April 29, 1954. p. 19. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  11. "Hugh Carson Will File". The Grand Island Independent . Grand Island, Nebraska. June 12, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Expect More Last Minute Filings Today". Columbus Telegram . Columbus, Nebraska. July 1, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  13. "Denney Files For Short U.S. Senate Term". Lincoln Star . Lincoln, Nebraska. May 11, 1954. p. 20. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  14. "Gustafson To Seek Short Senate Term". Star-Herald . Scottsbluff, Nebraska. July 1, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  15. "Alexis Seeks Senate Term". Lincoln Journal . Lincoln, Nebraska. June 30, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  16. "Albion Attorney in Senate Race". Omaha World-Herald . Omaha, Nebraska. June 26, 1954. p. 3. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  17. "Heiliger Seventh After Short-Term". Omaha World-Herald . Omaha, Nebraska. June 22, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved February 23, 2025.