1954 United States Senate special election in California

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1954 United States Senate special election in California
Flag of California.svg
  1950 November 2, 1954 1956  
  Thomas Kuchel.jpg Sam Yorty, 1954.jpg
Nominee Thomas Kuchel Sam Yorty
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote2,090,8361,788,071
Percentage53.21%45.50%

1954 United States Senate special election in California results map by county.svg
County results:

Thomas Kuchel:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Sam Yorty:     50-60%

U.S. senator before election

Thomas Kuchel
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Thomas Kuchel
Republican

The 1954 United States Senate special election in California was held on November 2, 1954, to elect a U.S. Senator to complete the unexpired term of Senator Richard Nixon, who resigned on becoming Vice President of the United States following the 1952 presidential election. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel, who had been appointed by Governor Earl Warren, won election to the remainder of the term, defeating Democratic nominee Sam Yorty.

Contents

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 8, 1954.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [2] [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Sam Yorty 829,977 52.38
Republican Thomas Kuchel 455,53028.75
Democratic Leo Gallagher168,97010.66
Democratic Adam C. Derkum103,4846.53
Independent–ProgressiveIsobel M. Cerney26,6671.68
Total votes1,584,628 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [2] [3] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Thomas Kuchel 1,118,312 88.57
Democratic Sam Yorty 100,7467.98
Republican William T. Hooley32,6842.59
Independent–ProgressiveIsobel M. Cerney10,8260.86
Total votes1,262,568 100.00

Independent–Progressive primary

Candidates

  • Isobel M. Cerney, teacher and writer

Results

Independent–Progressive primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent–Progressive Isobel M. Cerney 3,405 100.00
Total votes3,405 100.00

General election

Results

California counties shift 1950-1954 (special) senate.svg
California counties trend 1950-1954 (special) senate.svg
1954 United States Senate special election in California [6] [7] [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Thomas Kuchel (Incumbent) 2,090,836 53.21
Democratic Sam Yorty 1,788,07145.50
Independent–ProgressiveIsobel M. Cerney50,5061.29
NoneScattering2550.01
Majority302,7657.71
Turnout 3,929,668
Republican hold

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Certified List of Candidates for Nomination". Placerville Mountain-Democrat. Placerville, California. May 13, 1954. p. 24. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 CA Primary 1954, p. 13.
  3. 1 2 Barclay, p. 598.
  4. "CA US Senate Special, 1954 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  5. "CA US Senate Special, 1954 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  6. "CA US Senate Special, 1954". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  7. CA General 1954, p. 10.
  8. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (October 15, 1955). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1954" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
  9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 83.

Bibliography