1952 United States Senate elections


The 1952 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate which coincided with the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower to the presidency by a large margin. The Republicans took control of the senate by managing to make a net gain of two seats, which was reduced to one when Wayne Morse became an independent. The Republicans still held a majority after Morse's switch. This election was the second time in history that the party in power lost their majority and the Senate Majority Leader lost his own re-election bid.
This was the last time the senate changed hands in a presidential election year until 1980.

Retirements

Democrat who was replaced by a Republican

  1. Maryland: Herbert O'Conor was replaced by James Glenn Beall.

    Democratic hold

  2. Texas: Tom Connally was replaced by Price Daniel.

    Republican holds

Both Republican holds were in special elections.
  1. Connecticut: Appointee William A. Purtell retired to run for the Class 1 seat and was replaced by Prescott Bush.
  2. Nebraska: Appointee Fred A. Seaton retired and was replaced by Dwight Griswold.

    Incumbent losses

Renomination

Democratic hold

  1. Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar lost to Albert Gore Sr., who later won the general election.

    Republican hold

  2. Maine: Owen Brewster lost to Frederick G. Payne, who later won the general election.

    Re-election

Democrats who lost to Republicans

  1. Arizona: Ernest McFarland, the Majority Leader, lost to Barry Goldwater.
  2. Connecticut: William Benton lost to William A. Purtell.
  3. Kentucky: Appointee Thomas R. Underwood lost to John Sherman Cooper in a special election.
  4. Michigan: Blair Moody lost to Charles E. Potter in a special election.
  5. Wyoming: Joseph C. O'Mahoney lost to Frank A. Barrett.

    Republicans who lost to Democrats

  6. Massachusetts: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. lost to John F. Kennedy.
  7. Missouri: James P. Kem lost to Stuart Symington.
  8. Montana: Zales Ecton lost to Mike Mansfield.
  9. Washington: Harry P. Cain lost to Henry M. Jackson.

    Change in composition

Before the elections

Going into the November elections.

Results of the elections

Beginning of the next Congress

Race summaries

Special elections during the 82nd Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1952 or before January 3, 1953; ordered by election date, then state.

Races leading to the 83rd Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1953; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

Special elections during the 83rd Congress

There were no elections in 1953 to the 83rd Congress.

Arizona

California

Connecticut

Connecticut (Special)

Delaware

Florida

Indiana

Kentucky (Special)

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Michigan (Special)

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nebraska (Special)

Nevada

New Jersey

As of 2020, this was the last time that Republicans have won the Class 1 U.S Senate seat from New Jersey.

New Mexico

New York

In New York, the Liberal State Committee met on August 28, and nominated Dr. George S. Counts, Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, for the U.S. Senate. The Republican State Committee re-nominated the incumbent U.S. senator Irving M. Ives. The Democratic State Committee met on August 28, and nominated Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore for the U.S. Senate.
The Republican incumbent Ives was re-elected with the then largest plurality in state history.
RepublicanIrving M. Ives3,853,934
DemocraticJohn Cashmore2,521,736
LiberalGeorge S. Counts489,775
American LaborCorliss Lamont104,702
Socialist WorkersMichael Bartell4,263
SocialistJoseph G. Glass3,382
Industrial GovernmentNathan Karp2,451

North Dakota

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming