1952 United States Senate elections

← 1950 September 8[a] & November 4, 1952 1954 →
35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Styles Bridges[b] Ernest McFarland (Lost re-election) Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 8, 1952 January 3, 1951 Leader's seat New Hampshire Arizona Seats before 47 49 Seats after 49 47 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 24,665,569 21,236,793 Percentage 52.0% 44.8% Seats up 21 14 Races won 23 12
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Conn. & Neb.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Ernest McFarland Democratic Elected Majority Leader Robert A. Taft Republican

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 Republicans to rely on Vice President Richard Nixon's tie-breaking vote, although 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 until 1980 and the last time the Republicans won control of the Senate until 1980. As of 2024, this is the last time both houses simultaneously changed hands in a presidential year.^[1]

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
	Class 1 (1946→1952)	13	19	—	32
	Special: Class 2	1	1	—	2
	Special: Class 3	0	1	—	1
Incumbent retired		2	2	—	4
	Held by same party	1	2	—	3
	Replaced by other party	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	1
	Result	1	3	0	4
Incumbent ran		12	19	—	31
	Won re-election	6	14	—	20
	Lost re-election	4 Republicans replaced by 4 Democrats 5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans		—	9
	Lost renomination but held by same party	1	1	—	2
	Result	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^[2]

One Republican and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election. One Republican and one Democrat also retired instead of finishing the unexpired term.

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.

Going into the November elections.

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

In these general elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1953; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

Twenty races had a margin of victory under 10%:

1952 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →
Turnout	82.28% (registered voters)[5]
Nominee Barry Goldwater Ernest McFarland Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 132,063 125,338 Percentage 51.31% 48.69%
County results Goldwater:      50-60% McFarland:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election Ernest McFarland Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater Republican

1952 United States Senate election in California

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee William F. Knowland Reuben W. Borough Party Republican Progressive Alliance Democratic Popular vote 3,982,448 542,270 Percentage 87.79% 11.95%

County Results Knowland:      80–90%      90-100%

U.S. senator before election William F. Knowland Republican Elected U.S. Senator William F. Knowland Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

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.

1952 United States Senate special election in Connecticut

← 1950 November 4, 1952 1956 →

Nominee Prescott Bush Abraham Ribicoff Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 559,465 530,505 Percentage 51.17% 48.52%

County results Municipality results Bush:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Ribicoff:      50–60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election William A. Purtell Republican Elected U.S. Senator Prescott Bush Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1950 (special) November 3, 1952 1958 →

Nominee William A. Purtell William Benton Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 573,854 485,066 Percentage 52.48% 44.36%

County results Municipality results Purtell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Benton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election William Benton Democratic Elected U.S. Senator William A. Purtell Republican

1952 United States Senate election in Delaware

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee John J. Williams Alexis I. du Pont Bayard Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 93,020 77,685 Percentage 54.49% 45.51%

County results Williams:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election John J. Williams Republican Elected U.S. Senator John J. Williams Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Spessard Holland Party Democratic Popular vote 616,665 Percentage 99.82%

County Results Holland:      >90%

U.S. senator before election Spessard Holland Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Spessard Holland Democratic

1952 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee William E. Jenner Henry F. Schricker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,020,605 911,169 Percentage 52.44% 46.82%

County results Jenner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Schricker:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election William E. Jenner Republican Elected U.S. Senator William E. Jenner Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

Kentucky special election

← 1948 November 4, 1952 1954 →

Nominee John Sherman Cooper Thomas R. Underwood Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 494,576 465,652 Percentage 51.5% 48.5%

County results Cooper:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Underwood:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Thomas R. Underwood Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Sherman Cooper Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

Maine election

← 1946 September 8, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Frederick G. Payne Roger P. Dube Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 139,205 82,665 Percentage 58.70% 34.86%   Nominee Earl S. Grant Party Independent Democratic Popular vote 15,294 Percentage 6.45%

County Results Payne:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Dube:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Owen Brewster Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frederick G. Payne Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee James Glenn Beall George P. Mahoney Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 449,823 406,370 Percentage 52.54% 47.46%

County results Beall:      50–60%      60–70% Mahoney:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Herbert O'Conor Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James Glenn Beall Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee John F. Kennedy Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,211,984 1,141,247 Percentage 51.34% 48.35%

County Results Municipality Results Kennedy   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Lodge   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100%

U.S. senator before election Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy Democratic

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.^[8] Moody lost both the special and the regular elections to Republican congressman Charles E. Potter.

1952 United States Senate special election in Michigan

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Charles E. Potter Blair Moody Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,417,032 1,347,705 Percentage 51.24% 48.73%

County results Potter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Moody:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Blair Moody Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Charles E. Potter Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Charles E. Potter Blair Moody Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,428,352 1,383,416 Percentage 50.63% 49.04%

County results Potter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Moody:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Blair Moody Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Charles E. Potter Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Edward J. Thye Bill Carlson Party Republican Democratic (DFL) Popular vote 785,649 590,011 Percentage 56.63% 42.53%

County results Thye:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Carlson:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Edward J. Thye Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edward J. Thye Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Mississippi

← 1947 (special) August 26, 1952 1958 →

Nominee John C. Stennis William P. Davis Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 191,380 22,802 Percentage 89.35% 10.65%

County results Stennis:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election John C. Stennis Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John C. Stennis Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Stuart Symington James P. Kem Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,008,521 858,170 Percentage 53.99% 45.94%

County results Symington:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kem:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election James P. Kem Republican Elected U.S. Senator Stuart Symington Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Mike Mansfield Zales Ecton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 133,109 127,360 Percentage 50.75% 48.56%

County results Mansfield:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Ecton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Zales Ecton Republican Elected U.S. Senator Mike Mansfield Democratic

1952 United States Senate special election in Nebraska

← 1948 November 4, 1952 1954 (special) →

Nominee Dwight Griswold William Ritchie Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 369,841 211,898 Percentage 63.57% 36.42%

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

U.S. senator before election Fred A. Seaton Republican Elected U.S. Senator Dwight Griswold Republican

1952 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1954 (special) →

Nominee Hugh A. Butler Stanley D. Long Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 408,971 164,660 Percentage 69.11% 27.83%

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

U.S. senator before election Hugh A. Butler Republican Elected U.S. Senator Hugh A. Butler Republican

1952 United States Senate election in Nevada

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee George W. Malone Thomas B. Mechling Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 41,906 39,184 Percentage 51.68% 48.32%

County results Malone:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Mechling:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election George W. Malone Republican Elected U.S. Senator George W. Malone Republican

New Jersey election

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Howard Smith Archibald S. Alexander Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,286,782 1,011,187 Percentage 55.51% 43.62%

County Results Smith:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Alexander:      50–60%

Senator before election Howard Smith Republican Elected Senator Howard Smith Republican

As of 2020, this was the last time that Republicans have won the Class 1 U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey.

1954 United States Senate election in New Mexico

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Dennis Chavez Patrick J. Hurley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 122,543 117,168 Percentage 51.12% 48.88%

County results Chevez:      50–60%      60–70% Hurley:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Dennis Chavez Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez Democratic

1952 United States Senate election in New York

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Irving Ives John Cashmore George S. Counts Party Republican Democratic Liberal Popular vote 3,853,934 2,521,736 489,775 Percentage 55.21% 36.13% 7.02%

County results Ives:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Cashmore:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Irving M. Ives Republican Elected U.S. Senator Irving M. Ives Republican

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.^[11] 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.^[12]

The Republican incumbent Ives was re-elected with the then largest plurality^[e] in state history.

1952 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee William Langer Harold Morrison Fred G. Aandahl Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 157,907 55,347 24,741 Percentage 66.35% 23.26% 10.40%

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

Senator before election William Langer Republican Elected Senator William Langer Republican

Ohio election

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee John W. Bricker Michael DiSalle Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,878,971 1,563,330 Percentage 54.58% 45.42%

County results Bricker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% DiSalle:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election John W. Bricker Republican Elected U.S. Senator John W. Bricker Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

1952 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Edward Martin Guy K. Bard Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,331,034 2,168,546 Percentage 51.58% 47.98%

County results Martin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bard:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Edward Martin Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edward Martin Republican