1956 United States Senate elections

1956 United States Senate elections

← 1954 November 6, 1956 1958 →
1957 (TX, WI) →
35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Lyndon Johnson William Knowland Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1953 August 4, 1953 Leader's seat Texas California Seats before 49 47 Seats after 49 47 Seat change Popular vote 23,291,351[1][a] 22,219,450[1] Percentage 50.7% 48.4% Seats up 18 17 Races won 18 17
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Ky. & S. C.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Lyndon Johnson Democratic Elected Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson Democratic

The 1956 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with the re-election of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, and three special elections were held to fill vacancies. Although Democrats gained two seats in regular elections, the Republicans gained two seats in special elections, leaving the party balance of the chamber unchanged.

Democrats defeated incumbents Herman Welker (R-Idaho), George H. Bender (R-Ohio), and James H. Duff (R-Pennsylvania), as well as winning a Republican-held seat in Colorado. Republicans defeated incumbent Earle C. Clements (D-Kentucky) as well as winning Democratic-held seats in Kentucky, New York, and West Virginia. Thus, this election caused Kentucky's Senate delegation to flip from two Democrats to two Republicans.

During the next Congress, Republican John D. Hoblitzell Jr. was appointed to the seat of deceased Senator Matthew M. Neely (D-WV), while Democrat William Proxmire won a special election for the seat of deceased Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-Wisconsin). Also, Democrat Ralph Yarborough won a special election for the seat of Price Daniel (D-Texas), who had resigned from the Senate after being elected Governor of Texas. The net result was to leave the party balance unchanged. Republicans would not win a Senate election in West Virginia again until 2014.

↓

49	47
Democratic	Republican

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties					Total
		Democratic	Republican	Other
Before these elections		49	47	0	96
Not up		31	30	—	61
	Class 1 (1952)	11	20	—	31
	Class 2 (1954)	20	10	—	30
Up		18	17	—	35
	Class 3 (1950→1956)	15	17	—	32
	Special: Class 1	1	0	—	1
	Special: Class 2	2	0	—	2
Incumbent retired		5	1	—	6
	Held by same party	2	0	—	2
	Replaced by other party	1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 3 Democrats replaced by 3 Republicans		—	4
	Result	3	3	0	6
Incumbent ran		13	16	—	29
	Won re-election	12	13	—	25
	Lost re-election	3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	4
	Lost renomination but held by same party	0	0	—	0
	Result	15	14	0	29
Total elected		18	17	0	35
Net change					0
Nationwide vote		23,291,351[a]	22,219,450	406,207	45,917,008
	Share	50.72%	48.39%	0.88%	100%
Result		49	47	0	96

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives^[1]

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

State	Senator	Replaced by
Colorado	Eugene Millikin	John A. Carroll
Georgia	Walter F. George	Herman Talmadge
Kentucky (special)	Robert Humphreys	John Sherman Cooper
New York	Herbert H. Lehman	Jacob Javits
South Carolina (special)	Thomas A. Wofford	Strom Thurmond
West Virginia	William Laird III	Chapman Revercomb

Three Republicans and one Democrat sought re-election but lost in the general election.

State	Senator	Replaced by
Idaho	Herman Welker	Frank Church
Kentucky	Earle Clements	Thruston Ballard Morton
Ohio	George H. Bender	Frank Lausche
Pennsylvania	James H. Duff	Joseph S. Clark Jr.

One Republican was appointed to the seat of a deceased Democrat. Two Democrats won special elections, one seat was previously held by a Democrat and another by a Republican. One Democrat was appointed to replace another Democrat.

State	Senator	Replaced by
North Carolina	W. Kerr Scott	B. Everett Jordan
Texas	Price Daniel	Ralph Yarborough
West Virginia	Matthew M. Neely	John D. Hoblitzell Jr.
Wisconsin	Joseph McCarthy	William Proxmire

		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 Ky. (sp) Ran	D37 Ky. (reg) Ran	D36 Ga. Retired	D35 Florida Ran	D34 Ark. Ran	D33 Ariz. Ran	D32 Ala. Ran	D31	D30	D29
D39 La. Ran	D40 Mo. Ran	D41 Nev. Ran	D42 N.Y. Retired	D43 N.C. Ran	D44 Okla. Ran	D45 Ore. Ran	D46 S.C. (reg) Ran	D47 S.C. (sp) Retired	D48 Washington Ran
Majority →									D49 W.Virginia (sp) Retired
R39 Maryland Ran	R40 N.H. Ran	R41 N.D. Ran	R42 Ohio Ran	R43 Pa. Ran	R44 S.D. Ran	R45 Utah Ran	R46 Vt. Ran	R47 Wisc. Ran
R38 Kan. Ran	R37 Iowa Ran	R36 Ind. Ran	R35 Ill. Ran	R34 Idaho Ran	R33 Conn. Ran	R32 Colo. Retired	R31 California Ran	R30	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

		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 Mo. Re-elected	D37 La. Re-elected	D36 Ga. Hold	D35 Florida Re-elected	D34 Ark. Re-elected	D33 Ariz. Re-elected	D32 Ala. Re-elected	D31	D30	D29
D39 Nev. Re-elected	D40 N.C. Re-elected	D41 Okla. Re-elected	D42 Ore. Re-elected	D43 S.C. (reg) Re-elected	D44 S.C. (sp) Hold	D45 Washington Re-elected	D46 Colo. Gain	D47 Idaho Gain	D48 Ohio Gain
Majority →									D49 Pa. Gain
R39 N.D. Re-elected	R40 S.D. Re-elected	R41 Utah Re-elected	R42 Vt. Re-elected	R43 Wisc. Re-elected	R44 Ky. (reg) Gain	R45 Ky. (sp) Gain	R46 N.Y. Gain	R47 W.Virginia (sp) Gain
R38 N.H. Re-elected	R37 Maryland Re-elected	R36 Kan. Re-elected	R35 Iowa Re-elected	R34 Ind. Re-elected	R33 Ill. Re-elected	R32 Conn. Re-elected	R31 California Re-elected	R30	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

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1956 or in 1957 before January 3; ordered by election date, then state.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Kentucky (Class 2)	Robert Humphreys	Democratic	1956 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Republican gain.	▌Y John Sherman Cooper (Republican) 53.2% ▌Lawrence Wetherby (Democratic) 46.8%
South Carolina (Class 2)	Thomas A. Wofford	Democratic	1956 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Democratic hold.	▌Y Strom Thurmond (Democratic) Unopposed
West Virginia (Class 1)	William Laird III	Democratic	1956 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Republican gain.	▌Y Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 53.7% ▌William C. Marland (Democratic) 46.3%

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1957; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Alabama	J. Lister Hill	Democratic	1938 (Appointed) 1938 1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y J. Lister Hill (Democratic) Unopposed
Arizona	Carl Hayden	Democratic	1926 1932 1938 1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Carl Hayden (Democratic) 61.4% ▌Ross F. Jones (Republican) 38.6%
Arkansas	J. William Fulbright	Democratic	1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y J. William Fulbright (Democratic) 83.0% ▌Ben C. Henley (Republican) 17.0%
California	Thomas Kuchel	Republican	1953 (Appointed) 1954 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Thomas Kuchel (Republican) 54.0% ▌Richard Richards (Democratic) 45.6% ▌Ray Gourley (Prohibition) 0.4%
Colorado	Eugene Millikin	Republican	1941 (Appointed) 1942 (special) 1944 1950	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y John A. Carroll (Democratic) 50.2% ▌Daniel I. J. Thornton (Republican) 49.8%
Connecticut	Prescott Bush	Republican	1952 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Prescott Bush (Republican) 54.8% ▌Thomas J. Dodd (Democratic) 43.1%
Florida	George Smathers	Democratic	1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y George Smathers (Democratic) Unopposed
Georgia	Walter F. George	Democratic	1922 (special) 1926 1932 1938 1944 1950	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y Herman Talmadge (Democratic) Unopposed
Idaho	Herman Welker	Republican	1950	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Frank Church (Democratic) 56.2% ▌Herman Welker (Republican) 38.7%
Illinois	Everett Dirksen	Republican	1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Everett Dirksen (Republican) 54.1% ▌Richard Stengel[b] (Democratic) 45.7%
Indiana	Homer E. Capehart	Republican	1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Homer E. Capehart (Republican) 55.2% ▌Claude R. Wickard (Democratic) 44.4%
Iowa	Bourke B. Hickenlooper	Republican	1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Republican) 53.9% ▌R. M. Evans (Democratic) 46.1%
Kansas	Frank Carlson	Republican	1950 (special) 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Frank Carlson (Republican) 57.9% ▌George Hart (Democratic) 40.5%
Kentucky	Earle Clements	Democratic	1950 (special) 1950	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Thruston Ballard Morton (Republican) 50.4% ▌Earle Clements (Democratic) 49.6%
Louisiana	Russell B. Long	Democratic	1948 (special) 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Russell B. Long (Democratic) Unopposed
Maryland	John Marshall Butler	Republican	1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John Marshall Butler (Republican) 53.0% ▌George P. Mahoney (Democratic) 47.0%
Missouri	Thomas C. Hennings Jr.	Democratic	1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (Democratic) 56.4% ▌Herbert Douglas (Republican) 43.6%
Nevada	Alan Bible	Democratic	1954 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Alan Bible (Democratic) 52.6% ▌Clarence Clifton Young (Republican) 47.4%
New Hampshire	Norris Cotton	Republican	1954 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Norris Cotton (Republican) 64.1% ▌Laurence M. Pickett (Democratic) 35.9%
New York	Herbert H. Lehman	Democratic	1949 (special) 1950	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. Winner delayed term until January 9, 1957, when he resigned his post as an Attorney General of New York.	▌Y Jacob Javits (Republican) 53.3% ▌Robert F. Wagner Jr. (Democratic) 46.7%
North Carolina	Sam Ervin	Democratic	1954 (Appointed) 1954 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Sam Ervin (Democratic) 66.6% ▌Joel A. Johnson (Republican) 33.4%
North Dakota	Milton Young	Republican	1945 (Appointed) 1946 (special) 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Milton Young (Republican) 63.6% ▌Quentin Burdick (Democratic-NPL) 36.0%
Ohio	George H. Bender	Republican	1954 (special)	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Frank Lausche (Democratic) 52.9% ▌George H. Bender (Republican) 47.1%
Oklahoma	Mike Monroney	Democratic	1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Mike Monroney (Democratic) 55.4% ▌Douglas McKeever (Republican) 44.7%
Oregon	Wayne Morse	Democratic	1944[c] 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Wayne Morse (Democratic) 54.2% ▌Douglas McKay (Republican) 45.8%
Pennsylvania	James H. Duff	Republican	1950	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Joseph S. Clark Jr. (Democratic) 50.1% ▌James H. Duff (Republican) 49.7%
South Carolina	Olin D. Johnston	Democratic	1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Olin D. Johnston (Democratic) Unopposed
South Dakota	Francis Case	Republican	1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Francis Case (Republican) 50.8% ▌Kenneth Holum (Democratic) 49.2%
Utah	Wallace F. Bennett	Republican	1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Wallace F. Bennett (Republican) 54.0% ▌Alonzo F. Hopkin (Democratic) 46.0%
Vermont	George Aiken	Republican	1940 (special) 1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y George Aiken (Republican) 66.4% ▌Bernard G. O'Shea (Democratic) 33.6%
Washington	Warren Magnuson	Democratic	1944 (Appointed) 1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Warren Magnuson (Democratic) 61.1% ▌Arthur B. Langlie (Republican) 38.9%
Wisconsin	Alexander Wiley	Republican	1938 1944 1950	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Alexander Wiley (Republican) 58.6% ▌Henry Maier (Democratic) 41.2%

Fifteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State	Party of winner	Margin
Colorado	Democratic (flip)	0.4%[d]
Pennsylvania	Democratic (flip)	0.4%
Kentucky	Republican (flip)	0.8%
South Dakota	Republican	1.6%
Nevada	Democratic	5.2%
Ohio	Democratic	5.8%
Maryland	Republican	6.0%
Kentucky (special)	Republican (flip)	6.4%
New York	Republican (flip)	6.6%
West Virginia (special)	Republican (flip)	7.4%
Iowa	Republican	7.8%
Utah	Republican	8.0%
California	Republican	8.34%
Illinois	Republican	8.39%
Oregon	Democratic	8.4%

1956 Democratic Senate primary election in Alabama

← 1950 May 1, 1956 1962 →

Nominee J. Lister Hill John G. Crommelin Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 247,519 115,440 Percentage 68.19% 31.81%

County results Hill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Crommelin:      50–60%

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

United States Senate election in Alabama of 1956^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Lister Hill (Incumbent)	330,182	100.00
	Democratic hold

Arizona election

← 1950 1962 →

Nominee Carl Hayden Ross F. Jones Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 170,816 107,447 Percentage 61.4% 38.6%

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

1956 United States Senate election in Arizona^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Carl Hayden (Incumbent)	170,816	61.39
	Republican	Ross F. Jones	107,447	38.61
Majority			63,369	22.78
Turnout			278,263
	Democratic hold

1956 U.S. Senate election in Arkansas

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee J. William Fulbright Ben C. Henley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 331,679 98,013 Percentage 82.98% 17.02%

County results Fulbright:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Henley:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election J. William Fulbright Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Arkansas^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. William Fulbright (Incumbent)	331,689	82.98
	Republican	Ben C. Henley	68,016	17.02
Majority			263,673	65.96
Turnout			399,705
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in California

← 1954 (special) November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Thomas Kuchel Richard Richards Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,892,918 2,445,816 Percentage 53.96% 45.62%

County results Kuchel:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Richards:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Thomas Kuchel Republican Elected U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel Republican

1956 United States Senate election in California^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas Kuchel (Incumbent)	2,892,918	53.96
	Democratic	Richard Richards	2,445,816	45.62
	Prohibition	Ray Gourley	22,410	0.42
	None	Scattering	323	0.01
Majority			447,102	8.34
Turnout			5,361,467
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee John A. Carroll Daniel I. J. Thornton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 319,872 317,102 Percentage 50.22% 49.78%

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

U.S. senator before election Eugene Millikin Republican Elected U.S. Senator John A. Carroll Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Colorado^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John A. Carroll	319,872	50.22
	Republican	Dan Thornton	317,102	49.78
Majority			2,770	0.44
Turnout			636,974
	Democratic gain from Republican

1956 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1952 (special) November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Prescott Bush Thomas J. Dodd Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 610,829 479,460 Percentage 54.84% 43.05%

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

U.S. senator before election Prescott Bush Republican Elected U.S. Senator Prescott Bush Republican

1956 United States Senate election in Connecticut^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Prescott Bush (Incumbent)	610,829	54.84
	Democratic	Thomas J. Dodd	479,460	43.05
	Independent Republican	Suzanne S. Stevenson	10,199	0.92
	Socialist	Jasper McLevy	7,079	0.64
	Write-In	Vivien Kellems	6,219	0.56
	None	Scattering	33	0.00
Majority			131,369	11.79
Turnout			1,113,819
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1950 May 8, 1956 1962 →

Nominee George Smathers Party Democratic Popular vote 655,418 Percentage 100.0%

County results Smathers:      90-100%

U.S. senator before election George Smathers Democratic Elected U.S. Senator George Smathers Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Florida^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George A. Smathers (incumbent)	655,418	100.00
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in Georgia^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Herman Talmadge	541,094	99.97
	None	Scattering	173	0.03
Majority			540,921	99.94
Turnout			541,267
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Frank Church Herman Welker Glen H. Taylor (Write-in) Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 149,096 102,781 13,415 Percentage 56.20% 38.74% 5.06%

County results Church:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Welker:      40–50%      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Herman Welker Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank Church Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Idaho^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Church	149,096	56.20
	Republican	Herman Welker (Incumbent)	102,781	38.74
	Write-in	Glen Taylor	13,415	5.06
Majority			46,315	17.46
Turnout			265,292
	Democratic gain from Republican

Illinois election

← 1950 1962 →
Turnout	81.74%
Nominee Everett M. Dirksen Richard Stengel Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,307,552 1,949,883 Percentage 54.11% 45.72%
County results Dirksen:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Stengel:      50–60%
Senator before election Everett M. Dirksen Republican Elected Senator Everett M. Dirksen Republican

1956 United States Senate election in Illinois^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Everett Dirksen (Incumbent)	2,307,352	54.10
	Democratic	Richard Stengel	1,949,883	45.72
	Socialist Labor	Louis Fisher	7,587	0.18
	None	Scattering	8	0.00
Majority			357,469	8.38
Turnout			4,264,830
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Homer Capehart Claude Wickard Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,084,262 871,781 Percentage 55.21% 44.39%

County results Capehart:      50–60%      60-70%      70-80% Wickard:      40–50%      50–60%

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

1956 United States Senate election in Indiana^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Homer Capehart (Incumbent)	1,084,262	55.20
	Democratic	Claude R. Wickard	871,781	44.39
	Prohibition	Carl W. Thompson	6,685	0.34
	Socialist Labor	Gordon A. Long	1,258	0.06
Majority			212,481	10.81
Turnout			1,963,986
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Bourke B. Hickenlooper Rudolph M. Evans Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 635,499 543,156 Percentage 53.92% 46.08%

County results Stanley:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Evans:      50–60%

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

1956 United States Senate election in Iowa^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Incumbent)	635,499	53.92
	Democratic	Rudolph M. Evans	543,156	46.08
Majority			92,343	7.84
Turnout			1,178,655
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Frank Carlson George Hart Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 477,822 333,939 Percentage 57.90% 40.46%

County results Carlson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hart:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Frank Carlson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank Carlson Republican

1956 United States Senate election in Kansas^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Carlson (Incumbent)	477,822	57.90
	Democratic	George Hart	333,939	40.46
	Prohibition	C. Floyd Hester	13,519	1.64
Majority			143,883	17.44
Turnout			825,280
	Republican hold

Two elections in Kentucky converted both seats from Democratic to Republican. As a result, this marked the first time since 1916 that both Senate seats in a state flipped from one party to the other in a single election cycle.

1956 United States Senate special election in Kentucky

← 1954 November 6, 1956 1960 →

Nominee John Sherman Cooper Lawrence Wetherby Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 538,505 473,140 Percentage 53.23% 46.77%

County results Sherman:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%      80–90% Wetherby:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Robert Humphreys Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John Sherman Cooper Republican

Following the death of Alben Barkley on April 30, 1956, Robert Humphreys was appointed June 21, 1956 to continue the term, pending a special election.^[2] Humphreys did not run in the special election to finish the term that would end in 1961.

Republican former-senator John Sherman Cooper, who had twice won special elections to that seat in 1946 and 1952, was again elected to finish the term.

1956 United States Senate special election in Kentucky^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Sherman Cooper	538,505	53.23
	Democratic	Lawrence W. Wetherby	473,140	46.77
Majority			65,365	6.46
Turnout			1,011,645
	Republican gain from Democratic

This time, however, Cooper would be re-elected in 1960 and again in 1966, serving until his 1973 retirement.

1956 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Thruston Ballard Morton Earle Clements Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 506,903 499,922 Percentage 50.35% 49.65%

County results Morton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Clements:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Earle Clements Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thruston Ballard Morton Republican

First-term Democrat Earle Clements lost re-election to Republican Thruston B. Morton, who was Eisenhower's Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs.

1956 United States Senate election in Kentucky^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thruston B. Morton	506,903	50.35
	Democratic	Earle Clements (Incumbent)	499,922	49.65
Majority			6,981	0.70
Turnout			1,006,825
	Republican gain from Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Louisiana

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Russell B. Long Party Democratic Popular vote 335,564 Percentage 100.00%

Parish results Long:      >90%

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

1956 United States Senate election in Louisiana^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Russell Long (Incumbent)	335,564	100.00
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee John Marshall Butler George P. Mahoney Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 473,059 420,108 Percentage 52.96% 47.04%

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

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

1956 United States Senate election in Maryland^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Marshall Butler (Incumbent)	473,059	52.96
	Democratic	George P. Mahoney	420,108	47.04
Majority			52,951	5.92
Turnout			893,167
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1950 1960 (special) →

Nominee Thomas C. Hennings Jr. Herbert Douglas Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,015,936 785,048 Percentage 56.41% 43.59%

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

U.S. senator before election Thomas C. Hennings Jr. Democratic Elected U.S. senator Thomas C. Hennings Jr. Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Missouri^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (Incumbent)	1,015,936	56.41
	Republican	Herbert Douglas	785,048	43.59
Majority			230,888	12.82
Turnout			1,800,984
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in Nevada

← 1954 (special) November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Alan Bible Cliff Young Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 50,677 45,712 Percentage 52.58% 47.42%

County results Bible:      50–60%      60–70% Young:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Alan Bible Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Alan Bible Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Nevada^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alan Bible (Incumbent)	50,677	52.58
	Republican	Cliff Young	45,712	47.42
Majority			4,965	5.16
Turnout			96,389
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1954 (special) November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Norris Cotton Laurence M. Pickett Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 161,424 90,519 Percentage 64.07% 35.93%

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

U.S. senator before election Norris Cotton Republican Elected U.S. Senator Norris Cotton Republican

1956 United States Senate election in New Hampshire^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Norris Cotton (Incumbent)	161,424	64.07
	Democratic	Laurence M. Pickett	90,519	35.93
Majority			70,905	28.14
Turnout			251,943
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in New York

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Jacob Javits Robert F. Wagner Jr. Party Republican Democratic Alliance Liberal Popular vote 3,723,933 3,265,159 Percentage 53.27% 46.71%

County results Javits:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Wagner:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Herbert H. Lehman Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Jacob Javits Republican

In New York, the Republican state convention met on September 10 at Albany, New York, and nominated New York State Attorney General Jacob K. Javits.^[3] The Democratic state convention met on September 10 at Albany, New York, and nominated Mayor of New York City Robert F. Wagner Jr., for the U.S. Senate.^[4] The Liberal Party endorsed the Democratic nominee, Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr., for the U.S. Senate.^[5] On October 1, a movement was launched to vote for General of the Army Douglas MacArthur as a write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate.^[6] On October 2, MacArthur disavowed the campaign, and stated that he was not a candidate.^[7]

The Republican candidate was elected.

1956 United States Senate election in New York^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jacob Javits	3,723,933	53.26
	Democratic	Robert F. Wagner Jr.	3,265,159	46.70
	None	Scattering	1,390	0.02
	None	Miscellaneous	654	0.01
Majority			458,774	6.56
Turnout			6,991,136
	Republican gain from Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1954 (special) November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Sam Ervin Joel A. Johnson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 731,353 367,475 Percentage 66.56% 33.44%

County results Ervin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Johnson:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%

Senator before election Sam Ervin Democratic Elected Senator Sam Ervin Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in North Carolina^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Samuel J. Ervin Jr. (Incumbent)	731,433	66.56
	Republican	Joel A. Johnson	367,475	33.44
Majority			363,958	33.12
Turnout			1,098,908
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Milton Young Quentin Burdick Party Republican Democratic–NPL Popular vote 155,305 87,919 Percentage 63.61% 36.01%

County results Young:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

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

In North Dakota, the incumbent, Republican Milton Young, sought and received re-election to his third term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Quentin N. Burdick, son of North Dakota congressman Usher L. Burdick.^[8]

Only Young filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic candidate was Quentin Burdick, the son of well-known politician Usher Burdick, and former candidate for Governor of North Dakota. Young and Burdick won the primary elections for their respective parties.

One independent candidate, Arthur C. Townley, also filed before the deadline. Townley would later seek the state's other senate seat in 1958, and was known for creating the National Non-Partisan League.

1956 United States Senate election in North Dakota^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Milton R. Young (incumbent)	155,305	63.61
	Democratic–NPL	Quentin N. Burdick	87,919	36.01
	Independent	Arthur C. Townley	937	0.38
Majority			67,386	27.60
Turnout			244,161
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Ohio

← 1954 (special) November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Frank Lausche George H. Bender Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,864,589 1,660,910 Percentage 52.89% 47.11%

County results Lausche:      50–60%      60–70% Bender:     50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election George H. Bender Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank J. Lausche Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Ohio^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank J. Lausche	1,864,589	52.89
	Republican	George H. Bender (Incumbent)	1,660,910	47.11
Majority			203,679	5.78
Turnout			3,525,499
	Democratic gain from Republican

1956 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Mike Monroney Douglas McKeever Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 459,996 371,146 Percentage 55.35% 44.65%

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

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

1956 United States Senate election in Oklahoma^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Monroney (Incumbent)	459,996	55.35
	Republican	Douglas McKeever	371,146	44.65
Majority			88,850	10.70
Turnout			831,142
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1950 November 7, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Wayne Morse Douglas McKay Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 396,849 335,405 Percentage 54.20% 45.80%

County results Morse:      50–60%      60–70% McKay:      50-60%

Senator before election Wayne Morse Democratic Elected Senator Wayne Morse Democratic

In Oregon, Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat Wayne Morse decided to seek re-election for his first full term as a Democrat. Morse defeated Republican candidate Douglas McKay in the hotly contested general election.^[9]

1956 Oregon United States Senate election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Wayne Morse, Incumbent Senator since 1945; Democratic party since 1955	396,849	54.20
	Republican	Douglas McKay, former Governor of Oregon (1949–1952) and United States Secretary of the Interior (1953–1956)	335,405	45.80
Majority			61,444	8.39
Turnout			732,254
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Joseph S. Clark Jr. James H. Duff Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,268,641 2,250,671 Percentage 50.08% 49.69%

County results Clark Jr.:      50–60%      60–70% Duff:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election James H. Duff Republican Elected U.S. Senator Joseph S. Clark Jr. Democratic

In Pennsylvania, incumbent Republican U.S. senator James H. Duff sought re-election to another term, but was defeated by the Democratic nominee, Joseph S. Clark Jr.

General election results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph S. Clark Jr. Former Mayor of Philadelphia	2,268,641	50.08
	Republican	James H. Duff Incumbent U.S. senator	2,250,671	49.69
	Socialist Labor	George S. Taylor	7,447	0.16
	Militant Workers	Herbert G. Lewin	2,035	0.05
Majority			17,970	0.39
Turnout			4,529,874
	Democratic gain from Republican

In South Carolina the regular election was held simultaneously with the special election.

1956 United States Senate election in South Carolina

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Olin D. Johnston Leon P. Crawford Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 230,150 49,695 Percentage 82.21% 17.75%

County results Johnston:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

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

Incumbent Democrat Olin D. Johnston handily defeated Republican mayor of Clemson Leon P. Crawford. Olin D. Johnston, the incumbent Senator, faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election. Leon P. Crawford, the mayor of the town of Clemson in the Upstate, faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election. Crawford campaigned as a defender of states' rights and denounced Johnston for backing the New Deal and the Fair Deal. The state Republican Party believed that Crawford could have a chance in the election if he galvanized the 128,000 registered black voters, although they were weary of being labeled as the black party. In the end, Johnston remained highly popular with the voters who were still leery of the Republican party and he easily defeated Crawford in the general election.

South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Olin D. Johnston (Incumbent)	230,150	82.21	−17.69%
	Republican	Leon P. Crawford	49,695	17.75	+17.75%
	Write-in	Write-Ins	124	0.04	−0.1%
Majority			180,455	64.46	−35.34%
Turnout			279,969	36.8
	Democratic hold		Swing

1956 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

← 1954 November 6, 1956 (1956-11-06) 1960 →

Nominee Strom Thurmond Party Democratic Popular vote 245,371 Percentage 100.00%

County results Thurmond:      90-100%

U.S. senator before election Thomas A. Wofford Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond Democratic

The special election resulted from the resignation of Senator Strom Thurmond on April 4, 1956, who was keeping a campaign pledge he had made in the 1954 election. Thurmond was unopposed in his bid to complete the remaining four years of the term. Senator Strom Thurmond faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election. There was a possibility that Governor George Bell Timmerman Jr. might enter the race, but Thurmond was held in such high regard by the voters that there would have been no chance of defeating Thurmond. With no challenge to the remainder of the term, Thurmond did not conduct a campaign and rejoined his old law firm in Aiken until he returned to the Senate after the general election.

South Carolina U.S. Senate Special Election, 1956^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Strom Thurmond	245,371	100.0	+36.9%
Majority			245,371	100.0	+73.7%
Turnout			245,371	32.2	+5.9%
	Democratic hold		Swing

1956 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Francis H. Case Kenneth Holum Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 147,621 143,001 Percentage 50.79% 49.21%

County results Case:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Holum:      50–60%      60–70%

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

1956 United States Senate election in South Dakota^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Francis Case (Incumbent)	147,621	50.79
	Democratic	Kenneth Holum	143,001	49.21
Majority			4,620	1.58
Turnout			290,622
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Utah

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Wallace F. Bennett Alonzo F. Hopkin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 178,261 152,120 Percentage 53.96% 46.04%

County results Bennett:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hopkin:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Wallace F. Bennett Republican Elected U.S. Senator Wallace F. Bennett Republican

1956 United States Senate election in Utah^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Wallace F. Bennett (Incumbent)	178,261	53.96
	Democratic	Alonzo F. Hopkin	152,120	46.04
Majority			26,141	7.92
Turnout			330,381
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Vermont

← 1950 November 6, 1956 (1956-11-06) 1962 →

Nominee George Aiken Bernard O'Shea Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 103,101 52,184 Percentage 66.39% 33.61%

County results Municipality results Aiken:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      90-100% O'Shea:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

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

In Vermont, incumbent Republican George Aiken ran successfully for re-election to another term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic challenger Bernard G. O'Shea.

Republican primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George Aiken (Incumbent)	49,454	99.9
	Republican	Other	27	0.1
Total votes			49,481	100

Democratic primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bernard G. O'Shea	7,997	99.8
	Democratic	Other	19	0.2
Total votes			801	100

1956 United States Senate election in Vermont^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George Aiken (Incumbent)	103,101	66.39
	Democratic	Bernard G. O'Shea	52,184	33.60
	None	Scattering	4	0.00
Majority			50,917	32.79
Turnout			155,289
	Republican hold

1956 United States Senate election in Washington

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Warren Magnuson Arthur B. Langlie Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 685,565 436,652 Percentage 61.09% 38.91%

County results Magnuson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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

1956 United States Senate election in Washington^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Warren G. Magnuson (Incumbent)	685,565	61.09
	Republican	Arthur B. Langlie	436,652	38.91
Majority			248,913	22.18
Turnout			1,122,217
	Democratic hold

1956 United States Senate special election in West Virginia

← 1952 November 6, 1956 1958 →

Nominee Chapman Revercomb William C. Marland Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 432,123 373,051 Percentage 53.67% 46.33%

County results Revercomb:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Marland:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election William Laird III Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Chapman Revercomb Republican

Following the death of Harley M. Kilgore on February 28, 1956, William Laird III was appointed to fill this seat and assumed office on March 13, 1956.^[2] Laird did not opt to run in the special election to fill the remainder of Kilgore's term through the end of the 85th Congress on January 3, 1959. This was the last time until 2014 that the Republicans won a U.S. Senate election in the state and the last time until 2024 that they won the Class I seat.

1956 United States Senate election in West Virginia^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William Chapman Revercomb	432,123	53.67
	Democratic	William C. Marland	373,051	46.33
Majority			59,072	7.34
Turnout			805,174
	Republican gain from Democratic

1956 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Alexander Wiley Henry Maier Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 892,473 627,903 Percentage 58.59% 41.22%

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

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

Incumbent Republican Senator Alexander Wiley easily won reelection to a fourth and final term, defeating the Democratic candidate,