1958 United States Senate special election in West Virginia

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1958 United States Senate special election in West Virginia
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  1954 November 4, 1958 1960  
  Jennings Randolph headshot.jpg JohnDHoblitzell.jpg
Nominee Jennings Randolph John D. Hoblitzell Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote374,167256,510
Percentage59.32%39.77%

1958 United States Senate special election in West Virginia results map by county.svg
County results
Randolph:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Hoblitzell:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election

John D. Hoblitzell Jr.
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Jennings Randolph
Democratic

The 1958 United States Senate special election in West Virginia was held on November 4, 1958, concurrent with a regular election. The election was called due to the death of Senator Matthew M. Neely.

Contents

Democrats Randolph and Byrd both won their seats, amid a national wave election. This would be the last time that Democrats simultaneously flipped both of a state's Senate seats until Georgia's elections in 2020 and 2021, and the last for either party until the 1978 elections in Minnesota.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

While campaigning with Robert C. Byrd, Randolph was involved in a car accident, veering into oncoming traffic and killing another driver. According to the testimony of Byrd, Randolph fell asleep at the wheel and woke up shortly before hitting the other driver. [1] Wetzel County prosecutor Jack Hawkins declined to file charges, [2] and Byrd's insurance company settled with the victim's widow out of court, being forced to pay the full sum of Byrd's liability, $22,500. [3]

Results

Primary results [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jennings Randolph 102,547 47.16%
Democratic William C. Marland 77,90135.82%
Democratic Arnold Vickers 25,43911.70%
Democratic Squibb Wilson 11,5405.31%
Total votes217,427 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John D. Hoblitzell, Jr. (incumbent) 82,094 100.00%
Total votes82,094 100.00%

General election

General election [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jennings Randolph 374,167 59.32%
Republican John D. Hoblitzell, Jr. (incumbent)256,51039.77%
Total votes630,677 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

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References

  1. "Two Senate Aspirants in Fatal Crash". Cumberland Evening Times. March 18, 1958. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  2. "No Charges In Crash Involving Randolph, Byrd". Weirton Daily Times. March 19, 1958. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  3. "Should Voters Permit a Ruthless Push to Power?". The Register-Herald . October 10, 1958. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  4. "1958 Democratic Primary Election" (PDF). Historical Election Results and Turnout. Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  5. "1958 Republican Primary" (PDF). Historical Election Results and Turnout. Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. "1958 General Election" (PDF). Historical Election Results and Turnout. Secretary of State of West Virginia . Retrieved June 13, 2020.