The 1962 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. Held on November 6, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They occurred in the middle of President John F. Kennedy's term. His Democratic Party made a net gain of four seats from the Republicans, increasing their control of the Senate to 68–32. However, this was reduced to 67–33 between the election and the next Congress, as on November 18, 1962, Democrat Dennis Chávez, who was not up for election that year, died. He was replaced on November 30, 1962, by Republican appointee Edwin L. Mechem. Additionally, Democrat Strom Thurmond became a Republican in 1964, further reducing Democrats to 66–34. This was the first time since 1932 that Democrats gained seats in this class of senators.

This was the first time since 1914 that the president's party gained seats in the Senate and lost seats in the House. This would occur again in 1970, 2018, and 2022.

Results summary + ↓ 68 32 Democratic Republican

Parties Total Democratic Republican Other Last elections (1960)Before these elections 64 36 0 100 Not up 43 18 0 61 Up 21 18 — 39 19 15 — 34 1 0 — 1 1 3 — 4 Incumbent retired 2 2 — 4 2 0 — 2 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats — 2 Result 4 0 0 4 Incumbent ran 19 16 — 35 17 12 — 29 3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans — 5 0 0 — 0 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat — 1 Result 21 14 0 35 Total elected 25 14 0 39 Net gain/loss 4 4 4 Nationwide vote 21,387,598 20,897,719 258,084 42,543,401 Share 50.27% 49.12% 0.61% 100% Result 68 32 0 100

Source:

Gains, losses, and holds Retirements Two Republicans and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

StateSenatorReplaced by Connecticut Hawaii Maryland Massachusetts

Defeats Four Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

StateSenatorReplaced by Colorado Indiana New Hampshire (special) South Dakota Wisconsin Wyoming (special)

Post-election changes

StateSenatorReplaced by California(Class 1) New Mexico(Class 1) Tennessee(Class 2)

Post-election changes One Democrat switched to a Republican in September 1964.

StateSenatorReplaced by South Carolina(Class 2)

Change in composition Before the elections

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Majority → D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Elections results

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Majority → D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Beginning of the next Congress

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Majority → D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D V V R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R Key D Democratic R Republican V Vacant

Race summaries Special elections during the 87th Congress In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1962 or before January 3, 1963; ordered by election date, then state.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Idaho(Class 2) Republican 1962 Interim appointee elected. Kansas(Class 2) Republican 1962 Interim appointee elected. Massachusetts(Class 1) Democratic 1960 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected.Democratic hold. New Hampshire(Class 2) Republican 1961 Interim appointee lost nominationNew senator elected.Democratic gain. Wyoming(Class 2) Democratic 1961 Interim appointee lost electionNew senator elected.Republican gain.

Elections leading to the next Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1963; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Alabama Democratic 1938 1938194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. Alaska Democratic 1958 Incumbent re-elected. Arizona Democratic 192619321938194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas Democratic 194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. California Republican 1953 1954 1956 Incumbent re-elected. Colorado Democratic 1956 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Connecticut Republican 1952 1956 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Democratic gain. Florida Democratic 19501956 Incumbent re-elected. Georgia Democratic 1956 Incumbent re-elected. Hawaii Democratic 1959 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Democratic hold. Idaho Democratic 1956 Incumbent re-elected. Illinois Republican 19501956 Incumbent re-elected. Indiana Republican 194419501956 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Democratic gain. Iowa Republican 194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. Kansas Republican 1950 19501956 Incumbent re-elected. Kentucky Republican 1956 Incumbent re-elected. Louisiana Democratic 1948 19501956 Incumbent re-elected. Maryland Republican 19501956 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Democratic gain. Missouri Democratic 1960 1960 Incumbent re-elected. Nevada Democratic 1954 1956 Incumbent re-elected. New Hampshire Republican 1954 1956 Incumbent re-elected. New York Republican 1956 Incumbent re-elected. North Carolina Democratic 1954 1954 1956 Incumbent re-elected. North Dakota Republican 1945 1946 19501956 Incumbent re-elected. Ohio Democratic 1956 Incumbent re-elected. Oklahoma Democratic 19501956 Incumbent re-elected. Oregon Democratic 194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. Pennsylvania Democratic 1956 Incumbent re-elected. South Carolina Democratic 194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. South Dakota Republican 1962 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected.Democratic gain. Utah Republican 19501956 Incumbent re-elected. Vermont Republican 1940 194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. Washington Democratic 1944 194419501956 Incumbent re-elected. Wisconsin Republican 1938194419501956 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Democratic gain.

Closest races Nineteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State Party of winner Margin South Dakota Democratic (flip) 0.2% Indiana Democratic (flip) 0.6% Alabama Democratic 1.8% Idaho (special) Republican 2.0% Connecticut Democratic (flip) 2.5% New Hampshire (special) Democratic (flip) 4.6% Utah Republican 4.8% Washington Democratic 4.8% Wisconsin Democratic (flip) 5.4% Kentucky Republican 5.6% Illinois Republican 5.8% Pennsylvania Democratic 2.4% Iowa Republican 6.8% Oklahoma Democratic 6.9% Colorado Republican (flip) 8.0% Oregon Democratic 8.4% Missouri Democratic 9.2% Idaho Democratic 9.4% Arizona Democratic 9.5%

Nevada was the tipping point state, with a margin of 30.6%.

Alabama

Alaska

Incumbent Ernest Gruening defeated the Republican challenger, former U.S. attorney, interior solicitor and future long-time U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, to win re-election to a full term.

Arizona

Incumbent Democrat Carl Hayden defeated future Governor Evan Mecham to win re-election to a seventh term.

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Idaho (regular)

Idaho (special)

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kansas (regular)

Kansas (special)

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts (special)

John F. Kennedy, originally elected to the U.S. Senate in 1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts, resigned in 1961 after being elected in the 1960 United States presidential election. Incumbent Benjamin A. Smith II chose not to run for re-election. Ted Kennedy, brother of John and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, defeated Edward J. McCormack, Jr. by a wide margin in the Democratic primary. In the Republican primary, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for International Affairs George C. Lodge defeated U.S. representative Laurence Curtis in a close race.

In a battle between two candidates from influential political families, H. Stuart Hughes ran as an independent. Ted Kennedy defeated Lodge with 55% of the vote to 42% for Lodge, with 2% to Hughes. Kennedy would serve until 2009.

Missouri

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Hampshire (regular)

New Hampshire (special)

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Incumbent Republican Milton Young was re-elected to his fourth term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate William LanierLanier is not to be confused with former North Dakota Governor William Langer. of Fargo. Only Young filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic candidate was Lanier, who had previously faced Young in a special election held in 1946 to fill the seat which was vacated by the late John Moses. Young and Lanier won the primary elections for their respective parties. No independents ran.

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Democratic incumbent Wayne Morse was re-elected to a fourth term. He defeated Republican candidate Sig Unander in the general election.

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin D. Johnston defeated Governor Fritz Hollings in the Democratic primary and Republican W. D. Workman Jr. in the general election. The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary on June 12, 1962. Olin D. Johnston, the incumbent senator, faced stiff competition from Governor Fritz Hollings, who argued that Johnston was too liberal and not representative of South Carolina interests. Johnston told the voters that he was doing what he thought was best for the agriculture and textile workers of the state. Hollings was decisively defeated by Johnston because Johnston used his position as Post Office and Civil Service Committee to build 40 new post offices in the state and thus demonstrate the pull he had in Washington.

W. D. Workman Jr., a correspondent for the News and Courier, faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election.

Both Johnston and Workman supported segregation, so the campaign centered on the economic issues of the state. Workman tried to persuade the voters that Johnston's policies were socialist and that he was too closely aligned with the Kennedy administration. Johnston was a consistent supporter of socialized health care proposals, and Workman was able to win considerable support from the medical establishment. However, the state's citizens were much poorer than those of the rest of the nation, and Johnston's class based appeals made him a very popular figure for the downtrodden of both the white and black races. The competitive nature of this race foretold the eventual rise of the Republican Party and the fact that South Carolinians were growing increasingly suspicious of policies generated at the federal level.

South Dakota

Utah

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

Incumbent Republican Alexander Wiley lost to Democrat Gaylord A. Nelson.

Wyoming (special)

See also 1962 United States elections 1962 United States gubernatorial elections 1962 United States House of Representatives elections 87th United States Congress 88th United States Congress

Notes

References "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume II. Columbia, SC: 1963, p. 6.