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 32 Senate seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and three special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Republicans took control of the Senate by managing to make a net gain of two seats. However, Wayne Morse (R-OR) became an independent, forcing the Republicans to rely on Vice President Richard Nixon's tie-breaking vote. The Republicans maintained a 48–47–1 plurality. Wayne Morse would caucus with the Republicans at the start of Congress' second session on January 6, 1954, to allow the GOP to remain in control of the Senate. This was the third time, as well as second consecutive, in which a sitting Senate leader lost his seat.

The 1952 United States Senate elections marked a significant shift in power, with the Republicans gaining control of the Senate by making a net gain of two seats. This was the last time the Senate changed hands in a presidential election year, and the last time the Republicans won control of the Senate, until 1980. As of 2026, this is the last time both houses simultaneously changed hands in a presidential year.

Results summary + ↓ 47 49 Democratic Republican

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row. Parties Total Democratic Republican Other Last elections (1950)Before these elections 49 47 0 96 Not up 35 26 0 61 Up 14 21 — 35 13 19 — 32 1 1 — 2 0 1 — 1 Incumbent retired 2 2 — 4 1 2 — 3 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican — 1 1 3 0 4 Incumbent ran 12 19 — 31 6 14 — 20 4 Republicans replaced by 4 Democrats5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans — 9 1 1 — 2 11 20 0 31 Total elected 12 23 0 35 Net change 2 2 2 Nationwide vote 21,236,793 24,665,569 1,534,837 47,437,199 Share 44.77% 52.00% 3.24% 100% Result 47 49 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. One Republican and one Democrat also retired instead of finishing the unexpired term.

StateSenatorReplaced by Connecticut (special) Maryland Nebraska (special) Texas

Defeats Four Republicans and five Democrats sought re-election, and one Republican and one Democrat also sought election to run to finish the unexpired term or in the six-year term but lost in the primary or general election. StateSenatorReplaced by Arizona Connecticut (regular) Kentucky (special) Maine Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Montana Tennessee Washington Wyoming

Post-election changes StateSenatorReplaced by Oregon Nebraska (Class 1) Nebraska (Class 2) Nevada New Hampshire North Carolina (Class 2) North Carolina (Class 3) Ohio South Carolina Wyoming

Change in composition

Before the elections Going into the November 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 → 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 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 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

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 I Majority using VP's vote ↓ 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 Key D Democratic I Independent R Republican

Race summaries

Special elections during the 82nd Congress In these special elections the winners were seated before January 3, 1953; ordered by election date, then state.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator PartyElectoral history Connecticut(Class 3) Republican 1952 Interim appointee retired to run for the Class 1 seat.New senator elected November 4, 1952.Republican hold. Kentucky(Class 2) Democratic 1951 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected November 4, 1952.Republican gain. Michigan(Class 1) Democratic 1951 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected November 4, 1952.Republican gain.Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. Nebraska(Class 2) Republican 1951 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 4, 1952.Republican hold.

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.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Arizona Democratic 19401946 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. California Republican 1945 1946 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Connecticut Democratic 1949 1950 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Delaware Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Florida Democratic 1946 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Indiana Republican 1944 1944 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Maine Republican 19401946 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Republican hold.Incumbent resigned December 31, 1952. Maryland Democratic 1946 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Republican gain. Massachusetts Republican 193619421944 1946 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Democratic gain. Michigan Democratic 1951 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected.Republican gainWinner was also elected to finish the term; see above. Minnesota Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Mississippi Democratic 1947 Incumbent re-elected. Missouri Republican 1946 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Democratic gain. Montana Republican 1946 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Democratic gain. Nebraska Republican 19401946 Incumbent re-elected. Nevada Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. New Jersey Republican 1944 1946 Incumbent re-elected. New Mexico Democratic 1935 1936 19401946 Incumbent re-elected. New York Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. North Dakota Republican 19401946 Incumbent re-elected. Ohio Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Pennsylvania Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Rhode Island Democratic 1950 Incumbent re-elected. Tennessee Democratic 191619221928193419401946 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Democratic hold. Texas Democratic 1928193419401946 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Democratic hold. Utah Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Vermont Republican 1946 1946 1952 Incumbent re-elected. Virginia Democratic 1933 1933 193419401946 Incumbent re-elected. Washington Republican 19461946 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Democratic gain. West Virginia Democratic 19401946 Incumbent re-elected. Wisconsin Republican 1946 Incumbent re-elected. Wyoming Democratic 1933 193419401946 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain.

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

State Party of winner Margin Michigan Republican (flip) 1.6% Montana Democratic (flip) 2.19% New Mexico Democratic 2.24% Arizona Republican (flip) 2.6% Connecticut (special) Republican 2.7% Massachusetts Democratic (flip) 2.99% Kentucky (special) Republican (flip) 3.0% Wyoming Republican (flip) 3.2% Nevada Republican 3.4% Pennsylvania Republican 3.6% Maryland Republican (flip) 5.0% Indiana Republican 5.6% West Virginia Democratic 7.2% Missouri Democratic (flip) 8.05% Connecticut Republican (flip) 8.12% Utah Republican 8.52% Wisconsin Republican 8.67% Delaware Republican 9.0% Ohio Republican 9.2% Rhode Island Democratic 9.6%

Arizona

California

Connecticut

There were two elections on the same day due to the July 28, 1952, death of two-term Democrat Brien McMahon.

Republican businessman William Purtell was appointed August 29, 1952, to continue the class 3 term, pending a special election in which he was not a candidate. Purtell was already the Republican nominee in the regular election for the class 1 seat, a race he then won.

Connecticut (special)

Connecticut (regular)

Delaware

Florida

Indiana

Kentucky (special)

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

There were two elections to the same seat on the same day due to the April 18, 1951 death of five-term Republican Arthur Vandenberg. Democratic journalist Blair Moody was appointed April 23, 1951 to continue the term pending a special election. The primary elections were held August 5, 1952. Moody lost both the special and the regular elections to Republican congressman Charles E. Potter.

Michigan (special)

Michigan (regular)

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska Nebraska (special)

Nebraska (regular)

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.

North Dakota

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

Texas

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Connally did not run for re-election to a fifth term.

Attorney General Price Daniel won the open race to succeed him, defeating U.S. Representative Lindley Beckworth in the Democratic primary on July 26. Daniel was unopposed in the general election, as the Texas Republican Party chose to endorse the Democratic ticket for all but one statewide offices to maximize votes for their presidential nominee Dwight Eisenhower.

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

See also 1952 United States elections 1952 United States presidential election 1952 United States House of Representatives elections 82nd United States Congress 83rd United States Congress

Notes

References

Sources