\n{{Legend0|#00f|Democratic gain}} {{Legend0|#f00|Republican gain}}
{{Legend0|#008|Democratic hold}} {{Legend0|#800|Republican hold}}"},"title":{"wt":"[[Majority Leader of the United States Senate|Majority Leader]]"},"before_election":{"wt":"[[Lyndon B. Johnson|Lyndon Johnson]]"},"before_party":{"wt":"Democratic Party (United States)"},"after_election":{"wt":"[[Lyndon B. Johnson|Lyndon Johnson]]"},"after_party":{"wt":"Democratic Party (United States)"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwBg">
November 6, 1956 |
![]() | ![]() | |
Leader | Lyndon Johnson | Bill Knowland |
---|---|---|
Party | Democratic | Republican |
Leader since | January 3, 1953 | August 4, 1953 |
Leader's seat | Texas | California |
Seats before | 49 | 47 |
Seats after | 51 | 45 |
Seat change | ![]() | ![]() |
Popular vote | 22,199,789 | 21,248,822 |
Percentage | 50.6% | 48.5% |
Swing | ![]() | ![]() |
Seats up | 15 | 17 |
Races won | 17 | 15 |
Majority Leader before election | Elected Majority Leader |
The United States Senate elections of 1956 were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with the re-election of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although the Democrats gained two seats in regular elections, the Republicans gained back two seats in special elections, leaving the party balance of the chamber remained unchanged.
Democrats defeated incumbents Herman Welker (R-ID), George H. Bender (R-OH), and James H. Duff (R-PA), as well as winning a Republican-held seat in Colorado. Republicans defeated incumbent Earle C. Clements (D-KY) as well as winning Democratic-held seats in Kentucky, New York, and West Virginia.
Thus, this election caused Kentucky's U.S. Senate delegation to change from two Democrats to two Republicans.
During the next Congress, Republican John D. Hoblitzell, Jr. was appointed to the seat of deceased Senator Matthew M. Neely (D-WV), and Democrat William Proxmire won a special election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (R-WI). Also, Price Daniel (D-TX) left the Senate to become governor of Texas, and Democrat Ralph Yarborough won a special election for that Senate seat. The net result was to leave the party balance unchanged.
Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.
Parties | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before these elections | 49 | 47 | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not up | 31 | 30 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 1 (1952) | 11 | 20 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 2 (1954) | 20 | 10 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Up | 18 | 17 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General: Class 3 | 15 | 17 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special: Class 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special: Class 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General election ONLY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent retired | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Held by same party | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Replaced by other party | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent ran | 13 | 16 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Won re-election | 12 | 13 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lost re-election | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lost renomination but held by same party | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 15 | 14 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total elected | 17 | 15 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net change | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 49 | 47 | 96 |
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
D38 Ran | D37 Ran | D36 Ran | D35 Ran | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 | D29 |
D39 Ran | D40 Ran | D41 Ran | D42 Ran | D43 Ran | D44 Ran | D45 Ran | D46 Ran | D47 Ran | D48 Retired |
Majority → | D49 Retired | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R39 Ran | R40 Ran | R41 Ran | R42 Ran | R43 Ran | R44 Ran | R45 Ran | R46 Ran | R47 Retired | |
R38 Ran | R37 Ran | R36 Ran | R35 Ran | R34 Ran | R33 Ran | R32 Ran | R31 Ran | R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
D38 Re-elected | D37 Re-elected | D36 Re-elected | D35 Re-elected | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 | D29 |
D39 Re-elected | D40 Re-elected | D41 Re-elected | D42 Re-elected | D43 Re-elected | D44 Re-elected | D45 Re-elected | D46 Re-elected | D47 Hold | D48 Gain |
Majority → | D49 Gain | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R39 Re-elected | R40 Re-elected | R41 Re-elected | R42 Re-elected | R43 Re-elected | R44 Gain | R45 Gain | D51 Gain | D50 Gain | |
R38 Re-elected | R37 Re-elected | R36 Re-elected | R35 Re-elected | R34 Re-elected | R33 Re-elected | R32 Re-elected | R31 Re-elected | R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
D38 | D37 | D36 | D35 | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 | D29 |
D39 | D40 | D41 | D42 | D43 | D44 | D45 | D46 | D47 | D48 |
Majority → | D49 Hold | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R39 | R40 | R41 | R42 | R43 | R44 | R45 | R46 Gain | R47 Gain | |
R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
Key: |
|
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In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1956 or in 1957 before January 3; ordered by election date, then state.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Kentucky (Class 2) | Robert Humphreys | Democratic | 1956 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Republican gain. | √ John S. Cooper (Republican) 53.2% Lawrence W. Wetherby (Democratic) 46.8% |
South Carolina (Class 2) | Thomas A. Wofford | Democratic | 1956 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Democratic hold. | √ Strom Thurmond (Democratic) Unopposed |
West Virginia (Class 1) | William R. Laird, III | Democratic | 1956 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Republican gain. | √ Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 53.7% William C. Marland (Democratic) 46.3% |
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1956; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
In these elections, the winners were elected in 1957 after January 3; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Texas (Class 1) | William A. Blakley | Democratic | 1957 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired when successor elected. Winner elected April 28, 1957. Democratic hold. | √ Ralph Yarborough (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Wisconsin (Class 1) | Joseph McCarthy | Republican | 1946 1952 | Incumbent died May 2, 1957. Winner elected August 28, 1957. Democratic gain. | √ William Proxmire (Democratic) 56.4% Walter J. Kohler Jr. (Republican) 40.5% [2] |
In New York, the Republican state convention met on September 10 at Albany, New York, and nominated New York State Attorney General Jacob K. Javits. [3] The Democratic state convention met on September 10 at Albany, New York, and nominated Mayor of New York City Robert F. Wagner, Jr., for the U.S. Senate. [4] The Liberal Party endorsed the Democratic nominee, Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr., for the U.S. Senate. [5] On October 1, a movement was launched to vote for General of the Army Douglas MacArthur as a write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate. [6] On October 2, MacArthur disavowed the campaign, and stated that he was not a candidate. [7]
The Republican candidate was elected.
Party | Candidate | Votes |
---|---|---|
Republican | Jacob K. Javits | 3,723,933 |
Democratic | Robert F. Wagner, Jr. | 2,964,511 |
Liberal | Robert F. Wagner, Jr. | 300,648 |
In North Dakota, the incumbent, Republican Milton Young, sought and received re-election to his third term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Quentin N. Burdick, son of North Dakota congressman Usher L. Burdick. [8]
Only Young filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic candidate was Quentin Burdick, the son of well-known politician Usher Burdick, and former candidate for Governor of North Dakota. Young and Burdick won the primary elections for their respective parties.
One independent candidate, Arthur C. Townley, also filed before the deadline. Townley would later seek the state's other senate seat in 1958 (see election), and was known for creating the National Non-Partisan League.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Milton R. Young | 155,305 | 63.61 | ||
Democratic | Quentin N. Burdick | 87,919 | 36.01 | ||
Independent | Arthur C. Townley | 937 | 0.38 | ||
Majority | |||||
Turnout | 244,161 |
In Oregon, Republican-turned-Independent-turned Democratic Senator Wayne Morse decided to seek re-election for his first full term as a Democrat. Morse defeated Republican candidate Douglas McKay in the hotly contested general election. [9]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Wayne Morse, incumbent Senator since 1945; member of the Democratic party since 1955 | 396,849 | 54.20 | ||
Republican | Douglas McKay, former Governor of Oregon (1949–1952) and United States Secretary of the Interior (1953–1956) | 335,405 | 45.80 | ||
Majority | 61,444 | 8.39 | |||
Turnout | 732,254 |
In Pennsylvania, incumbent Republican U.S. Senator James H. Duff sought re-election to another term, but was defeated by the Democratic nominee, Joseph S. Clark, Jr.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joseph S. Clark, Jr. Former Mayor of Philadelphia | 2,268,641 | 50.08 | ||
Republican | James H. Duff Incumbent U.S. Senator | 2,250,671 | 49.69 | ||
Socialist Labor | George S. Taylor | 7,447 4528794 | 0.16 | ||
Militant Workers | Herbert G. Lewin | 2,035 | 0.05 |
In South Carolina the regular election was held simultaneously with the special election.
The special election resulted from the resignation of Senator Strom Thurmond on April 4, 1956, who was keeping a campaign pledge he had made in the 1954 election. Thurmond was unopposed in his bid to complete the remaining four years of the term. Senator Strom Thurmond faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election. There was a possibility that Governor George Bell Timmerman, Jr. might enter the race, but Thurmond was held in such high regard by the voters that there would have been no chance of defeating Thurmond. With no challenge to the remainder of the term, Thurmond did not conduct a campaign and rejoined his old law firm in Aiken until he returned to the Senate after the general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Strom Thurmond | 245,371 | 100.0 | +36.9 | |
Majority | 245,371 | 100.0 | +73.7 | ||
Turnout | 245,371 | 32.2 | +5.9 | ||
Democratic hold |
Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin D. Johnston handily defeated Republican mayor of Clemson Leon P. Crawford. Olin D. Johnston, the incumbent Senator, faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election. Leon P. Crawford, the mayor of the town of Clemson in the Upstate, faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election. Crawford campaigned as a defender of states' rights and denounced Johnston for backing the New Deal and the Fair Deal. The state Republican Party believed that Crawford could have a chance in the election if he galvanized the 128,000 registered black voters, although they were weary of being labeled as the black party. In the end, Johnston remained highly popular with the voters who were still leery of the Republican party and he easily defeated Crawford in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Olin D. Johnston | 230,150 | 82.2 | -17.7 | |
Republican | Leon P. Crawford | 49,695 | 17.8 | +17.8 | |
No party | Write-Ins | 124 | 0.0 | -0.1 | |
Majority | 180,455 | 64.4 | -35.4 | ||
Turnout | 279,969 | 36.8 | |||
Democratic hold |
In Vermont, incumbent Republican George Aiken ran successfully for re-election to another term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic incumbent Bernard G. O'Shea.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | George Aiken (inc.) | 49,454 | 99.9 | ||
Republican | Other | 27 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 49,481 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bernard G. O'Shea | 7,997 | 99.8 | ||
Democratic | Other | 19 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 8,016 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | George Aiken (inc.) | 103,101 | 66.4 | ||
Democratic | Bernard G. O'Shea | 52,184 | 33.6 | ||
Total votes | 155,289 | 100 |
The 2002 United States Senate elections featured a series of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Republican Party, which gained two seats and thus a narrow majority from the Democratic Party in the United States Senate. The Senate seats up for election, known as "class 2" Senate seats, were last up for regular election in 1996. The election was held on November 5, 2002, almost fourteen months after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The 1996 United States Senate elections coincided with the presidential election, in which Democrat Bill Clinton was re-elected President.
The 1990 United States Senate elections were held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990. The Democratic Party increased its majority with a net gain of one seat from the Republican Party. The election took place in the middle of President George H. W. Bush's term, and, as with most other midterm elections, the party not holding the presidency gained seats in Congress.
The 1988 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate in which, in spite of the Republican victory by George H. W. Bush in the presidential election, the Democrats gained a net of one seat in the Senate. Seven seats changed parties, with four incumbents being defeated. The Democratic majority in the Senate increased by one from 54/46 to 55/45.
The 1984 United States Senate elections coincided with the landslide re-election of President Ronald Reagan in the presidential election. In spite of the lopsided presidential race, Reagan's Republican Party suffered a net loss of two Senate seats to the Democrats, although it retained control of the Senate and gained seats in the House.
The 1978 United States Senate elections in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter's term. Thirteen seats changed hands between parties. The Democrats at first lost a net of two seats to the Republicans, and then one more in a special election. Democrats nevertheless retained a 58-41 majority.
The 1966 United States Senate elections was an election on November 8, 1966 for the United States Senate which occurred midway through the second term of President Lyndon B. Johnson. With divisions in the Democratic base over the Vietnam War, and with the traditional mid-term advantage of the party not holding the presidency, the Republicans took three Democratic seats. Despite Republican gains, the balance remained overwhelmingly in favor of the Democrats, who retained a 64–36 majority. This was also the first election that occurred after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became law.
The 1964 United States Senate elections coincided with the election of President Lyndon B. Johnson by an overwhelming majority, to a full term. His Democratic Party picked up a net two seats from the Republicans. As of 2019, this is the last time either party has had a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which would have hypothetically allowed the Senate Democrats to override a veto, convict and expel certain officials, or invoke cloture without any votes from Republicans. The Senate election coincided with Democratic gains in the House in the same year.
The 1962 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate which was held in the middle of President John F. Kennedy's term. His Democratic Party made a net gain of three seats from the Republicans, increasing their control of the Senate.
The 1954 United States Senate elections was a midterm election in the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency. Eisenhower's Republican party lost a net of two seats to the Democratic opposition. This small change was just enough to give Democrats control of the chamber with the support of an Independent who caucused with them.
In U.S. politics an Independent Democrat is an individual who loosely identifies with the ideals of the Democratic Party but chooses not to be a formal member of the party. Independent Democrat is not a political party. Several elected officials, including members of Congress, have identified as Independent Democrats.
The 1956 U.S. Senate election in North Dakota was held November 6, 1956. The incumbent, Republican Senator Milton Young, sought and received re-election to his third term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Quentin N. Burdick, son of North Dakota congressman Usher L. Burdick.
The 1954 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 2, 1954 to select the next U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Senator Burnet R. Maybank did not face a primary challenge in the summer and was therefore renominated as the Democratic Party's nominee for the election in the fall. However, his death on September 1 left the Democratic Party without a nominee and the executive committee decided to nominate state Senator Edgar A. Brown as their candidate for the election. Many South Carolinians were outraged by the party's decision to forgo a primary election and former Governor Strom Thurmond entered the race as a write-in candidate. He easily won the election and became the first U.S. Senator to be elected by a write-in vote in an election where other candidates had ballot access.
The 1996 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 5, 1996 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Republican Senator Strom Thurmond won re-election against Democratic challenger Elliott Springs Close.
The 1966 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 8, 1966 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina simultaneously with the special election to fill out the remainder of Olin D. Johnston's term. Incumbent Senator Strom Thurmond, who had switched parties from Democratic to Republican in 1964, easily defeated state senator Bradley Morrah in the general election.
The 1956 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 6, 1956 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina simultaneously with the special senate election. Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin D. Johnston handily defeated Republican mayor of Clemson Leon P. Crawford.
The 1984 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 6, 1984 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Republican Senator Strom Thurmond cruised to re-election against Democratic challenger Melvin Purvis.
The 1960 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 8, 1960 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator Strom Thurmond easily won the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.
The 1978 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 7, 1978 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Republican Senator Strom Thurmond defeated Democratic challenger Charles D. Ravenel.