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1958 United States Senate election in California
	County results; Engle: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% ; Knight: 50–60%
U.S. senator before election; William F. Knowland; Republican	Elected U.S. Senator ; Clair Engle; Democratic

The 1958 United States Senate election in California was held on November 4, 1958.

Incumbent senator William F. Knowland opted not to run for re-election, choosing instead to run for election as governor. Incumbent governor Goodwin Knight exchanged places with Knowland and lost to U.S. Representative Clair Engle in the midst of a national landslide for the Democratic Party.

Knowland's decision to run for governor came in spite of strong opposition from Knight, who had wanted to run for re-election rather than for the Senate. The bad impression left by the feud between the two politicians, along with labor mobilization against Proposition 18, was a major factor in the Democratic landslide in California in 1958.^[1]^[2]

This was one of 15 seats Democrats gained from the Republican Party in 1958, part of a record swing.

Republican primary

Knowland announced his retirement from the Senate in January 1957, ostensibly to spend more time with his family. However, it was an open secret in California Republican politics that Knowland was interested in running for governor. Knowland was hoping to run for president in 1960, and believed that the governorship would provide an effective launching pad for his campaign and allow him to box out potential rival Richard Nixon.^[1]^[2]

Knight, a moderate, pro-labor Republican, disliked the conservative Knowland and opposed his attempt to enter the gubernatorial primary. Knight attempted to box out Knowland by announcing his run for re-election as governor in August 1957; Knowland announced his run for governor two months later. However, Knowland was able to line up support from major Republican donors (including the oil and aircraft industries), the conservative Los Angeles Times, and Richard Nixon, who held significant sway in the California Republican Party. Facing significant pressure and in ill health, Knight eventually relented and switched from the gubernatorial to the senatorial race in November 1957, after receiving assurances that he would receive endorsements from Nixon and Eisenhower as well as organizational support from the California Republican Party.^[1]^[2]

George Christopher, the mayor of San Francisco, had announced his candidacy for the Senate after Knowland's retirement. Christopher accused Knight of a double-cross, as well as ethnic prejudice for trying to run against the first major Greek-American candidate for statewide office. However, the strength of the California Republican organization ultimately helped Knight defeat Christopher in the primary.

Candidates

George Christopher, Mayor of San Francisco
William Jolley
Goodwin Knight, Governor of California
Alexander Williamson

Results

1958 Republican U.S. Senate primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Goodwin Knight	790,939	49.15%
	Republican	George Christopher	558,245	34.69%
	Democratic	Clair Engle (cross-filing)	173,845	10.80%
	Republican	Alexander D. Williamson	53,273	3.31%
	Republican	William Jolley	32,921	2.05%
Total votes			1,609,223	100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

Clair Engle, U.S. Representative from Red Bluff
Fritjof Thygeson

Results

General election results^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Clair Engle	1,558,622	70.85%
	Republican	Goodwin Knight (cross-filing)	385,170	17.51%
	Republican	George Christopher (cross-filing)	221,783	10.08%
	Democratic	Fritjof Thygeson	34,316	1.56%
Total votes			2,199,891	100.00

General election

Results

1958 U.S. Senate election in California^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Clair Engle	2,927,693	57.01%	57.01
	Republican	Goodwin Knight	2,204,337	42.93%	44.86
	Write-in	Jesse M. Ritchie	892	0.02%	N/A
	Write-in	Ray B. Pollard	281	0.01%	N/A
	Write-in	All others	2,018	0.04%	N/A
Total votes			5,135,221	100.00

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Starr, Kevin (2011). Golden Dreams: California in an Age of Abundance, 1950–1963. Oxford University Press. pp. 212–216. ISBN 978-0-19-515377-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Anderson, Totton J. (1959). "The 1958 Election in California". The Western Political Quarterly. 12 (1). [University of Utah, Sage Publications, Inc., Western Political Science Association]: 276–300. ISSN 0043-4078. JSTOR 444055. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
^ "CA US Senate – R Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
^ "CA US Senate – D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
^ "Our Campaigns – CA US Senate". OurCampaigns. Retrieved August 12, 2019.