1958 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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1958 United States Senate election in New Jersey
Flag of New Jersey (1896-1965).png
←  1952 November 4, 1958 1964  →
  Harrison A Williams.jpg Robert W Kean.jpg
Nominee Harrison Williams Robert Kean
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote966,832882,287
Percentage51.39%46.90%
1958 United States Senate election in New Jersey results map by county.svg
County results
Williams:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Kean:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
U.S. senator before election

H. Alexander Smith
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Harrison Williams
Democratic

The 1958 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 4, 1958. Incumbent Senator H. Alexander Smith chose not to seek a third term in office. Democratic former U.S. Representative Harrison Williams won the open seat over U.S. Representative Robert Kean.

Contents

Primary elections were held on April 15. Kean defeated Eisenhower aide Bernard M. Shanley and Robert J. Morris, while Williams narrowly defeated Hoboken mayor John Grogan. The six total candidates running in the two primaries was the most since open primaries were established in 1913. [1]

This was one of a record 15 seats Democrats gained from the Republican Party in 1958. Williams was the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from New Jersey since 1936; as of 2025, Democrats have won every subsequent election to this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Declined

Campaign

In June 1957, Robert Kean announced that he was likely to run for Senate against Senator H. Alexander Smith. Kean, who was 65 and whose father and uncle had each served in the Senate, viewed 1958 as his last opportunity to run, given that New Jersey's junior senator, Clifford Case, was eleven years younger than Kean. [8] Smith announced that he would stand for re-election, expressing surprise that Kean had entered the race without informing him. [9] On November 7, immediately after Democratic governor Robert Meyner won a landslide re-election victory, Eisenhower aide Bernard Shanley joined the race, resigning as White House Appointments Secretary to run. [4] Smith announced that he would confer with party leaders to stave off a divisive primary contest with Kean and Shanley, [4] [5] but following the conference, Smith announced in late November 1957 that he would not seek a third term in office. [2] [10]

Robert Morris joined the race on January 11, 1958. He announced a campaign focused on anti-communism and resistance to Soviet influence, saying, "The primary issue today is our survival as a free nation." [11] Kean formally announced his campaign on January 30, grounding his campaign on international peace, national defense "strong enough to deter any possible aggressor," and "a healthy, expanding national economy with a stable dollar." [12]

State senator Walter H. Jones of Bergen County, who was seen as a leading contender, announced he would not be a candidate on March 1. [6]

Kean campaigned on a liberal platform throughout the state, touring all twenty-one counties. He ran on his record of tax reduction, liberalization of Social Security, and reduction in trade barriers, and called for increased spending on public works and military aid to counter Soviet expansion but warned against "pump-priming" New Deal-era measures. Kean introduced a tax cut bill in the House. Because of his busy schedule, his sons, Robert Jr., Hamilton, and future governor Thomas Kean, campaigned on his behalf. [13] [14]

Morris presented himself as the only conservative candidate in the race and a "strong new voice." He attributed the ongoing economic recession and inflation to spending on foreign aid and defense, which he argued was made necessary by both Democratic and Republican vacillation in the face of Russian imperialism. To combat the recession, he proposed an immediate cut in income and excise taxes. He also argued for a "big tent" approach to politics and posited that the ongoing decline in the Republican vote in New Jersey was due to Eisenhower's feuds with conservative Senators Joseph McCarthy and Robert A. Taft. [15]

In an appeal to commuters, Shanley proposed a constitutional amendment barring a state from taxing residents of another state. [16] Entering election day, George Cable of The New York Times reported Shanley had a "definite edge," but with Kean running a close second, and Morris expected to pull more votes from Shanley than Kean. [17]

Endorsements

Robert Kean
Elected officials

Newspapers

Bernard Shanley
County party organizations
  • Bergen County Republican Organization [19]

Results

1958 Republican U.S. Senate primary [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert Kean 152,884 43.00%
Republican Bernard M. Shanley 128,99036.28%
Republican Robert J. Morris 73,65820.72%
Total votes355,532 100.00%

Both Shanley and Morris conceded the primary race on election night and endorsed Kean. [21]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Declined

  • Archibald S. Alexander, former New Jersey Treasurer, Undersecretary of the U.S. Army, and nominee in 1948 and 1952 (endorsed Williams) [26]

The first Democratic candidate to announce was Hoboken mayor John Grogan, who entered the race on January 22, 1958, with the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization. [27] Another eight candidates, led by Harrison Williams and Thorn Lord, vied for establishment support and vowed to drop out in favor of the party choice. Finally, Meyner aide Joseph McLean also entered the race as an outsider candidate.

Campaign

In late February, Democratic leadership culled the field of candidates to select an establishment choice, with Harrison Williams and Thorn Lord leading a field of ten candidates. [28] Only Grogan and McLean announced they would force a primary regardless of the establishment choice. [22] With Lord having a slight majority of support from leadership, party leaders empowered Governor Meyner to choose between Lord and Williams. [8] [24] On March 4, Meyner announced his support for Williams, who consequently received the support of 20 out of 21 county party organizations. Only Hudson County held out, maintaining their support for Grogan. [23] Party leaders hoped to induce Grogan to withdraw by promising him a U.S. House seat, but talks between Meyner, Grogan, and Hudson County leader William F. Kelly failed. [6] [22]

The primary campaign shaped up as a contest between the state party organization, led by Meyner, and the Hudson County machine, which typically accounted for 40% of the statewide primary vote and had decided the Democratic nominee in every race for the past sixty years, [29] but had been in decline since Frank Hague was defeated in 1949. Meyner campaigned for Williams in Edison, Livingston, Nutley, and Caldwell. To combat the ongoing economic recession, Williams proposed an expansion in federal transportation programs and substantial increases in federal unemployment benefits. [30]

Grogan campaigned in all twenty-one counties and presented himself as the most liberal and most anti-communist of the three options. To combat recession, he proposed a tax cut, increased unemployment benefits, public works spending, and higher pensions. He had the full support of organized labor throughout the race and gained the endorsement of the Camden County Democratic Organization from Williams, against the wishes of Camden mayor George E. Brunner. [29]

McLean emphasized his "unbossed" independence, resisting pleas from Meyner to abandon his campaign and contending that the race was actually between himself and Grogan, claiming Williams "never got off the ground." He proposed a tax cut to end the recession and a robust national defense spending for the nuclear age. [31] Within Hudson County, he had the support of Jersey City mayor Charles S. Witkowski and former state senator James F. Murray Jr., both opponents of the county machine.

In the final week of the campaign, Williams made a pair of campaign stops in Hudson County, [30] and Grogan won a late victory [32] Grogan was also able to flip the Atlantic County Democratic Organization in the final week. [31] As the campaign closed, it was regarded as a close contest and a test of the prestige of both Governor Meyner and the Hudson County organization. Meyner declined to make a prediction on election day and disclaimed the election as any test of his political strength. [29] George Cable of TheNew York Times considered Grogan the slight favorite but said, "a victory by Mr. Williams would surprise no observers." [17]

Endorsements

John Grogan
Individuals
  • Louis P. Marciante, president of the New Jersey Federation of Labor [32]

Labor unions

County party organizations

  • Atlantic County Democratic Organization [31]
  • Hudson County Democratic Organization [32]

Local party organizations

  • Camden City Democratic Organization [32]
Joseph McLean
Public officials
  • Charles S. Witkowski, Mayor of Jersey City
  • James F. Murray Jr., Jersey City Commissioner and former State Senator

Organizations

  • Victory, an anti-Hudson County machine activist group [31]
Harrison Williams
Elected officials

Newspapers

County party organizations

  • Bergen County Democratic Organization
  • Burlington County Democratic Organization
  • Cape May County Democratic Organization
  • Cumberland County Democratic Organization
  • Essex County Democratic Organization
  • Gloucester County Democratic Organization
  • Hunterdon County Democratic Organization
  • Mercer County Democratic Organization
  • Middlesex County Democratic Organization
  • Monmouth County Democratic Organization
  • Morris County Democratic Organization
  • Ocean County Democratic Organization
  • Passaic County Democratic Organization
  • Salem County Democratic Organization
  • Somerset County Democratic Organization
  • Sussex County Democratic Organization
  • Union County Democratic Organization
  • Warren County Democratic Organization

Results

1958 Democratic U.S. Senate primary [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Harrison A. Williams 152,413 43.12%
Democratic John Grogan139,60539.49%
Democratic Joseph E. McLean61,47817.39%
Total votes353,496 100.00%

Williams was the first candidate to win a Democratic nomination in New Jersey without the support of Hudson County since the 1898 gubernatorial election. [8] He attributed his victory directly to Meyner's support. [21] Grogan carried Hudson County over McLean by a wide margin; he also pulled out narrow victories in Atlantic and Camden counties, where he had been endorsed late in the race. [8]

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Kean began the race as the favorite but soon faced political headwinds, as well as an energetic campaign from Williams with the support of state government under Meyner. [8] He also struggled with divisions in his own party. Party chair Samuel L. Bodine died unexpectedly of a heart problem on September 15, leaving a vacancy during the campaign with no clear successor, creating an intra-party struggle for the seat between regional and ideological factions led by Clifford Case, Richard Stout, Walter H. Jones, Frank S. Farley, and Malcolm Forbes. At Kean's request, incumbent Senator Smith was named a temporary placeholder. [34]

Results

General election results [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Harrison A. Williams 966,832 51.39% Increase2.svg7.77
Republican Robert Kean 882,28746.90%Decrease2.svg8.61
Socialist Workers Daniel Roberts11,6690.62%Increase2.svg0.40
Independent Henry Krajewski6,0130.32%N/A
Independent John J. Winberry5,4810.29%N/A
Conservative Winifred O. Perry3,0620.16%N/A
Independent John M. D'Addetta3,0240.16%N/A
Socialist Labor Albert Ronis2,9350.16%Increase2.svg0.09
Total votes1,881,303 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

References

  1. ↑ Times, George Cable Wrightspecial To the New York (April 14, 1958). "JERSEY CAMPAIGN WILL END TONIGHT; Voters in Primary to Choose Nominees for the Senate, House and Local Posts". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Smith Expected to Leave Senate". The New York Times . November 26, 1957. p. 16.
  3. 1 2 "Kean Wins Support of Smith in Jersey". The New York Times . March 8, 1958. p. 36.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Shanley Quits Post To Run For Senate". The New York Times . November 7, 1957. p. 1.
  5. 1 2 Cable Wright, George (November 8, 1957). "Shanley Senate Bid Stirs Jersey Battle". The New York Times. p. 21.
  6. 1 2 3 "Jones Will Not Seek Jersey Senate Seat". The New York Times . March 1, 1958. p. 10.
  7. ↑ "MITCHELL AVOIDS RACE; Labor Secretary Not to Run for Senate in Jersey". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Fifty years ago, a great U.S. Senate race in New Jersey". Observer. May 1, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Smith to Run in Jersey". The New York Times . June 24, 1957. p. 7.
  10. ↑ "Jersey G.O.P. Sets Rebuilding Drive". The New York Times . November 27, 1957. p. 41.
  11. ↑ "Morris to Enter Senatorial Race". The New York Times . January 12, 1958. p. 77.
  12. ↑ "Senate Bid Made By kean in Jersey". The New York Times . January 31, 1958. p. 43.
  13. ↑ "Kean Opens Drive in Bergen County: Republican in Bid for Senate Backs Tax Cut, World Aid, More Social Security". The New York Times . April 8, 1958. p. 19.
  14. ↑ "KEAN PATTERN SET BY FATHER, UNCLE; Jersey Republican Is Named for U. S. Senate Where Kinsmen Once Served". The New York Times. April 16, 1958. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Morris Stresses His Fight on Reds". The New York Times . April 12, 1958. p. 20.
  16. ↑ "Shanley Pledges Tax Aid in Jersey". The New York Times . April 10, 1958. p. 22.
  17. 1 2 Times, George Cable Wrightspecial To the New York (April 14, 1958). "JERSEY CAMPAIGN WILL END TONIGHT; Voters in Primary to Choose Nominees for the Senate, House and Local Posts". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 "New Jersey's Primaries". The New York Times . April 15, 1958. p. 32.
  19. ↑ "Shanley Gains Support: Bergen G.O.P. Body Backs Him for Jersey Senator". The New York Times . March 10, 1958. p. 45.
  20. ↑ "NJ US Senate - R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  21. 1 2 Cable Wright, George (April 16, 1958). "Williams, Kean Win New Jersey Vote". The New York Times . p. 1.
  22. 1 2 3 Cable Wright, George (February 26, 1958). "8 Democrats Quit Contest in Jersey". The New York Times . p. 34.
  23. 1 2 3 "Williams Tapped for Jersey Race". The New York Times . March 4, 1958. p. 25.
  24. 1 2 "Democrats Pick 2 in Jersey Contest". The New York Times . February 28, 1958. p. 12.
  25. 1 2 "MURRAY WITHDRAWS FROM RACE IN JERSEY". The New York Times. March 5, 1958. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  26. ↑ "2 Rebuff Meyner, Join Senate Race". The New York Times . March 7, 1958. p. 12.
  27. ↑ "Grogan Enters Race – Mayor of Hoboken 'Definitely' in Bid for U. S. Senate". The New York Times . January 23, 1958. p. 18.
  28. ↑ "DEMOCRATS PICK 2 IN JERSEY CONTEST; Meyner Will Decide Whether Lord or Harrison Will Get Senatorial Endorsement". The New York Times. February 28, 1958. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  29. 1 2 3 "Moderate Vote Likely in Jersey". The New York Times . April 15, 1958. p. 1.
  30. 1 2 Cable Wright, George (April 9, 1958). "Williams' Hopes Spurt in Jersey". The New York Times . p. 68.
  31. 1 2 3 4 "M'Lean Optimistic Near End of Race". The New York Times . April 13, 1958. p. 82.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Unbeaten Grogan in Toughest Race: Jersey Democratic Senate Hopeful Picks Up Support in Camden and C. I. O." The New York Times . April 11, 1958. p. 12.
  33. ↑ "NJ US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  34. ↑ Cable Wright, George (September 28, 1958). "Rivalries Beset G. O. P. in Jersey". The New York Times . p. 76.
  35. ↑ "NJ US Senate Race". OurCampaigns. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
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