1956 United States Senate election in Colorado

1956 United States Senate election in Colorado

←  1950 November 6, 1956 1962  →

Nominee John A. Carroll Daniel I. J. Thornton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 319,872 317,102 Percentage 50.22% 49.78%

Results by county Carroll:     50–60%     60–70% Thornton:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Eugene Millikin Republican Elected U.S. Senator John A. Carroll Democratic

The 1956 United States Senate special election in Colorado took place on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Republican Senator Eugene Millikin declined to seek re-election to a third term and a competitive election ensued. Former Congressman John A. Carroll, in his third consecutive bid for the Senate, narrowly defeated former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Charles F. Brannan in the Democratic primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Governor Dan Thornton, the Republican nominee. Despite Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson's poor performance in Colorado, state-level Democrats fared much better. Carroll ended up narrowly defeating Thornton, winning his only term in the U.S. Senate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John A. Carroll, former U.S. Congressman from Colorado's 1st congressional district, 1950 and 1954 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate
• Charles F. Brannan, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John A. Carroll	62,688	50.81
	Democratic	Charles F. Brannan	60,701	49.19
Total votes			123,389	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dan Thornton, former Governor

Results

Republican primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dan Thornton	79,349	100.00
Total votes			79,349	100.00

General election

Results

1956 United States Senate election in Colorado ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John A. Carroll	319,872	50.22%	+3.47%
	Republican	Dan Thornton	317,102	49.78%	−3.47%
Majority			2,770	0.43%	−6.07%
Turnout			636,974
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1956 Colorado gubernatorial election in Colorado

References

1. Baker, George J. (1956). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Eleventh Day of September, A. D. 1956 and at the General Election Held on the Sixth Day of November, A. D. 1956 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.