1948 United States Senate elections

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

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

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Five Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

Eight Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Post election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

Election results

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Race summaries

Special elections during the 80th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1948 or before January 3, 1949; ordered by election date.

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1949; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Closest races

Six races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Wyoming is the tipping point state with a margin of 14.2%.

Alabama

Sparkman:
Parsons: Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Alabama

Arkansas

Colorado

Johnson:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Colorado

Delaware

Frear: Buck: Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Delaware

Georgia

Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Georgia

Russell:

Idaho

Miller:
Dworshak:

Democrat Bert H. Miller defeated incumbent Republican Henry Dworshak. As of 2024, this remains the only time that a Democrat would win Idaho's Class 2 Senate seat. Dworshak was appointed back to this seat in October 1949 after Miller died earlier that month and served until he himself died in 1962.{{Election box begin no change

Illinois

Douglas:
Tie: Brooks:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Illinois

Iowa

Gillette:
Wilson: Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Iowa

Kansas

Schoeppel:
McGill:

Kentucky

Chapman:
Cooper:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Louisiana

Louisiana (regular)

Ellender:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Louisiana

Louisiana (special)

Long:
Jenkins:

Maine

Smith:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Maine

Massachusetts

|[[File:1948_United_States_Senate_election_in_Massachussetts_results_map_by_county.svg|300px]] |County results |[[File:1948 United States Senate Election in Massachusetts by Municipality.svg|300px|]] |Municipality results Fitzgerald:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

Michigan

Ferguson:
Hook:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Michigan

Minnesota

Humphrey:
Ball:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Minnesota

Mississippi

Montana

Murray:
Davis:

Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Montana

Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936 and 1942, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he faced Tom J. Davis, an attorney and the Republican nominee, in the general election. Following a narrow re-election in 1936, Murray significantly expanded his margin of victory and comfortably won re-election over Davis, winning his fourth term and his third full term in the Senate.

Nebraska

Wherry:
Carpenter:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Nebraska

New Hampshire

Bridges:
Fortin: Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

New Jersey

Hendrickson:
Alexander:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in New Jersey

New Mexico

Anderson:
Hurley:

North Carolina

Main article: 1948 United States Senate elections in North Carolina

There were 2 elections to the same seat, due to the December 15, 1946 death of three-term Democrat Josiah Bailey. Democratic former congressman William B. Umstead was appointed December 18, 1946 to continue Bailey's term, pending a special election.

Umstead supported the conservative Taft–Hartley Act. The Democratic former Governor of North Carolina J. Melville Broughton was seen as a "rather liberal alternative" to Umstead. Broughton beat Umstead in the Democratic primaries and then won the general elections.

North Carolina (special)

North Carolina (regular)

Scott:
West:

Broughton was seated December 31, 1948 to finish the current term but died March 6, 1949, just after the new term began. His death lead to another appointment (Democrat Frank Graham) in 1949 and another special election in 1950 of Democrat Willis Smith. Smith also died during the term, leading to yet another appointment (Democrat Alton A. Lennon) and 1954 special election (of Democrat W. Kerr Scott). In all, five senators held the seat during the 1949–1955 term.

Oklahoma

Kerr:
Rizley:

Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

Oregon

Cordon:
Wilson:

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Maybank:
Dorn:
Bennett: Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in South Carolina

Senator Burnet R. Maybank was opposed in the Democratic primary by U.S. Representative William Jennings Bryan Dorn and three other candidates. Maybank obtained over 50% in the primary election on August 10 to avoid a runoff election.

Since the end of Reconstruction in 1877, the Democratic Party dominated the politics of South Carolina and its statewide candidates were never seriously challenged. Maybank did not campaign for the general election as there was no chance of defeat.

South Dakota

Mundt:
Engel:

Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in South Dakota

Tennessee

Kefauver:
Reece:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Tennessee

Texas

Johnson:

Porter:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Texas

Incumbent Democrat W. Lee O'Daniel decided to retire rather than seek a second full term. Congressman Lyndon Johnson won the highly contested Democratic primary against former governor Coke Stevenson. Johnson went on to win the general election against Republican Jack Porter, but by a closer margin than usual for Texas Democrats.{{Election box begin no change

Virginia

Robertson:
Woods:
Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Virginia

Incumbent Democrat A. Willis Robertson defeated Republican Robert H. Woods and was re-elected to his first full term in office.

West Virginia

Neely:
Revercomb:

Wyoming

Hunt:
Robertson:

Main article: 1948 United States Senate election in Wyoming}}{{See also, List of United States senators from Wyoming, 1948 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming

References

References

1. William S. White. (November 4, 1948). "SWEEP IN CONGRESS – Democrats Obtain 54-42 Margin in Senate by Winning 9 G.O.P. Seats". New York Times.
2. (November 7, 1948). "Truman Sweep". New York Times.
3. [[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives]]. (1949-03-01). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1948". [[U.S. Government Printing Office]].
4. (2010). "Guide to U.S. Elections". [[CQ Press]].
5. (2010). "Guide to U.S. Elections". [[CQ Press]].
6. "North Carolina Manual 1949-50". North Carolina Secretary of State.
7. Heard, Alexander. (1950). "Southern Primaries and Elections 1920-1949". University of Alabama Press.