1950 United States Senate elections

November 7, 1950

36 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate[lower-alpha 1]
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 Decrease 5 Increase 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

49 47
Democratic Republican

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[lower-alpha 2] 1 4
Held by same party 2 1 3
Replaced by other party Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Republican 1
Result 2 2 0 4
Incumbent ran 20 12 32
Won re-election 12 10 22
Lost re-election Decrease1 Republican replaced by Increase1 Democrat
Decrease4 Democrats replaced by Increase4 Republicans
5
Lost renomination
but held by same party
3 1 4
Lost renomination
and party lost
Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Republican 1
Result 16 16 0 32
Total elected 18 18 0 36
Net change Decrease5 Increase5 Steady 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[1]

Ticket to a victory dinner for Richard Nixon at the Wm. Penn Hotel

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

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

State Senator Replaced by
California Sheridan Downey Richard Nixon
Kansas Harry Darby Frank Carlson
Kentucky Garrett Withers Earle Clements
Rhode Island Edward L. Leahy John Pastore

Defeats

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

State Senator Replaced by
Florida Claude Pepper George Smathers
Idaho Glen H. Taylor Herman Welker
Illinois Scott Lucas Everett Dirksen
Maryland Millard Tydings John Marshall Butler
Missouri Forrest C. Donnell Thomas C. Hennings Jr.
North Carolina (special) Frank Porter Graham Willis Smith
Oklahoma Elmer Thomas Mike Monroney
Pennsylvania Francis J. Myers James H. Duff
South Dakota Chan Gurney Francis Case
Utah Elbert D. Thomas Wallace F. Bennett

Post election changes

State Senator Replaced by
Connecticut Brien McMahon William A. Purtell
Kentucky Virgil Chapman Thomas R. Underwood
Michigan Arthur Vandenberg Blair Moody
Nebraska Kenneth S. Wherry Fred A. Seaton

Change in composition

Before the elections

  D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9
D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28
D38
Fla.
Ran
D37
Conn. (sp)
Ran
D36
Conn. (reg)
Ran
D35
Calif.
Retired
D34
Ark.
Ran
D33
Ariz.
Ran
D32
Ala.
Ran
D31 D30 D29
D39
Ga.
Ran
D40
Ky. (reg)
Ky. (sp)

Resigned
D41
Idaho (reg)
Ran
D42
Ill.
Ran
D43
La.
Ran
D44
Md.
Ran
D45
Nev.
Ran
D46
N.Y.
Ran
D47
N.C. (reg)
Ran
D48
N.C. (sp)
Ran
Majority → D49
Okla.
Ran
R39
Ore.
Ran
R40
S.D.
Ran
R41
Vt.
Ran
R42
Wisc.
Ran
D54
Wash.
Ran
D53
Utah
Ran
D52
S.C.
Ran
D51
R.I. (sp)
Retired
D50
Pa.
Ran
R38
Ohio
Ran
R37
N.D.
Ran
R36
N.H.
Ran
R35
Mo.
Ran
R34
Kan. (reg)
Kan. (sp)

Retired
R33
Iowa
Ran
R32
Ind.
Ran
R31
Idaho (sp)
Ran
R30
Colo.
Ran
R29
R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

Results of the elections

  D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9
D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28
D38
Ga.
Re-elected
D37
Fla.
Hold
D36
Conn. (sp)
Elected[lower-alpha 3]
D35
Conn. (reg)
Re-elected
D34
Ark.
Re-elected
D33
Ariz.
Re-elected
D32
Ala.
Re-elected
D31 D30 D29
D39
Ky. (reg)
Ky. (sp)

Hold
D40
La.
Re-elected
D41
Nev.
Re-elected
D42
N.Y.
Re-elected
D43
N.C. (reg)
Re-elected
D44
N.C. (sp)
Hold
D45
Okla.
Hold
D46
R.I. (sp)
Hold
D47
S.C.
Re-elected
D48
Wash.
Re-elected
Majority → D49
Mo.
Gain
R39
S.D.
Hold
R40
Vt.
Re-elected
R41
Wisc.
Re-elected
R42
Calif.
Gain
R43
Idaho (reg)
Gain
R44
Ill.
Gain
R45
Md.
Gain
R46
Pa.
Gain
R47
Utah
Gain
R38
Ore.
Re-elected
R37
Ohio
Re-elected
R36
N.D.
Re-elected
R35
N.H.
Re-elected
R34
Kan. (reg)
Kan. (sp)

Hold
R33
Iowa
Re-elected
R32
Ind.
Re-elected
R31
Idaho (sp)
Elected[lower-alpha 3]
R30
Colo.
Re-elected
R29
R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican

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
(linked to summaries below)
Incumbent Results
(linked to election articles)
Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Connecticut
(Class 1)
William Benton Democratic 1949 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected November 7, 1950.
Idaho
(Class 2)
Henry Dworshak Republican 1946 (special)
1948 (Lost)
1949 (Appointed)
Interim appointee elected November 7, 1950.
  • Green tickY Henry Dworshak (Republican) 51.9%
  • Claude J. Burtenshaw (Democratic) 48.1%
Kansas
(Class 3)
Harry Darby Republican 1949 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired November 28, 1950 when successor's election was certified.
Successor elected November 7, 1950.
Republican hold.
Winner was also elected to finish the term; see below.
  • Green tickY Frank Carlson (Republican) 55.2%
  • Paul Aiken (Democratic) 44.8%
Kentucky
(Class 3)
Garrett Withers Democratic 1949 (Appointed) Interim appointee resigned to trigger special election.
Successor elected November 7, 1950.
Democratic hold.
Winner was also elected to finish the term; see below.
North Carolina
(Class 2)
Frank Porter Graham Democratic 1949 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost nomination to finish term.
Winner elected November 7, 1950.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Willis Smith (Democratic) 67.0%
  • E. L. Gavin (Republican) 32.6%
Rhode Island
(Class 1)
Edward L. Leahy Democratic 1949 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
Winner elected November 7, 1950.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY John Pastore (Democratic) 61.6%
  • Austin T. Levy (Republican) 38.4%

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.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
Incumbent Results
(linked to election articles)
Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Alabama J. Lister Hill Democratic 1938 (Appointed)
1938 (special)
1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
Arizona Carl Hayden Democratic 1926
1932
1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Carl Hayden (Democratic) 62.8%
  • Bruce Brockett (Republican) 37.2%
Arkansas J. William Fulbright Democratic 1944 Incumbent re-elected.
California Sheridan Downey Democratic 1938
1944
Incumbent renominated, but then retired due to ill health.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Winner was appointed December 1, 1950 to finish the therm.
Colorado Eugene Millikin Republican 1941 (Appointed)
1942
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
Connecticut Brien McMahon Democratic 1944 Incumbent re-elected.
Florida Claude Pepper Democratic 1936 (special)
1938
1944
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.[2]
  • Green tickY George Smathers (Democratic) 76.2%
  • John P. Booth (Republican) 23.7%
Georgia Walter F. George Democratic 1922 (special)
1926
1932
1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
Idaho Glen H. Taylor Democratic 1944 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Illinois Scott W. Lucas Democratic 1938
1944
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Indiana Homer E. Capehart Republican 1944 Incumbent re-elected.
Iowa Bourke B. Hickenlooper Republican 1944 Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas Harry Darby Republican 1949 (Appointed) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above.
  • Green tickY Frank Carlson (Republican) 54.3%
  • Paul Aiken (Democratic) 43.8%
Kentucky Garrett Withers Democratic 1949 (Appointed) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Incumbent resigned to trigger special election and winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above.
Louisiana Russell B. Long Democratic 1948 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Russell B. Long (Democratic) 87.7%
  • Charles S. Gerth (Republican) 12.3%
Maryland Millard Tydings Democratic 1944 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Missouri Forrest C. Donnell Republican 1944 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Nevada Pat McCarran Democratic 1932
1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Pat McCarran (Democratic) 58.0%
  • George E. Marshall (Republican) 42.0%
New Hampshire Charles W. Tobey Republican 1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
New York Herbert H. Lehman Democratic 1949 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina Clyde R. Hoey Democratic 1932
1932 (special)
1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Clyde R. Hoey (Democratic) 68.7%
  • Halsey B. Leavitt (Republican) 31.3%
North Dakota Milton Young Republican 1945 (Appointed)
1946 (special)
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Milton Young (Republican) 67.6%
  • Harry O'Brien (Democratic) 32.4%
Ohio Robert A. Taft Republican 1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
Oklahoma Elmer Thomas Democratic 1926
1932
1938
1944
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green tickY Mike Monroney (Democratic) 54.8%
  • W. H. Bill Alexander (Republican) 45.2%
Oregon Wayne Morse Republican 1944 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Wayne Morse (Republican) 74.8%
  • Howard Latourette (Democratic) 23.2%
Pennsylvania Francis J. Myers Democratic 1944 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
South Carolina Olin D. Johnston Democratic 1944 Incumbent re-elected.
South Dakota Chan Gurney Republican 1938
1944
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
  • Green tickY Francis Case (Republican) 63.9%
  • John A. Engel (Democratic) 36.1%
Utah Elbert D. Thomas Democratic 1932
1938
1944
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Vermont George Aiken Republican 1940 (special)
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY George Aiken (Republican) 78.0%
  • James E. Bigelow (Democratic) 22.0%
Washington Warren Magnuson Democratic 1944 (Appointed)
1944
Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green tickY Warren Magnuson (Democratic) 53.4%
  • Walter Williams (Republican) 46.0%
Wisconsin Alexander Wiley Republican 1938
1944
Incumbent re-elected.

Closest races

Fifteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State Party of winner Margin
Connecticut (special) Democratic 0.1%
Pennsylvania Republican (flip) 3.6%
Idaho (special) Republican 3.8%
New York Democratic 5.0% [lower-alpha 4]
Connecticut Democratic 5.1%
Indiana Republican 6.4%
Colorado Republican 6.5%
Maryland Republican (flip) 7.0%
Wisconsin Republican 7.1%
Missouri Democratic (flip) 7.2%
Washington Democratic 7.4%
Utah Republican (flip) 8.03%
Illinois Republican (flip) 8.12%
Kentucky Democratic 9.1%
Oklahoma Democratic 9.2%

Alabama

Alabama election

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

U.S. senator before election

J. Lister Hill
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

J. Lister Hill
Democratic

Alabama election[1][3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic J. Lister Hill (Incumbent) 125,534 76.54% Decrease5.24
Independent John G. Crommelin 38,477 23.46% N/A
Total votes 164,011 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

Arizona

Arizona election

 
Nominee Carl Hayden Bruce Brockett
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 116,246 68,846
Percentage 62.8% 37.2%

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.

Democratic primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carl Hayden (Incumbent) 95,544 70.97%
Democratic Cecil H. Miller 24,340 18.08%
Democratic Robert E. Miller 14,752 10.96%
Total votes 134,636 100.00%
General election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carl Hayden (Incumbent) 116,246 62.80%
Republican Bruce Brockett 68,846 37.20%
Majority 47,400 25.60%
Turnout 185,092
Democratic hold

Arkansas

Arkansas election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. William Fulbright (Incumbent) 302,686 100.00%
Democratic hold

California

United States Senate election in California, 1950

 
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

California election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Nixon 2,183,454 59.23%
Democratic Helen Gahagan Douglas 1,502,507 40.76%
None Scattering 354 0.01%
Majority 680,947 18.47%
Turnout 3,686,315
Republican gain from Democratic

Colorado

Colorado election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eugene Millikin (Incumbent) 239,724 53.25%
Democratic John A. Carroll 210,442 46.75%
Majority 29,282 6.50%
Turnout 450,166
Republican hold

Connecticut

Connecticut's senators

Connecticut (special)

Connecticut special election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Benton (incumbent) 431,413 50.06%
Republican Prescott Bush 430,311 49.94%
Majority 1,102 0.08%
Turnout 861,724
Democratic hold

Connecticut (regular)

Connecticut regular election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brien McMahon (Incumbent) 453,646 52.58%
Republican Joseph E. Talbot 409,053 47.42%
Majority 44,593 5.16%
Turnout 862,699
Democratic hold

Florida

Florida election

 
Nominee George Smathers John P. Booth
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 238,987 74,228
Percentage 76.3% 23.7%

U.S. senator before election

Claude Pepper
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

George Smathers
Democratic

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

Front cover of The Red Record of Senator Claude Pepper

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.[6] 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.[7] Ed Ball, a power in state politics who had broken with Pepper, financed his opponent, Smathers.[8]

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.[9]

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."[8] 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".[7] 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.[9]

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.[7] 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."[9] 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.[7] Throughout the campaign, Pepper denied sympathizing with communism.[10]

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.[11]

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.[7] 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.[12]

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.[9]

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.[7]

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.[6] 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.[13]

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.[6]

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Smathers 387,315 54.78%
Democratic Claude Pepper 319,754 45.22%
Total votes 707,069 100%

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.[14] Smathers fared well throughout the state and won all but Pinellas County.[15]

Florida election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George A. Smathers 238,987 76.30%
Republican John P. Booth 74,228 23.70%
Majority 164,759 52.60%
Turnout 313,215
Democratic hold

Georgia

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

Georgia election[1][16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter F. George (Incumbent) 261,290 100.00%
Democratic hold

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)

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 special election[1][17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henry Dworshak (Incumbent) 104,608 51.86%
Democratic Claude J. Burtenshaw 97,092 48.14%
Majority 7,516 3.72%
Turnout 201,700 34.27%
Republican hold

Idaho (regular)

One-term Democrat Glen H. Taylor lost renomination to the class 3 seat to his predecessor D. Worth Clark.[18] 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.

Idaho election[1][19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Herman Welker 124,237 61.68%
Democratic D. Worth Clark 77,180 38.32%
Majority 47,057 23.36%
Turnout 201,417 34.22%
Republican gain from Democratic

Illinois

Illinois election

 
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

Senator before election

Scott W. Lucas
Democratic

Elected Senator

Everett M. Dirksen
Republican

Illinois election[1][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett Dirksen 1,951,984 53.88%
Democratic Scott W. Lucas (Incumbent) 1,657,630 45.76%
Prohibition Enoch A. Holtwick 13,050 0.36%
Write-in Others 9 0.00
Majority 294,354 8.12%
Turnout 3,622,673
Republican gain from Democratic

Indiana

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

Indiana election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Homer E. Capehart (Incumbent) 844,303 52.81%
Democratic Alexander M. Campbell 741,025 46.35%
Prohibition Lester N. Abel 13,396 0.84%
Majority 103,278 6.46%
Turnout 1,598,724 40.64%
Republican hold

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

Iowa

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

Iowa election[1][21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Incumbent) 470,613 54.82%
Democratic Albert J. Loveland 383,766 44.70%
Prohibition Z. Everett Kellum 3,273 0.38%
States' Rights Ernest J. Seemann 571 0.07%
Socialist Labor Leslie O. Ludwig 300 0.03%
Majority 86,847 10.12%
Turnout 858,523 32.75%
Republican hold

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

Kansas

There were 2 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)

Kansas special election[1][22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Carlson 321,718 55.17%
Democratic Paul Aiken 261,405 44.83%
Majority 60,313 10.34%
Turnout 583,123 30.61%
Republican hold

Kansas (regular)

Kansas regular election[1][23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Carlson 335,880 54.25%
Democratic Paul Aiken 271,365 43.83%
Prohibition Verne L. Damon 11,859 1.92%
Majority 64,515 10.42%
Turnout 619,104 32.49%
Republican hold

Kentucky

There were 2 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 special election[1][24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earle Clements 317,320 54.40%
Republican Charles I. Dawson 265,994 45.60%
Majority 51,326 8.80%
Turnout 583,314 19.82%
Democratic hold

Kentucky (regular)

Kentucky election

 
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

Kentucky regular election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earle Clements 334,249 54.16%
Republican Charles I. Dawson 278,368 45.11%
Independent James E. Olson 4,496 0.73%
Majority 55,881 9.05%
Turnout 617,113
Democratic hold

Louisiana

Louisiana election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russell Long (Incumbent) 220,907 87.72%
Republican Charles S. Gerth 30,931 12.28%
Majority 189,976 75.44%
Turnout 251,838
Democratic hold

Maryland

Maryland election

November 6, 1950
 
Nominee John Marshall Butler Millard Tydings
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 326,291 283,180
Percentage 53.00% 46.00%

County results

U.S. senator before election

Millard Tydings
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Marshall Butler
Republican

Maryland election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Marshall Butler 326,921 53.00%
Democratic Millard E. Tydings (Incumbent) 283,180 46.00%
Progressive Sam Fox 6,143 1.00%
Majority 43,741 7.00%
Turnout 615,614
Republican gain from Democratic

Missouri

Missouri election

 
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

Missouri election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas C. Hennings Jr. 685,732 53.60%
Republican Forrest C. Donnell (Incumbent) 592,922 46.34%
Christian Nationalist John W. Hamilton 610 0.05%
Socialist Labor Henry W. Genck 150 0.01%
Majority 92,810 7.26%
Turnout 1,279,414
Democratic gain from Republican

Nevada

Nevada election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat McCarran (Incumbent) 35,829 58.01%
Republican George E. Marshall 25,933 41.99%
Majority 9,896 16.02%
Turnout 61,762
Democratic hold

New Hampshire

New Hampshire election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles W. Tobey (Incumbent) 106,142 55.99%
Democratic Emmet J. Kelley 72,473 38.23%
Write-In Wesley Powell 10,943 5.77%
Majority 33,669 17.76%
Turnout 189,558
Republican hold

New York

New York election

 
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

U.S. senator before election

Herbert H. Lehman
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Herbert H. Lehman
Democratic

The Socialist Workers state convention met on July 9, and nominated Joseph Hansen for the U.S. Senate.[25]

The American Labor state convention met on September 6 and nominated W.E.B. DuBois for the U.S. Senate.[26]

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.[27]

The Democratic state convention met on September 7 at Rochester, New York, and re-nominated the incumbent U.S. senator Herbert H. Lehman[28]

The Liberal state convention met on September 6 and 7 at the Statler Hotel in New York City, and endorsed Democratic nominee Lehman.[29]

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.

New York election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herbert H. Lehman (Incumbent) 2,319,719 44.37%
Republican Joe R. Hanley 2,367,353 45.28%
Liberal Herbert H. Lehman (Incumbent) 312,594 5.98%
American Labor W. E. B. Du Bois 205,729 3.93%
Socialist Workers Joseph Hansen 13,340 0.29%
Industrial Government Stephen Emery 7,559 0.15%
Majority 264,960 5.07%
Turnout 5,228,394
Democratic hold

North Carolina

There were 2 elections in North Carolina.

North Carolina (special)

North Carolina special election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Willis Smith 364,912 66.97%
Republican E. L. Galvin 177,753 32.62%
Write-In Frank P. Graham (incumbent) 2,259 0.41%
Majority 187,159 34.35%
Turnout 544,924
Democratic hold

North Carolina (regular)

North Carolina election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clyde R. Hoey (Incumbent) 376,472 68.66%
Republican Halsey B. Leavitt 171,804 31.34%
Majority 204,668 37.32%
Turnout 548,276
Democratic hold

North Dakota

North Dakota election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Milton R. Young (incumbent) 126,209 67.59%
Democratic Harry O’Brien 60,507 32.41%
Majority 65,702 35.18%
Turnout 186,716
Republican hold

Ohio

Ohio election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert A. Taft (Incumbent) 1,645,643 57.54%
Democratic Joseph T. Ferguson 1,214,459 42.46%
Majority 431,184 15.08%
Turnout 2,860,102
Republican hold

Oklahoma

Oklahoma election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Monroney 345,953 54.81%
Republican W. H. ‘Bill’ Alexander 285,224 45.19%
Majority 60,729 8.62%
Turnout 631,177
Democratic hold

Oregon

Oregon election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wayne Morse (Incumbent) 376,510 74.79%
Democratic Howard LaTourette 116,780 23.20%
Progressive Harlin Talbert 10,165 2.02%
Majority 259,730 51.59%
Turnout 503,455
Republican hold

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania election

 
Nominee James H. Duff Francis J. Myers
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,820,400 1,694,076
Percentage 51.3% 47.7%

U.S. Senate election results map.
Red denotes those won by Duff.
Blue denotes counties won by Myers.

U.S. senator before election

Francis J. Myers
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

James H. Duff
Republican

Pennsylvania election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James H. Duff 1,820,400 51.30%
Democratic Francis J. Myers (Incumbent) 1,694,076 47.74%
Prohibition Earl N. Bergerstock 12,618 0.36%
G.I.’s Against Communism Jack Sill 8,353 0.24%
Progressive Lillian R. Narins 5,516 0.16%
Socialist William J. Van Essen 4,864 0.14%
Industrial Government Frank Knotek 1,596 0.04%
Militant Workers Clyde A. Turner 1,219 0.03%
Majority 126,324 3.56%
Turnout 3,548,642
Republican gain from Democratic

Rhode Island (special)

Rhode Island special election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John O. Pastore 183,725 56.03%
Republican Austin T. Levy 144,184 43.97%
Majority 39,541 12.06%
Turnout 327,909
Democratic hold

South Carolina

South Carolina Democratic primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Olin D. Johnston (Incumbent) 186,180 54.0%
Democratic Strom Thurmond 158,904 46.0%
South Carolina election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Olin D. Johnston (Incumbent) 50,458 100.00%
Democratic hold

South Dakota

South Dakota election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Francis Case 160,670 63.92%
Democratic John A. Engel 90,692 36.08%
Majority 69,978 27.84%
Turnout 251,362
Republican hold

Utah

Utah election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wallace F. Bennett 142,427 53.86%
Democratic Elbert D. Thomas (Incumbent) 121,198 45.83%
Independent Bill Baker 815 0.31%
Majority 21,229 8.03%
Turnout 264,440
Republican gain from Democratic

Vermont

Vermont election

November 7, 1950 (1950-11-07)
 
Nominee George Aiken James Bigelow
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 69,543 19,608
Percentage 78.0% 22.0%

U.S. senator before election

George Aiken
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

George Aiken
Republican

Vermont election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Aiken (Incumbent) 69,543 77.99%
Democratic James E. Bigelow 19,608 21.99%
None Scattering 20 0.02%
Majority 49,935 56.00%
Turnout 89,171
Republican hold

Washington

Washington election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Warren G. Magnuson (Incumbent) 397,719 53.40%
Republican Walter Williams 342,464 45.98%
Independent Herbert J. Phillips 3,120 0.42%
Socialist Labor H. J. Churchward 1,480 0.20%
Majority 55,255 7.42%
Turnout 744,783
Democratic hold

Wisconsin

Wisconsin election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alexander Wiley (Incumbent) 595,283 53.33%
Democratic Thomas E. Fairchild 515,539 46.19%
Socialist Edwin Knappe 3,972 0.36%
Independent Perry J. Stearns 644 0.06%
Independent James E. Boulton 332 0.03%
Independent Artemio Cozzini 307 0.03%
None Scattering 58 0.01%
Majority 79,744 7.14%
Turnout 1,116,135
Republican hold

See also

Notes

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 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. 1 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. 1 2 3 Joy Wallace Dickinson (September 24, 2000). "Florida's Senatorial Slugfest Was Bitter, Ugly, Legendary". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Claude Denson Pepper and Hays Gorey (November 1987). Pepper: Eyewitness to a Century. San Diego, California: Harcourt. ISBN 978-0151716951.
  8. 1 2 Fund, John. Political Journal: George Smathers, RIP, January 24, 2007.
  9. 1 2 3 4 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.
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