The 1954 United States Senate elections was a midterm election in the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency. The 32 Senate seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and six special elections were held to fill vacancies. 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 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. Events of the election The Republican reversal was attributed in part to the backlash against GOP-driven McCarthyism and the numerous controversies it spawned, including the Army–McCarthy hearings. Other factors included a comment made in Detroit by Defense Secretary Charles Wilson, former president of General Motors, equating unemployed auto workers with "lazy kennel dogs who sit... and yell."
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-president Richard Nixon and other members of the cabinet.
The elections resulted in a divided government that continued to the end of Eisenhower's presidency and a Democratic majority that would last until 1981. , 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.
Results summary + ↓ 48 1 47 Democratic I Republican
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 20 12 — — 32 0 1 — — 1 2 3 — — 5 Incumbent retired 2 4 — — 6 1 3 — — 4 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican — — 2 2 4 0 0 6 Incumbent ran 20 12 — — 32 17 7 — — 24 4 Republicans replaced by 4 Democrats2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans — — 6 1 1 — — 2 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
Gains, losses and holds Retirements One Republican and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election. Two Republicans and one Democrat also retired instead of finishing the unexpired term.
StateSenatorReplaced by Colorado Nebraska (regular) Nebraska (special, class 1) Nebraska (special, class 2) New Jersey South Carolina Wyoming
Defeats 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. StateSenatorReplaced by Iowa Kentucky Michigan Nevada (special) New Hampshire (special) North Carolina (reg. and sp., Cl. 2) Ohio (special) Oregon
Party entrance Wayne Morse (I-OR) who caucused with the Democrats, officially joined the party in April 1955. StateSenatorReplaced by Oregon
Post-election changes StateSenatorReplaced by Kentucky South Carolina West Virginia
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 I R Majority → 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 R R R R R R R R R R R R
Results of 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 Majority with Independent in caucus ↑ I 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 R R R R R R R R R R R
Key: D Democratic I Independent R Republican
Race summaries Special elections during the 83rd Congress
In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1954 or before January 3, 1955; ordered by election date, then state, then class.
State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history California(Class 3) Republican 1953 Interim appointee elected November 2, 1954. Nebraska(Class 1) Republican 1954 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 2, 1954.Republican hold. Nebraska(Class 2) Republican 1954 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 2, 1954.Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.Republican hold. Nevada(Class 3) Republican 1954 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected November 2, 1954.Democratic gain. New Hampshire(Class 3) Republican 1953 Interim appointee lost nomination.New senator elected November 2, 1954.Republican hold. North Carolina(Class 2) Democratic 1953 Interim appointee lost nomination.New senator elected November 2, 1954.Democratic hold.Winner also elected to next term; see below. North Carolina(Class 3) Democratic 1954 Interim appointee elected November 2, 1954. Ohio(Class 3) Democratic 1953 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected November 2, 1954.Republican gain. Wyoming(Class 2) Republican 1954 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 2, 1954.Winner also elected to the next term; see below.Democratic gain.
Races leading to the 84th Congress
In these general elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1955; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Alabama Democratic 1946 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas Democratic 19421948 Incumbent re-elected. Colorado Democratic 193619421948 Incumbent retired to run for Governor.Republican gain. Delaware Democratic 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Georgia Democratic 1932 193619421948 Incumbent re-elected. Idaho Republican 1946 1948 1949 1950 Incumbent re-elected. Illinois Democratic 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Iowa Democratic 1936 19381944 1948 Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Kansas Republican 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Kentucky Republican 1946 1948 1952 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Louisiana Democratic 193619421948 Incumbent re-elected. Maine Republican 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Massachusetts Republican 1944 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Michigan Republican 19421948 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Minnesota DFL 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Mississippi Democratic 19421948 Incumbent re-elected. Montana Democratic 1934 193619421948 Incumbent re-elected. Nebraska Republican 1954 Interim appointee retired.Republican hold.Winner was not elected to finish the term; see above.Successor seated January 1, 1955. New Hampshire Republican 193619421948 Incumbent re-elected. New Jersey Republican 1948 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. New Mexico Democratic 1948 Incumbent re-elected. North Carolina Democratic 1953 Interim appointee lost nomination.Democratic hold.Winner also elected to finish the term; see above. Oklahoma Democratic 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Oregon Republican 1944 1944 1948 Incumbent lost re-election.Democratic gain. Rhode Island Democratic 193619421948 Incumbent re-elected. South Carolina Democratic 1954 Interim appointee retired.Democratic hold.Incumbent then resigned December 23, 1954, to give successor preferential seniority.Winner appointed December 24 to finish the term. South Dakota Republican 19481948 Incumbent re-elected. Tennessee Democratic 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Texas Democratic 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Virginia Democratic 1946 1948 Incumbent re-elected. West Virginia Democratic 19221928 193019361941 1948 Incumbent re-elected. Wyoming Republican 1954 Interim appointee retired.Democratic gain.Winner also elected to finish the term; see above.
Closest races Twelve races had a margin of victory under 10%:
State Party of winner Margin Ohio (special) Republican (flip) 0.12% New Jersey Republican 0.19% Oregon Democratic (flip) 0.4% Montana Democratic 0.8% Massachusetts Republican 1.5% Michigan Democratic (flip) 1.9% Colorado Republican (flip) 2.6% Wyoming Democratic (flip) 3.2% Iowa Republican (flip) 4.7% California (special) Republican 7.7% Kentucky Democratic (flip) 9.0% West Virginia Democratic 9.6%
Alabama
Arkansas
California (special)
Following the resignation of Richard Nixon to assume the vice presidency, Governor Earl Warren appointed Thomas Kuchel to Nixon's seat; Kuchel assumed the office on January 2, 1953.
Colorado
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho
In Idaho, 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.
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, Republican Incumbent Leverett Saltonstall defeated his challengers.
Democrat Foster Furcolo (Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts since 1952 and member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district from 1949 to 1952) beat John I. Fitzgerald (former member of the Boston City Council and Democratic candidate for Senate in 1948) and Joseph L. Murphy (former member of the Massachusetts Senate).
Republican incumbent Leverett Saltonstall (United States senator since 1945 and Governor of Massachusetts from 1939 to 1945) was renominated. Other nominees included Socialist Workers Thelma Ingersoll (ran for Senate in 1952.Thelma Ingersoll at ourcampaigns.com) and Prohibition Harold J. Ireland (candidate for Treasurer and Receiver-General in 1948 and 1952).
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
In Montana incumbent senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, 1942, and 1948, ran for re-election.
Murray won the Democratic primary against trivial opponents (farmer Ray E. Gulick and Sam G. Feezell).
Republican Wesley A. D'Ewart United States Congressman from Montana's 2nd congressional district beat Robert Yellowtail, former Superintendent of the Crow 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
Nebraska had three Senate elections on the ballot. Both incumbents had died in the span of three months, leading to appointments and special elections.
Nebraska (special, class 1)
Incumbent Republican Hugh A. Butler died July 1, 1954, and governor Robert B. Crosby appointed Republican Samuel W. Reynolds on July 3 to continue the term. Reynolds did not run to finish the term, and Republican Roman Hruska won the seat in November to finish the term ending in 1959.
Nebraska (special, class 2)
Second-term Republican Kenneth S. Wherry was re-elected in 1948, but died on November 29, 1951. Governor Val Peterson appointed Fred A. Seaton to fill the seat temporarily. After Seaton chose not to run to continue the term, former governor Dwight P. Griswold elected to fill the remaining two years of the term, but died April 12, 1954, and Republican Eva Bowring was appointed April 16 by governor Crosby to continue Wherry's term. In November, Republican Hazel Abel was elected to finish the term.
Nebraska (regular)
Although elected to finish the class 2 term, Abel did not run for the next term, and Republican Carl 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.
Nevada (special)
New Hampshire
New Hampshire (regular)
New Hampshire (special)
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina