Misplaced Pages

1950 United States Senate elections

← 1948 November 7, 1950 1952 →
← 1949 (NY)
36 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Scott Lucas (lost re-election) Ken Wherry Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1949 January 3, 1949 Leader's seat Illinois Nebraska Seats before 54 42 Seats after 49 47 Seat change 5 5 Popular vote 16,374,996 17,023,295 Percentage 47.7% 49.6% Seats up 23 13 Races won 18 18
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Conn., Id. & N. C.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Scott Lucas Democratic Elected Majority Leader Ernest McFarland Democratic

The 1950 United States Senate elections occurred in the middle of Harry S. Truman's second term as president. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, and four special elections were held to fill vacancies. As with most 20th-century second-term midterms, the party not holding 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 was the first time since 1932 that the Senate majority leader lost his seat, and the only instance of the majority leader losing his seat while his party retained the majority.

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties					Total
		Democratic	Republican	Other
Last elections (1948) Before these elections		54	42	0	96
Not up		31	29	—	60
Up		23	13	—	36
	Class 3 (1944→1950)	20	12	—	32
	Special: Class 1	2	0	—	2
	Special: Class 2	1	1	—	2
Incumbent retired		3	1	—	4
	Held by same party	2	1	—	3
	Replaced by other party	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	1
	Result	2	2	0	4
Incumbent ran		20	12	—	32
	Won re-election	12	10	—	22
	Lost re-election	1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 4 Democrats replaced by 4 Republicans		—	5
	Lost renomination but held by same party	3	1	—	4
	Lost renomination and party lost	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	1
	Result	16	16	0	32
Total elected		18	18	0	36
Net change		5	5		5
Nationwide vote		16,374,996	17,023,295	946,945	34,345,236
	Share	47.68%	49.57%	2.76%	100%
Result		49	47	0	96

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

One Republican and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

Two Republicans and eight Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Post-election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

Results of the elections

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.

Races leading to the 82nd Congress

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1951; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

Closest races

Fifteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Alabama

1950 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Lister Hill John G. Crommelin Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 125,534 38,477 Percentage 76.54% 23.46%

County results Hill:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election J. Lister Hill Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. Lister Hill Democratic

Alabama election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	J. Lister Hill (incumbent)	125,534	76.54%	5.24
	Independent	John G. Crommelin	38,477	23.46%	N/A
Total votes			164,011	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

Arizona

1950 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Carl Hayden Bruce Brockett Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 116,246 68,846 Percentage 62.80% 37.20%

County results Hayden:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Carl Hayden Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carl Hayden Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Carl Hayden ran for re-election to a fifth term, defeating Republican nominee Bruce Brockett in the general election. Brockett was formerly the Republican nominee for governor in both 1946 and 1948. Hayden first defeated Cecil H. Miller and Robert E. Miller (of the Arizona Farm Bureau), for the Democratic nomination.

Arkansas

California

1950 United States Senate election in California

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1954 (special) →

Nominee Richard Nixon Helen Gahagan Douglas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,183,454 1,502,507 Percentage 59.23% 40.76%

County results Nixon:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Douglas:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Sheridan Downey Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Richard Nixon Republican

Colorado

1950 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Eugene Millikin John A. Carroll Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 239,724 210,442 Percentage 53.25% 46.75%

Results by county Millikin:      50–60%      60–70% Carroll:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Eugene Millikin Republican Elected U.S. Senator Eugene Millikin Republican

Connecticut

Connecticut (special)

1950 United States Senate special election in Connecticut

← 1946 November 7, 1950 1952 →

Nominee William Benton Prescott Bush Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 431,413 430,311 Percentage 50.06% 49.94%

County results Municipality resultsBenton:      40–50%      50–60%      60-70% Bush:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Tie:      50%

U.S. senator before election William Benton Democratic Elected U.S. Senator William Benton Democratic

Connecticut (regular)

1950 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1952 (special) →

Nominee Brien McMahon Joseph E. Talbot Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 453,646 409,053 Percentage 51.68% 46.60%

County results Municipality resultsMcMahon:      50–60%      60-70%      70-80% Talbot:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% No Data/Vote:

U.S. senator before election Brien McMahon Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Brien McMahon Democratic

Florida

1950 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee George Smathers John P. Booth Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 238,987 74,228 Percentage 76.30% 23.70%

County results Smathers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Booth:      50–60%

Senator before election Claude Pepper Democratic Elected Senator George Smathers Democratic

Democratic incumbent Senator Claude Pepper lost renomination May 2, 1950 to George A. Smathers, who easily won the general election.

The Democratic primary for the 1950 United States Senate election in Florida was described as the "most bitter and ugly campaigns in Florida political history." Ormund Powers, a Central Florida historian, noted that ABC and NBC commentator David Brinkley said that "the Pepper-Smathers campaign would always stand out in his mind as the dirtiest in the history of American politics". On January 12, 1950, U.S. Representative George A. Smathers declared his candidacy for the race in Orlando at Kemp's Coliseum, where about 3,000 supporters had gathered. In his opening speech, Smathers accused Pepper of being "the leader of the radicals and extremists", an advocate of treason, and a person against the constitutional rights of Americans. Ed Ball, a power in state politics who had broken with Pepper, financed his opponent, Smathers.

Prior to the entry of Smathers and Pepper, Orlando attorney James G. Horrell campaigned for the seat. Horrell researched Pepper's weaknesses and the state's voters. Horrell also compiled a list of communist-front groups that Pepper had communicated with. On the day that Pepper declared his candidacy, Horrell withdrew and endorsed Smathers. Horrell also sent his reports about Pepper to Smathers, which he used throughout the next few months. This would also prevent the chance of a run-off election. In late February and early March, the Jacksonville Journal conducted a poll in 11 counties important for the election. Smathers led by about 2-to-1 and dominated in Duval, Pinellas, and Volusia counties, while he was also statistically tied with Pepper in Dade, Escambia, and Hillsborough counties. However, Smathers did not trail in any of the 11 counties.

Smathers repeatedly attacked "Red Pepper" for having communist sympathies, condemning both his support for universal health care and his alleged support for the Soviet Union. Pepper had traveled to the Soviet Union in 1945 and, after meeting Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, declared he was "a man Americans could trust." Additionally, although Pepper supported universal health care, sometimes referred to as "socialized medicine", Smathers would vote for "socialized medicine" in the Senate when it was introduced as Medicare in 1965. In The Saturday Evening Post, even respected writer and notorious anti-segregation editor Ralph McGill labeled Pepper a "spell-binding pinko". Beginning on March 28 and until the day of the primary, Smathers named one communist organization each day that Pepper addressed, starting with the American Slav Congress.

Pepper's opponents circulated widely a 49-page booklet titled The Red Record of Senator Claude Pepper. It contained photographs and headlines from several communist publications such as the Daily Worker. In April the Daily Worker endorsed Pepper, with Communist Party of Florida leader George Nelson warning that a Smathers victory would "strengthen the Dixiecrat-KKK forces in Florida as well as throughout the South." The booklet also made it seem as if Pepper desired to give Russia nuclear bomb-making instructions, billions of dollars, and the United States' natural resources. There was also a double-page montage of Pepper in 1946 at New York City's Madison Square Garden with progressive Henry A. Wallace and civil rights activist Paul Robeson, and quoted Pepper speaking favorably of both of them. Throughout the campaign, Pepper denied sympathizing with communism.

Simultaneous to this election, then-U.S. House Representative Richard Nixon was running for the Senate seat in California. In a letter from Senator Karl E. Mundt of South Dakota, he told Nixon that "It occurs to me that if Helen is your opponent in the fall, something of a similar nature might well be produced", in reference to The Red Record of Senator Claude Pepper and a similar Democratic primary between Manchester Boddy and Helen Gahagan Douglas.

Race also played a role in the election. Labor unions began a voter registration drive, which mostly added African Americans to the voter rolls. Smathers accused the "Northern labor bosses" of paying black people to register and vote for Pepper. Shortly after Smathers declared his candidacy, he indicated to the Florida Peace Officers Association that he would defend law enforcement officers for free if they were found guilty of civil rights violations. With the election occurring during the era of racial segregation, Pepper was portrayed as favoring integration and interracial marriage. He was also labeled a "nigger lover" and accused by Orlando Sentinel publisher Martin Andersen of shaking hands with a black woman in Sanford. In Dade County, which had a significant black and Jewish population, doctored photographs depicting Smathers in a Ku Klux Klan hood were distributed.

In the Groveland Case, four young African American men – Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas – known as the Groveland Four, were accused of raping a 17-year old white women in Groveland on July 16, 1949. Thomas fled the area but was later shot and killed by police. Greenlee, Irvin, and Shepherd were convicted by an all-white jury. After the St. Petersburg Times questioned the verdict in April 1950, Lake County State Attorney J. W. Hunter, a supporter of Pepper, demanded that Pepper repudiate the news articles. However, Pepper refused. Hunter then denounced Pepper and endorsed Smathers. In addition to the racial violence, cross burning was also common at the time, with five in Jacksonville, ten in Orlando and Winter Park, and seventeen in the Tallahassee area.

With the accusation of "Northern labor bosses" sending "the carpetbaggers of 1950" to Florida on his behalf, Pepper reminded voters that Smathers was born in New Jersey and sometimes referred to him as a "damn Yankee intruder". In response, Smathers decorated speaking platform in the colors of his alma mater at the University of Florida, orange and blue, while informing his supporters that Pepper graduated from Harvard Law School.

Powers noted that throughout the campaign, "scarcely a day passed" without Andersen writing a news story, column, or editorial that was very positive of Smathers or highly critical of Pepper. Thirty-eight daily newspapers in Florida endorsed Smathers, while only the St. Petersburg Times and The Daytona Beach News-Journal endorsed Pepper. Among the newspapers that supported Smathers were the Miami Herald, owned by John S. Knight, and the Miami Daily News, published by James M. Cox, a former Governor of Ohio and the Democratic Party nominee for the 1920 presidential election. However, Pepper's aides compared this situation to when Alf Landon was endorsed by more editors and newspapers than Franklin Roosevelt in 1936, but received far fewer votes than him.

Smathers performed generally well across many areas of the state, with the exception of Miami, Tampa, and the Florida Panhandle. On the morning after the election, Andersen wrote on the front-page headline of the Orlando Sentinel, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow ... We Have Won from Hell to Breakfast And From Dan to Beersheba ... And Staved Off Socialism", which was inspired by a headline in The New York Times celebrating Lawrence of Arabia's victory over the Turks in 1917.

Smathers defeated Republican John P. Booth in a landslide in the general election on November 7. Results indicated that Smathers received 76.3% of the vote compared to just 23.7% for Booth. In the popular vote, Smathers garnered 238,987 votes versus 74,228 for Booth. Smathers fared well throughout the state and won all but Pinellas County.

Georgia

1950 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Georgia

← 1944 June 28, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Walter F. George Alex McLennan Party Democratic Democratic Electoral vote 410 0 Popular vote 470,156 79,886 Percentage 82.50% 14.02%

U.S. senator before election Walter F. George Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Walter F. George Democratic

Five-term Democratic Senator Walter F. George was re-elected without opposition.

George would retire after this term.

Idaho

There were two elections on the same day due to the October 8, 1949 death of one-term Democrat Bert H. Miller.

Idaho (special)

1950 United States Senate special election in Idaho

← 1948 November 7, 1950 1954 →

Nominee Henry Dworshak Claude J. Burtenshaw Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 104,608 97,092 Percentage 51.86% 48.14%

County results Dworshak:      50–60%      60–70% Burtenshaw:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Henry Dworshak Republican Elected Senator Henry Dworshak Republican

Republican former-senator Henry Dworshak — who had lost re-election to Miller in 1948 — was appointed to continue the term pending a special election to the class 2 seat, which he then won.

Idaho (regular)

1950 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Herman Welker D. Worth Clark Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 124,237 77,180 Percentage 61.68% 38.32%

County results Welker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Clark:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Glen H. Taylor Democratic Elected Senator Herman Welker Republican

One-term Democrat Glen H. Taylor lost renomination to the class 3 seat to his predecessor D. Worth Clark. Taylor had beaten Clark for the Democratic nomination in 1944, and this year Clark did the same to him. However, in the general election, Clark was easily beaten by Republican State senator Herman Welker.

Illinois

1950 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Everett M. Dirksen Scott W. Lucas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,951,984 1,657,630 Percentage 53.88% 45.76%

County results Dirksen:      40–50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Lucas:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Scott W. Lucas Democratic Elected Senator Everett M. Dirksen Republican

Indiana

1950 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Homer Capehart Alexander M. Campbell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 844,303 741,025 Percentage 52.81% 46.35%

County results Capehart:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70% Campbell:      40-50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Homer Capehart Republican Elected U.S. Senator Homer Capehart Republican

First-term Republican Homer E. Capehart was re-elected.

Capehart would win re-election again in 1956, but lose his seat in 1962.

Iowa

1950 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Bourke B. Hickenlooper Albert J. Loveland Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 470,613 383,766 Percentage 54.82% 44.70%

Hickenlooper:      50–60%      60–70% Loveland:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Bourke B. Hickenlooper Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bourke B. Hickenlooper Republican

One-term Republican Bourke B. Hickenlooper was re-elected.

Hickenlooper would continue serving in the Senate until his retirement in 1969.

Kansas

There were two elections to the same seat on the same day due to the November 8, 1949 death of two-term Republican Clyde M. Reed. Governor of Kansas Frank Carlson appointed fellow Republican Harry Darby December 2, 1949 to continue the term, pending a special election. Carlson won both elections and was seated November 29, 1950.

Kansas (special)

1950 United States Senate special election in Kansas

← 1950 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Frank Carlson Paul Aiken Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 321,718 261,405 Percentage 55.17% 44.83%

County results Carlson:      50-60%      60-70% Aiken:      50–60%

Senator before election Harry Darby Republican Elected Senator Frank Carlson Republican

Kansas (regular)

1950 United States Senate special election in Kansas

← 1950 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Frank Carlson Paul Aiken Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 335,880 271,365 Percentage 54.25% 43.83%

County results Carlson:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Aiken:      40–50%      50–60%

Senator before election Harry Darby Republican Elected Senator Frank Carlson Republican

Kentucky

There were two elections to the same seat on the same day, due to the January 19, 1949 resignation of Democrat Alben W. Barkley to become U.S. vice president. Governor of Kentucky Earle Clements appointed fellow Democrat Garrett L. Withers to continue the term, pending a special election. The winner of the special election would complete the current term, from November until the start of the next Congress on January 3, while the regular election was for the full term from 1951 to 1957. Clements, himself, won both elections and was sworn in on November 27, 1950. Withers later served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Kentucky (special)

Kentucky (regular)

Kentucky election

← 19441956 →

Nominee Earle Clements Charles I. Dawson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 334,249 278,368 Percentage 54.16% 45.11%

County results Clements:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Dawson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Garrett L. Withers Democratic Elected U.S. senator Earle Clements Democratic

Louisiana

1950 United States Senate election in Louisiana

← 1948 (special) November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Russell B. Long Charles S. Gerth Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 220,907 30,931 Percentage 87.72% 12.28%

Parish results Long:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Russell B. Long Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Russell B. Long Democratic

Maryland

1950 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee John Marshall Butler Millard Tydings Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 326,291 283,180 Percentage 53.00% 46.00%

County results Butler:      50–60%      60–70% Tydings:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Millard Tydings Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Marshall Butler Republican

Missouri

Missouri election

← 19441956 →

Nominee Thomas C. Hennings Jr. Forrest C. Donnell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 685,732 592,922 Percentage 53.60% 46.34%

County results Hennings:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Donnell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Edward V. Long Democratic Elected U.S. senator Edward V. Long Democratic

Nevada

1950 United States Senate election in Nevada

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1954 (special) →

Nominee Pat McCarran George E. Marshall Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 35,829 25,993 Percentage 58.01% 41.99%

County results McCarran:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Marshall:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Pat McCarran Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Pat McCarran Democratic

New Hampshire

1950 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1954 (special) →

Nominee Charles W. Tobey Emmet J. Kelley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 106,142 72,473 Percentage 55.99% 38.23%

County results Tobey:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Kelley:      60–70%

Senator before election Charles W. Tobey Republican Elected Senator Charles W. Tobey Republican

New York

1950 United States Senate election in New York

← 1949 (special) November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Herbert H. Lehman Joe Hanley Party Democratic Republican Alliance Liberal Popular vote 2,632,313 2,367,353 Percentage 50.35% 45.28%

County results Lehman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Hanley:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%

Senator before election Herbert H. Lehman Democratic Elected Senator Herbert H. Lehman Democratic

The Socialist Workers state convention met on July 9, and nominated Joseph Hansen for the U.S. Senate.

The American Labor state convention met on September 6 and nominated W.E.B. DuBois for the U.S. Senate.

The Republican state convention met on September 7 at Saratoga Springs, New York. They re-nominated Lieutenant Governor Joe R. Hanley for the U.S. Senate.

The Democratic state convention met on September 7 at Rochester, New York, and re-nominated the incumbent U.S. senator Herbert H. Lehman.

The Liberal state convention met on September 6 and 7 at the Statler Hotel in New York City, and endorsed Democratic nominee Lehman.

Nearly the whole Republican statewide ticket was elected in a landslide, with only the Democratic incumbent U.S. senator, Ex-Governor Herbert H. Lehman, managing to stay in office.

North Carolina

There were two elections in North Carolina.

North Carolina (special)

1950 United States Senate special election in North Carolina

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Willis Smith E. L. Galvin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 364,912 177,753 Percentage 66.97% 32.62%

County results Smith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100% Galvin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Senator before election Frank P. Graham Democratic Elected Senator Willis Smith Democratic

North Carolina (regular)

1950 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1954 (special) →

Nominee Clyde R. Hoey Halsey B. Leavitt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 376,472 171,804 Percentage 68.67% 31.34%

County results Hoey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100% Leavitt:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Senator before election Clyde R. Hoey Democratic Elected Senator Clyde R. Hoey Democratic

North Dakota

1950 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1946 (special) November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Milton Young Harry O'Brien Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 126,209 126,209 Percentage 67.59% 32.41%

County results Young:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% O'Brien:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Milton Young Republican Elected U.S. Senator Milton Young Republican

Ohio

1950 United States Senate election in Ohio

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1954 (special) →

Nominee Robert A. Taft Joe Ferguson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,645,643 1,214,459 Percentage 57.54% 42.46%

County results Taft:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Ferguson:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Robert A. Taft Republican Elected U.S. Senator Robert A. Taft Republican

Oklahoma

1950 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Mike Monroney Bill Alexander Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 345,953 285,224 Percentage 54.81% 45.19%

County results Monroney:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Alexander:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Elmer Thomas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Mike Monroney Democratic

Oregon

1950 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Wayne Morse Howard LaTourette Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 376,510 116,780 Percentage 74.79% 23.20%

County results Morse:      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

U.S. senator before election Wayne Morse Republican Elected U.S. Senator Wayne Morse Republican

Pennsylvania

1950 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee James H. Duff Francis J. Myers Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,820,400 1,694,076 Percentage 51.30% 47.74%

County results Duff:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Myers:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Francis J. Myers Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James H. Duff Republican

Rhode Island (special)

1950 United States Senate special election in Rhode Island

← 1946 November 7, 1950 1952 →

Nominee John Pastore Austin T. Levy Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 183,725 144,184 Percentage 56.03% 43.97%

County results Pastore:      50–60%      60–70% Levy:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election John Pastore Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Pastore Democratic

South Carolina

1950 Democratic Senate primary election in South Carolina

← 1944 July 11, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Olin D. Johnston Strom Thurmond Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 186,180 158,904 Percentage 53.95% 46.05%

County results Johnston:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Thurmond:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Olin D. Johnston Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Olin D. Johnston Democratic

South Dakota

1950 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Francis H. Case John A. Engel Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 160,670 90,692 Percentage 63.92% 36.08%

County results Case:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Engel:      50–60%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Chan Gurney Republican Elected U.S. Senator Francis H. Case Republican

Utah

1950 United States Senate election in Utah

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Wallace F. Bennett Elbert D. Thomas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 142,427 121,198 Percentage 53.86% 45.83%

County results Bennett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Thomas:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Elbert D. Thomas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Wallace F. Bennett Republican

Vermont

Vermont election

← 1944 November 7, 1950 (1950-11-07) 1956 →

Nominee George Aiken James Bigelow Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 69,543 19,608 Percentage 78.0% 22.0%

County results Municipality resultsMunicipal results Aiken:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Bigelow:      50–60%      60–70%      No vote      No data

U.S. senator before election George Aiken Republican Elected U.S. Senator George Aiken Republican

Washington

1950 United States Senate election in Washington

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Warren Magnuson W. Walter Williams Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 397,719 342,464 Percentage 53.40% 45.98%

County results Magnuson:      50–60%      60–70% Williams:     50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Warren Magnuson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson Democratic

Wisconsin

1950 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →

Nominee Alexander Wiley Thomas E. Fairchild Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 595,283 515,539 Percentage 53.34% 46.19%

County results Wiley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Fairchild:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Alexander Wiley Republican Elected U.S. Senator Alexander Wiley Republican

See also

• 1950 United States elections
  • 1950 United States House of Representatives elections
• 81st United States Congress
• 82nd United States Congress

Notes

1. 32 regular elections and 4 specials
2. In California, Sheridan Downey was originally renominated, but retired due to ill health.
3. ^ Appointee elected
4. New York was the "tipping point" state.

References

1. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (January 11, 1951). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1950" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 5, 6–7, 26, 32, 40.
2. ^ "FL US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
3. "Our Campaigns - AL US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
4. "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate - D Primary Race - Sep 12, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
5. "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
6. ^ Joy Wallace Dickinson (September 24, 2000). "Florida's Senatorial Slugfest Was Bitter, Ugly, Legendary". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
7. ^ Claude Denson Pepper and Hays Gorey (November 1987). Pepper: Eyewitness to a Century. San Diego, California: Harcourt. ISBN 978-0151716951.
8. ^ Fund, John. Political Journal: George Smathers, RIP, January 24, 2007.
9. ^ James C. Clark (1998). "The Campaign Begins". Road to Defeat: Claude Pepper and Defeat in the 1950 Florida Primary (Thesis). University of Florida. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
10. "Pepper Concedes It; Miamian's Lead Nears 70,000". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. May 3, 1950. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
11. Karl E. Mundt (May 9, 1950). "Letter from Sen. Karl Mundt to Richard Nixon, May 9, 1950, on file in the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, 1950 Senate race files, box 1". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
12. Andrews, Mark (December 13, 1998). "U.s. Senate Race Of '50 Was Black Mark On Campaigning". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
13. "Pepper-vs.-Smathers Race Close; Reds Issue in Florida Senate Drive". The New York Times. Lake Wales, Florida. April 6, 1950.
14. Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1950 (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: United States House of Representatives. 1951. p. 6. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
15. "FL US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
16. "Our Campaigns - GA US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com.
17. "Our Campaigns - ID US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com.
18. "Our Campaigns - ID US Senate - D Primary Race - Aug 08, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com.
19. "Our Campaigns - ID US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com.
20. "OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, November 7, 1950 JUDICIAL ELECTION, 1950, PRIMARY ELECTION General Primary, April 11, 1950" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
21. "Our Campaigns - IA US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com.
22. "Our Campaigns - KS US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
23. "Our Campaigns - KS US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
24. "Our Campaigns - KY US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 07, 1950". www.ourcampaigns.com.
25. "TROTSKYISTS PICK TICKET". The New York Times. July 10, 1950.
26. "TRUMAN SHAMMING, MARCANTONIO SAYS; ...Slate for A.L.P. Is Listed". The New York Times. September 7, 1950.
27. "LEADING CANDIDATES ON THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S TICKET". The New York Times. September 8, 1950.
28. "Lynch, Nominated, Accuses Dewey of 'Unholy Coalition'; Lehman, Balch, Young, D'Amanda Also in 'Balanced' Ticket". The New York Times. September 8, 1950.
29. "3 DEMOCRATS STIR LIBERAL'S REVOLT; Party Nominates Lehman and Lynch but Rejects Balch, Young and D'Amanda". The New York Times. September 8, 1950.

• "DEWEY'S PLURALITY OFFICIALLY 572,668; Canvassers' Tabulation Shows Lehman Defeated Hanley by Margin of 246,960". The New York Times. December 15, 1950.
• New York Red Book 1951