United States Senate elections, 1950
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Republican holds
Republican gains
Democratic holds
Democratic gains | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The United States Senate elections of 1950 occurred in the middle of Harry S. Truman's second term as President. As with most 20th-century second-term mid-terms, the party out of the Presidency made significant gains. The Republican opposition made a net gain of five seats, taking advantage of the Democratic administration's declining popularity during the Cold War and the aftermath of the Recession of 1949. The Democrats held a narrow 49 to 47 seat majority after the election. This became the first time since 1932 that the Senate Majority Leader lost his seat.
Gains and losses
The Republicans defeated four incumbent Democrats:
- Illinois: Democrat Scott W. Lucas (the incumbent Majority Leader), lost to Everett Dirksen (R).
- Maryland: Millard Tydings (D) lost to John M. Butler (R).
- Pennsylvania: Francis J. Myers (D) lost to James H. Duff (R).
- Utah: Elbert B. Thomas (D) lost to Wallace F. Bennett (R).
Republicans also won two open seats:
- Idaho: Glen H. Taylor (D) lost renomination to David Worth Clark, who ended up losing the general election to Herman Welker (R).
- California: Sheridan Downey (D) retired, citing ill health and facing a tough renomination fight against Helen Gahagan Douglas, who ended up losing the general election to Richard Nixon (R).
Democrats defeated one incumbent Republican:
- Missouri: Forrest C. Donnell (R) lost to Thomas C. Hennings, Jr. (D)
Change in Senate composition
Senate composition before the elections
D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
D28 | D27 | D26 | D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
D29 | D30 | D31 | D32 | D33 | D34 | D35 | D36 | D37 | D38 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D48 | D47 | D46 | D45 | D44 | D43 | D42 | D41 | D40 | D39 |
D49 | ← Majority | ||||||||
D50 | D51 | D52 | D53 | D54 | R42 | R41 | R40 | R39 | |
R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 | R34 | R35 | R36 | R37 | R38 |
R28 | R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
Senate composition as a result of the elections
D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
D28 | D27 | D26 | D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
D29 | D30 | D31 | D32√ | D33√ | D34√ | D35√ | D36√ | D37√ | D38√ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D48O | D47O | D46O | D45O | D44O | D43√ | D42√ | D41√ | D40√ | D39√ |
D49+ | ← Majority | ||||||||
R47+ | R46+ | R45+ | R44+ | R43+ | R42+ | R41O | R40O | R39√ | |
R29 | R30√ | R31√ | R32√ | R33√ | R34√ | R35√ | R36√ | R37√ | R38√ |
R28 | R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
Key: |
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Subsequent changes
During the next Congress, three states would have party changes to deaths and appointments.
- Kentucky: Virgil Chapman (D) died March 8, 1951.
- Thomas R. Underwood (D) was appointed March 19, 1951 to continue his term.
- John S. Cooper (R), then won a special election November 4, 1952 to finish the term. Republican gain.
- Michigan: Arthur H. Vandenberg (R) died April 18, 1951.
- Blair Moody (D) was appointed April 23, 1951 to continue his term.
- Charles E. Potter (R) then won a special election November 4, 1952 to finish the term. Democratic gain, then Republican gain: overall Republican hold.
- Connecticut: Brien McMahon (D) died July 28, 1952.
- William A. Purtell (R) was appointed August 29, 1952 to continue his term.
- Prescott Bush (R), who had lost in this (1950) special election, then won a special election November 4, 1952 to finish the term. Republican gain.
Race summaries
Special elections during the 81st Congress
In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1950 or before January 3, 1951; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Connecticut (Class 1) |
William Benton | Democratic | 1949 (Appointed) | Appointee elected November 7, 1950. | √ William Benton (Democratic) 49.2% Prescott S. Bush (Republican) 49.1% |
Idaho (Class 2) |
Henry C. Dworshak | Republican | 1949 (Appointed) | Appointee elected November 7, 1950. | √ Henry C. Dworshak (Republican) 51.9% Claude J. Burtenshaw (Democratic) 48.1% |
Rhode Island (Class 1) |
Edward L. Leahy | Democratic | 1949 (Appointed) | Appointee retired. Winner elected November 7, 1950. Democratic hold. |
√ John O. Pastore (Democratic) 61.6% Austin T. Levy (Republican) 38.4% |
North Carolina (Class 2) |
Frank Porter Graham | Democratic | 1949 (Appointed) | Appointee lost nomination to finish term. Winner elected November 7, 1950. Democratic hold. |
√ Willis Smith (Democratic) 67.0% E. L. Gavin (Republican) 32.6% |
Kentucky (Class 3) |
Garrett L. Withers | Democratic | 1949 (Appointed) | Interim appointee resigned to trigger special election. Successor elected November 7, 1950. Democratic hold. |
√ Earle C. Clements (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] |
Kansas (Class 3) |
Harry Darby | Republican | 1949 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired November 28, 1950 when successor elected. Successor elected November 29, 1950. Republican hold. |
√ Frank Carlson (Republican) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] |
Races leading to the 82nd Congress
In these general elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1951; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | Lister Hill | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Lister Hill (Democratic) 76.5% John G. Crommelin, Jr. (Independent) 23.5% |
Arizona | Carl Hayden | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Carl Hayden (Democratic) 62.8% Bruce Brockett (Republican) 37.2% |
Arkansas | J. William Fulbright | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ J. William Fulbright (Democratic) Unopposed |
California | Sheridan Downey | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Richard M. Nixon (Republican) 59.2% Helen Gahagan Douglas (Democratic) 40.8% |
Colorado | Eugene D. Millikin | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Eugene D. Millikin (Republican) 53.3% John A. Carroll (Democratic) 46.8% |
Connecticut | Brien McMahon | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Brien McMahon (Democratic) 51.7% Joseph E. Talbot (Republican) 46.6% |
Florida | Claude Pepper | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold.[1] |
√ George A. Smathers (Democratic) 76.2% John P. Booth (Republican) 23.7% |
Georgia | Walter F. George | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Walter F. George (Democratic) Unopposed |
Idaho | Glen H. Taylor | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Herman Welker (Republican) 61.7% D. Worth Clark (Democratic) 38.3% |
Illinois | Scott W. Lucas | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Everett M. Dirksen (Republican) 53.9% Scott W. Lucas (Democratic) 45.8% |
Indiana | Homer E. Capehart | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Homer E. Capehart (Republican) 52.8% Alex M. Campbell (Democratic) 46.4% |
Iowa | Bourke B. Hickenlooper | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Republican) 54.8% Albert J. Loveland (Democratic) 44.7% |
Kansas | Frank Carlson | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Frank Carlson (Republican) 54.3% Paul Aiken (Democratic) 43.8% |
Kentucky | Earle C. Clements | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Earle C. Clements (Democratic) 54.2% Charles I. Dawson (Republican) 45.1% |
Louisiana | Russell B. Long | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Russell B. Long (Democratic) 87.7% Charles S. Gerth (Republican) 12.3% |
Maryland | Millard E. Tydings | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ John M. Butler (Republican) 53.0% Millard E. Tydings (Democratic) 46.0% |
Missouri | Forrest C. Donnell | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
√ Thomas C. Hennings, Jr. (Democratic) 53.6% Forrest C. Donnell (Republican) 46.4% |
Nevada | Patrick A. McCarran | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Patrick A. McCarran (Democratic) 58.0% George E. Marshall (Republican) 42.0% |
New Hampshire | Charles W. Tobey | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Charles W. Tobey (Republican) 55.7% Emmet J. Kelley (Democratic) 38.0% Wesley Powell (Independent) 6.3% |
New York | Herbert H. Lehman | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Herbert H. Lehman (Democratic) 50.3% Joe R. Hanley (Republican) 45.3% |
North Carolina | Clyde R. Hoey | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Clyde R. Hoey (Democratic) 68.7% Halsey B. Leavitt (Republican) 31.3% |
North Dakota | Milton R. Young | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Milton R. Young (Republican) 67.6% Harry O'Brien (Democratic) 32.4% |
Ohio | Robert A. Taft | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Robert A. Taft (Republican) 57.5% Joseph T. Ferguson (Democratic) 42.5% |
Oklahoma | Elmer Thomas | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. |
√ A. S. Mike Monroney (Democratic) 54.8% W. H. Bill Alexander (Republican) 45.2% |
Oregon | Wayne Morse | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Wayne Morse (Republican) 74.8% Howard Latourette (Democratic) 23.2% |
Pennsylvania | Francis J. Myers | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ James H. Duff (Republican) 51.3% Francis J. Myers (Democratic) 47.7% |
South Carolina | Olin B. Johnston | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Olin B. Johnston (Democratic) Unopposed |
South Dakota | Chandler Gurney | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
√ Francis Case (Republican) 63.9% John A. Engel (Democratic) 36.1% |
Utah | Elbert D. Thomas | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Wallace F. Bennett (Republican) 53.9% Elbert D. Thomas (Democratic) 45.8% |
Vermont | George D. Aiken | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ George D. Aiken (Republican) 78.0% James E. Bigelow (Democratic) 22.0% |
Washington | Warren G. Magnuson | Democratic | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Warren G. Magnuson (Democratic) 53.4% Walter Williams (Republican) 46.0% |
Wisconsin | Alexander Wiley | Republican | [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Alexander Wiley (Republican) 53.3% Thomas E. Fairchild (Democratic) 46.2% Edwin Knappe (Socialist) 0.4% |
Special elections during the 82nd Congress
There were no elections in 1951 to the 82nd Congress.
Complete list of races
Florida
Democratic incumbent Senator Claude Pepper lost renomination May 2, 1950 to George A. Smathers, who easily won the general election.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 "FL US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 18, 2013.