1954 United States Senate elections

← 1952 September 13[a] & November 2, 1954 1956 →
← 1948 1960 →
38 of the 96 seats in theUnited States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Lyndon Johnson William Knowland Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1953 August 4, 1953 Leader's seat Texas California Seats before 46 49 Seats after 48 47 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 15,137,069[1] 12,585,368[2] Percentage 53.9% 44.8% Seats up 22 16 Races won 24 14   Third party   Party Independent Seats before 1 Seats after 1[b] Seat change Seats up 0 Races won 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain     Democratic hold      Republican gain     Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Neb.,N. H. &N. C.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Bill Knowland Republican ElectedMajority Leader Lyndon Johnson Democratic

The1954 United States Senate elections was a midterm election in the first term ofDwight D. Eisenhower's presidency. The 32 Senate seats ofClass 2 were contested in regular elections, and six special elections were held to fill vacancies. Eisenhower'sRepublican party lost a net of two seats to theDemocratic opposition. This small change was just enough to give Democrats control of the chamber with the help of the Independent (Wayne Morse of Oregon) who at the start of this Congress in January 1955 agreed to caucus with them; he later officially joined the party in April 1955.

A contribution to the Republican reversal was backlash againstGOP-drivenMcCarthyism and the numerous controversies it spawned, including theArmy–McCarthy hearings. Other factors included a comment made in Detroit by Defense SecretaryCharles Wilson, former president ofGeneral Motors, equating unemployed auto workers with "lazy kennel dogs who sit... and yell."^[3]

However, it has been pointed out that losses in the midterm election were considerably less than the White House party generally faces in the midterm elections, and this has been attributed to the overall popularity of President Eisenhower, who participated in the campaign along with Vice-PresidentRichard Nixon and other members of the cabinet.^[4]

The elections resulted in adivided government that continued to the end of Eisenhower's presidency and a Democratic majority that would last until1981. As of 2022^[update], this is the last Senate election cycle in which a state (both Nebraska and North Carolina) had to hold three simultaneous elections (two special elections and one regular election) due to the near-simultaneous deaths of both incumbent Senators.

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties						Total
		Democratic	Republican	Independent	Other
Last elections (1952)		47	49	0	0	96
Before these elections		46	49	1	0	96
Not up		24	33	0	1	58
Up		22	16	0	—	38
	Class 2 (1948→1954)	20	12	—	—	32
	Special: Class 1	0	1	—	—	1
	Special: Class 3	2	3	—	—	5
Incumbent retired		2	4	—	—	6
	Held by same party	1	3	—	—	4
	Replaced by other party	1 Republican replaced by1 Democrat 1 Democrat replaced by1 Republican		—	—	2
	Result	2	4	0	0	6
Incumbent ran		20	12	—	—	32
	Won re-election	17	7	—	—	24
	Lost re-election	4 Republicans replaced by4 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by2 Republicans		—	—	6
	Lost renomination but held by same party	1	1	—	—	2
	Result	22	10	0	0	32
Total elected		24	14	0	0	38
Net change		2	2			2
Nationwide vote		15,137,069	12,585,368	35,661	323,147	28,081,245
	Share	53.90%	44.82%	0.13%	1.15%	100%
Result		48	47	1	0	96

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives^[2]

One Republican and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election. Two Republicans and one Democrat also retired instead of finishing the unexpired term.

Three Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election, and two Republicans and one Democrat also sought election to finish the unexpired term, but lost in the primary or general election.

Wayne Morse (I-OR) who caucused with the Democrats, officially joined the party in April 1955.

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1954 or before January 3, 1955; ordered by election date, then state, then class.

In these general elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1955; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Twelve races had a margin of victory under 10%:

1954 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee John Sparkman Junius Foy Guin Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 259,348 55,110 Percentage 82.48% 17.53%

County results Sparkman:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. senator before election John Sparkman Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Sparkman Democratic

1954 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Arkansas

← 1948 July 27, 1954 1960 →

Nominee John L. McClellan Sid McMath Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 164,905 127,941 Percentage 50.35% 39.06%

County results McClellan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% McMath:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election John L. McClellan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John L. McClellan Democratic

1954 United States Senate special election in California

← 1950 November 2, 1954 1956 →

Nominee Thomas Kuchel Sam Yorty Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,090,836 1,788,071 Percentage 53.21% 45.50%

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

Following the resignation ofRichard Nixon to assume thevice presidency,GovernorEarl Warren appointedThomas Kuchel to Nixon's seat; Kuchel assumed the office on January 2, 1953.^[6]

1954 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Gordon Allott John A. Carroll Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 248,502 235,686 Percentage 51.32% 48.68%

County results Allott:     50–60%     60–70% Carroll:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Edwin C. Johnson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Gordon Allott Republican

1954 United States Senate election in Delaware

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee J. Allen Frear Jr. Herbert B. Warburton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 82,511 62,389 Percentage 56.94% 43.06%

County results Frear:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election J. Allen Frear Jr. Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear Jr. Democratic

1954 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Georgia

← 1948 September 8, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Richard Russell Jr. Party Democratic Electoral vote 410 Popular vote 619,129 Percentage 100%

County results Russell:     >90%

U.S. senator before election Richard Russell Jr. Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Richard Russell Jr. Democratic

Idaho election

← 1948 1960 →

Nominee Henry Dworshak Glen H. Taylor Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 142,269 84,139 Percentage 62.84% 37.16%

County results Dworshak:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Taylor:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Henry Dworshak Republican Elected U.S. Senator Henry Dworshak Republican

InIdaho,Republican Incumbent Henry Dworshak defeated Glen H. Taylor, who had previously represented Idaho in the Senate from 1945 to 1951.Allegations of Communist ties were used against Taylor by Dworshak and other Republicans to win the election.^[7]

1954 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →
Turnout	63.69%
Nominee Paul Douglas Joseph T. Meek Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,804,338 1,563,683 Percentage 53.57% 46.43%
County results Douglas:     50–60%     60–70% Meeks:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
U.S. senator before election Paul Douglas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Paul Douglas Democratic

1954 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Thomas E. Martin Guy Gillette Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 442,409 402,712 Percentage 52.21% 47.53%

County results Martin:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Gillette:     50–60%     60–70% Tie:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election Guy Gillette Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thomas E. Martin Republican

1954 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Andrew F. Schoeppel George McGill Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 348,144 258,575 Percentage 56.33% 41.84%

County results Schoeppel:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% McGill:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Andrew F. Schoeppel Republican Elected U.S. Senator Andrew F. Schoeppel Republican

1954 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1952 (special) November 2, 1954 1956 (special) →

Nominee Alben Barkley John Sherman Cooper Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 434,109 362,948 Percentage 54.46% 45.54%

County results Barkley:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Cooper:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election John Sherman Cooper Republican Elected U.S. Senator Alben Barkley Democratic

1954 Democratic Senate primary election in Louisiana

← 1948 July 27, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Allen Ellender Frank B. Ellis Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 268,054 162,775 Percentage 59.15% 35.92%

Parish results Ellender:     30–40%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Ellis:     50-60%

U.S. senator before election Allen Ellender Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Allen Ellender Democratic

1954 United States Senate election in Maine

← 1948 September 13, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Margaret Chase Smith Paul Fullam Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 144,530 102,075 Percentage 58.61% 41.39%

County results Smith:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Fullam:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Margaret Chase Smith Republican Elected U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith Republican

1954 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Leverett Saltonstall Foster Furcolo Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 956,605 927,899 Percentage 50.54% 49.03%

County Results Municipality Results Saltonstall   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100% Furcolo   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%

Senator before election Leverett Saltonstall Republican Elected Senator Leverett Saltonstall Republican

In Massachusetts,Republican IncumbentLeverett Saltonstall defeated his challengers.

DemocratFoster Furcolo (Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts since 1952 and member of theUnited States House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 2nd congressional district from 1949 to 1952) beatJohn I. Fitzgerald (former member of theBoston City Council and Democratic candidate for Senate in 1948) andJoseph L. Murphy (former member of theMassachusetts Senate).

Republican incumbentLeverett Saltonstall (United States senator since 1945 and Governor of Massachusetts from 1939 to 1945) was renominated. Other nominees included Socialist WorkersThelma Ingersoll (ran for Senate in 1952.^[8]) and ProhibitionHarold J. Ireland (candidate for Treasurer and Receiver-General in 1948 and 1952).

1954 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1948 1960 →

Nominee Patrick V. McNamara Homer S. Ferguson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,088,550 1,049,420 Percentage 50.75% 48.93%

County results McNamara:     50–60%     60–70% Ferguson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election Homer S. Ferguson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Patrick V. McNamara Democratic

1954 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1948 1960 →

Nominee Hubert H. Humphrey Val Bjornson Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 642,193 479,619 Percentage 56.39% 42.11%

County results Humphrey:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Bjornson:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%

U.S. senator before election Hubert H. Humphrey Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey Democratic (DFL)

Mississippi election

← 1948 1960 →

Nominee James Eastland James A. White Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 100,848 4,678 Percentage 95.6% 4.43%

County results Eastland:     80-90%     90-100%

U.S. senator before election James Eastland Democratic Elected U.S. senator James Eastland Democratic

1954 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee James E. Murray Wesley A. D'Ewart Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 114,591 112,863 Percentage 50.38% 49.62%

County results Murray:     50–60%     60–70% D'Ewart:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election James E. Murray Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James E. Murray Democratic

In Montana incumbent senatorJames E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in1934 and was re-elected in1936,1942, and1948, ran for re-election.

Murray won the Democratic primary against trivial opponents (farmer Ray E. Gulick and Sam G. Feezell).

RepublicanWesley A. D'EwartUnited States Congressman fromMontana's 2nd congressional district beatRobert Yellowtail, former Superintendent of theCrow Indian Reservation, for the GOP nomination.

A contentious and close election ensued, but ultimately, Murray was able to narrowly win re-election over D'Ewart to a final term in the Senate.

Nebraska had three Senate elections on the ballot. Both incumbents had died in the span of three months, leading to appointments and special elections.

1954 United States Senate Class I special election in Nebraska

← 1952 November 2, 1954 1958 →

Nominee Roman Hruska James F. Green Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 250,341 160,881 Percentage 60.88% 39.12%

County results Hruska:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Green:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Samuel W. Reynolds Republican Elected U.S. Senator Roman Hruska Republican

Incumbent RepublicanHugh A. Butler died July 1, 1954, and governorRobert B. Crosby appointed RepublicanSamuel W. Reynolds on July 3 to continue the term. Reynolds did not run to finish the term, and RepublicanRoman Hruska won the seat in November to finish the term ending in 1959.

1954 United States Senate Class II special election in Nebraska

← 1952 (special) November 2, 1954 1954 →

Nominee Hazel Abel William H. Meier Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 233,589 170,828 Percentage 57.76% 42.24%

County results Abel:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Meier:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Eva Bowring Republican Elected U.S. Senator Hazel Abel Republican

Second-term RepublicanKenneth S. Wherry was re-elected in 1948, but died on November 29, 1951. GovernorVal Peterson appointedFred A. Seaton to fill the seat temporarily. After Seaton chose not to run to continue the term, former governorDwight P. Griswold elected to fill the remaining two years of the term, but died April 12, 1954, and RepublicanEva Bowring was appointed April 16 by governor Crosby to continue Wherry's term. In November, RepublicanHazel Abel was elected to finish the term.

1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1954 (special) November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Carl Curtis Keith Neville Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 255,695 162,990 Percentage 61.07% 38.93%

County results Curtis:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Neville:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Hazel Abel Republican Elected U.S. Senator Carl Curtis Republican

Although elected to finish the class 2 term, Abel did not run for the next term, and RepublicanCarl Curtis was elected in November to the next term.

On December 31, 1954, Abel resigned and Curtis was appointed January 1, 1955, two days ahead of his elected term.

1954 United States Senate special election in Nevada

← 1950 November 2, 1954 1956 →

Nominee Alan Bible Ernest S. Brown Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 45,043 32,470 Percentage 58.11% 41.89%

County results Bible:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Brown:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Ernest S. Brown Republican Elected U.S. Senator Alan Bible Democratic

1954 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Styles Bridges Gerald L. Morin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 117,150 77,386 Percentage 60.22% 39.78%

County results Bridges:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Styles Bridges Republican Elected U.S. Senator Styles Bridges Republican

1954 United States Senate special election in New Hampshire

← 1950 November 2, 1954 1956 →

Nominee Norris Cotton Stanley J. Betley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 114,068 75,490 Percentage 60.18% 39.82%

County results Cotton:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Betley:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Robert W. Upton Republican Elected U.S. Senator Norris Cotton Republican

New Jersey election

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Clifford P. Case Charles R. Howell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 861,528 858,158 Percentage 48.66% 48.47%

County Results Case:     40–50%     50-60%     60-70% Howell:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Robert C. Hendrickson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Clifford P. Case Republican

1954 United States Senate election in New Mexico

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Clinton Anderson Edwin L. Mechem Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 111,351 83,671 Percentage 57.10% 42.90%

County results Anderson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Mechem   50–60%

U.S. senator before election Clinton Anderson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Clinton Anderson Democratic