1954 United States Senate Election In Idaho
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The 1954 United States Senate elections was a midterm election in the first term of
Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...
's presidency. Eisenhower's
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
party lost a net of two seats to the Democratic opposition. This small change was just enough to give Democrats control of the chamber with the support of an Independent (
Wayne Morse Wayne Lyman Morse (October 20, 1900 – July 22, 1974) was an American attorney and United States Senator from Oregon. Morse is well known for opposing his party's leadership and for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds. ...
of Oregon) who caucused with them. The elections resulted in a
divided government A divided government is a type of government in presidential systems, when control of the executive branch and the legislative branch is split between two political parties, respectively, and in semi-presidential systems, when the executive bran ...
that continued to the end of Eisenhower's presidency and a Democratic majority that would last until
1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...
. As of 2022, this is the last Senate election cycle in which a state (both Nebraska and North Carolina) had to hold three simultaneous elections (two special elections and one regular election) due to the near-simultaneous deaths of both incumbent Senators.


Results summary

''Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.'' Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives


Incumbents defeated


In renomination


Democratic hold

# North Carolina (Class 2, special and regular): Appointee
Alton Lennon Alton Asa Lennon (August 17, 1906December 28, 1986) was an American Democratic politician who represented North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. He first served as an interim appointment to the Senate from 1953–54, un ...
lost to W. Kerr Scott, who won both general elections.


Republican hold

#
New Hampshire (Special) New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. ...
: Appointee
Robert W. Upton Robert William Upton (February 3, 1884April 28, 1972) was a United States senator from New Hampshire. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he attended the public schools, graduated from Boston University Law School in 1907, was admitted to the Massach ...
lost to
Norris Cotton Norris Henry Cotton (May 11, 1900 – February 24, 1989) was an American politician from the state of New Hampshire. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Representative and subsequently as a U.S. Senator. Early life Cotton was ...
, who won the general election.


In re-election


Republicans who lost to Democrats

#
Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
: John S. Cooper lost to
Alben W. Barkley Alben William Barkley (; November 24, 1877 – April 30, 1956) was an American lawyer and politician from Kentucky who served in both houses of Congress and as the 35th vice president of the United States from 1949 to 1953 under Presiden ...
. #
Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
: Homer Ferguson lost to
Patrick V. McNamara Patrick Vincent McNamara (October 4, 1894 – April 30, 1966) was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as a United States Senator from Michigan from 1955 until his death from a stroke in Bethesda, Maryland in 1966. Early life and ...
. #
Nevada (Special) Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th-most extensive, ...
: Appointee
Ernest S. Brown Ernest S. Brown (September 25, 1903July 23, 1965) served briefly as a United States senator from Nevada in 1954. Ernest Brown, born in Alturas, California, moved with his family to Reno, Nevada, in 1906, where he later attended the public schools ...
lost to
Alan Bible Alan Harvey Bible (November 20, 1909 – September 12, 1988) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senate, United States Senator from Nevada from ...
. #
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
:
Guy Cordon Guy F. Cordon (April 24, 1890June 8, 1969) was an American author, politician and lawyer from the state of Oregon. A native of Texas, he served in the Army during World War I and later was the district attorney of Douglas County in Southern Orego ...
lost to
Richard L. Neuberger Richard Lewis Neuberger (December 26, 1912March 9, 1960) was an American journalist, author, and politician during the middle of the 20th century. A native of Oregon, he wrote for ''The New York Times'' before and after a stint in the U.S. Army d ...
.


Democrats who lost to Republicans

#
Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...
:
Guy M. Gillette Guy Mark Gillette (February 3, 1879March 3, 1973) was an American politician serving as a Democratic U.S. Representative and Senator from Iowa. In the U.S. Senate, Gillette was elected, re-elected, defeated, elected again, and defeated again. ...
lost to
Thomas E. Martin Thomas Ellsworth Martin (January 18, 1893June 27, 1971) was a United States representative and Senator from Iowa. Martin, a Republican, served in Congress for 22 consecutive years, from January 1939 to January 1961. Born in Melrose, Iowa, he a ...
. #
Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
: Appointee Thomas A. Burke lost to
George H. Bender George Harrison Bender (September 29, 1896June 18, 1961) was an American Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1949 and 1951 to 1954. He also served in the U.S. Senate from 1954 to ...
.


Retirements

Republicans made a net gain of two seats from retirements.


Democratic hold

#
South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...
: Appointee Charles E. Daniel was replaced by
Strom Thurmond James Strom Thurmond Sr. (December 5, 1902June 26, 2003) was an American politician who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to 2003. Prior to his 48 years as a senator, he served as the 103rd governor of South Caro ...
.


Republican holds

# Nebraska (Special, Class 1): Appointee
Samuel W. Reynolds Samuel Williams Reynolds (August 11, 1890March 20, 1988) was a Republican United States Senator from Nebraska. Biography Reynolds was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on August 11, 1890. In 1908, he engaged in the Omaha wholesale coal business. During ...
was replaced by
Roman Hruska Roman Lee Hruska () (August 16, 1904April 25, 1999) was an American attorney and politician who served as a Republican U.S. senator from the state of Nebraska. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal conservatives in the Senate during the 1960 ...
. # Nebraska (Class 2, special and regular): Appointee
Eva Bowring Eva Bowring (née Kelly; January 9, 1892January 8, 1985) was a U.S. Senator from Nebraska. Bowring was born in Nevada, Missouri. In 1928, she married Arthur Bowring. They made their home at the Bowring Ranch near Merriman in Cherry County, Nebr ...
was replaced by
Hazel Abel Hazel Abel (née Hempel; July 10, 1888July 30, 1966) was an American educator and politician in the U.S. state of Nebraska, who served as a member of the United States Senate for fifty-four days in 1954. She was the first woman elected to the Sena ...
to complete the term and
Carl Curtis Carl Thomas Curtis (March 15, 1905 – January 24, 2000) was an American attorney and politician from the U.S. state of Nebraska. He served as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives (1939–1954) and later the United States Se ...
to serve the following term. #
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
:
Robert C. Hendrickson Robert Clymer Hendrickson (August 12, 1898December 7, 1964) was an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as a United States senator from New Jersey. Early life and education Born in Woodbury, New Jersey, Hendrickson attended publ ...
was replaced by Clifford P. Case.


Republican who was replaced by a Democrat

#
Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...
: Appointee
Edward D. Crippa Edward David Crippa (April 8, 1899October 20, 1960) was an American politician who served as a United States Senate, U.S. Senator from Wyoming. Crippa was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, Sweetwater County, ...
was replaced by
Joseph C. O'Mahoney Joseph Christopher O'Mahoney (November 5, 1884December 1, 1962) was an American journalist, lawyer, and politician. A Democrat, he served four complete terms as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming on two occasions, first from 1934-1953 and then again fro ...
.


Democrat who was replaced by a Republican

#
Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...
:
Edwin C. Johnson Edwin Carl Johnson (January 1, 1884 – May 30, 1970) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as both governor of and U.S. senator from the state of Colorado. Background Johnson was born in Scandia in Republic County in ...
was replaced by
Gordon Allott Gordon Llewellyn Allott (January 2, 1907January 17, 1989) was a Republican American politician. Allott was born in Pueblo, Colorado to Bertha (née Llewellyn) and Leonard J. Allott; his maternal grandparents were Welsh and his paternal grandpar ...
.


Change in composition


Before the elections


Results of the elections


Race summaries


Special elections during the 83rd Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1954 or before January 3, 1955; ordered by election date, then state, then class.


Races leading to the 84th Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on January 3, 1955; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.


Alabama


Arkansas


California (special)

Following the resignation of
Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
to assume the vice presidency,
Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Earl Warren Earl Warren (March 19, 1891 – July 9, 1974) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as the 14th Chief Justice of the United States from 1953 to 1969. The Warren Court presided over a major shift in American constitution ...
appointed
Thomas Kuchel Thomas Henry Kuchel ( ; August 15, 1910 – November 21, 1994) was an American politician. A moderate Republican, he served as a US Senator from California from 1953 to 1969 and was the minority whip in the Senate, where he was the co-manage ...
to Nixon's seat; Kuchel assumed the office on January 2, 1953.


Colorado


Delaware


Georgia


Idaho


Illinois


Iowa


Kansas


Kentucky


Louisiana


Maine


Massachusetts

In Massachusetts,
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
Incumbent
Leverett Saltonstall Leverett A. Saltonstall (September 1, 1892June 17, 1979) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts. He served three two-year terms as the List of Governors of Massachusetts, 55th Governor of Massachusetts, and for more than twent ...
defeated his challengers. Democrat
Foster Furcolo John Foster Furcolo (July 29, 1911 – July 5, 1995) was an American lawyer, writer, and Democratic Party politician from Massachusetts. He was the state's 60th governor, and also represented the state as a member of the United States House of ...
(
Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts The Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (commonly called the "treasurer") is an executive officer, elected statewide every four years. The Treasurer oversees the Office of Abandoned Property, escheated accounts, the State Retirement ...
since 1952 and member of the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
from
Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district is located in central Massachusetts (Central Massachusetts is the geographically central region of Massachusetts). It contains the cities of Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester, which is the List of citi ...
from 1949-1952) beat John I. Fitzgerald (former member of the
Boston City Council The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councillors are elected to two-year terms and there is no ...
and Democratic candidate for Senate in 1948) and Joseph L. Murphy (former member of the
Massachusetts Senate The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the ...
). Republican incumbent
Leverett Saltonstall Leverett A. Saltonstall (September 1, 1892June 17, 1979) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts. He served three two-year terms as the List of Governors of Massachusetts, 55th Governor of Massachusetts, and for more than twent ...
(United States senator since 1945 and Governor of Massachusetts from 1939-1945) was renominated. Other nominees included Socialist Workers Thelma Ingersoll (ran for Senate in 1952.) and Prohibition Harold J. Ireland (candidate for Treasurer and Receiver-General in 1948 and 1952).


Michigan


Minnesota


Mississippi


Montana

In Montana incumbent senator
James E. Murray James Edward Murray (May 3, 1876March 23, 1961) was an American politician and United States Senator from Montana, and a liberal leader of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States Senate from 1934 until 1961. Background Born on a f ...
, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in
1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...
and was re-elected in
1936 Events January–February * January 20 – George V of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India, dies at his Sandringham Estate. The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King E ...
,
1942 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 – WWII: The Declaration by United Nations is signed by China, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and 22 other nations, in wh ...
, and
1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The Constitution of New Jersey (later subject to amendment) goes into effect. ** The railways of Britain are nationalized, to form British ...
, ran for re-election. Murray won the Democratic primary against trivial opponents (farmer Ray E. Gulick and Sam G. Feezell). Republican
Wesley A. D'Ewart Wesley Abner D'Ewart (October 1, 1889 – September 2, 1973) was a United States, U.S. Republican Party (United States), Republican politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from Montana's 2nd congressional district ...
United States Congressman The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
from
Montana's 2nd congressional district Montana's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the United States House of Representatives that was apportioned after the 2020 United States census. The first candidates ran in the 2022 elections for a seat in the 118th Uni ...
beat
Robert Yellowtail Robert Summers Yellowtail (August 4, 1889 – June 20, 1988) was a leader of the Crow Nation. Described as a "20th Century Warrior", Yellowtail was the first Native American to hold the post of Agency Superintendent at a reservation. Early ...
, former Superintendent of the
Crow Indian Reservation The Crow Indian Reservation is the homeland of the Crow Tribe. Established 1868, the reservation is located in parts of Big Horn County, Montana, Big Horn, Yellowstone County, Montana, Yellowstone, and Treasure County, Montana, Treasure counties ...
, for the GOP nomination. A contentious and close election ensued, but ultimately, Murray was able to narrowly win re-election over D'Ewart to a final term in the Senate.


Nebraska

Nebraska had three Senate elections on the ballot. Both incumbents had died in the span of three months, leading to appointments and special elections.


Nebraska (special, Class 1)

Incumbent Republican
Hugh A. Butler Hugh Alfred Butler (February 28, 1878July 1, 1954) was an American United States Republican Party, Republican politician from Nebraska Life and career Hugh Butler was born on a farm near Missouri Valley, Iowa on February 28, 1878. He graduated ...
died July 1, 1954 and Republican
Samuel W. Reynolds Samuel Williams Reynolds (August 11, 1890March 20, 1988) was a Republican United States Senator from Nebraska. Biography Reynolds was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on August 11, 1890. In 1908, he engaged in the Omaha wholesale coal business. During ...
was appointed July 3, 1954 to continue the term. Reynolds did not run to finish the term, and Republican
Roman Hruska Roman Lee Hruska () (August 16, 1904April 25, 1999) was an American attorney and politician who served as a Republican U.S. senator from the state of Nebraska. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal conservatives in the Senate during the 1960 ...
won the seat in November to finish the term ending in 1959.


Nebraska (special, Class 2)

Incumbent Republican
Dwight P. Griswold Dwight Palmer Griswold (November 27, 1893April 12, 1954) was an American publisher and politician from the U.S. state of Nebraska. He served as the 25th governor of Nebraska from 1941 to 1947, and in the United States Senate from 1952 until his ...
died April 12, 1954, and Republican
Eva Bowring Eva Bowring (née Kelly; January 9, 1892January 8, 1985) was a U.S. Senator from Nebraska. Bowring was born in Nevada, Missouri. In 1928, she married Arthur Bowring. They made their home at the Bowring Ranch near Merriman in Cherry County, Nebr ...
was appointed April 16 to continue the term. In November, Republican
Hazel Abel Hazel Abel (née Hempel; July 10, 1888July 30, 1966) was an American educator and politician in the U.S. state of Nebraska, who served as a member of the United States Senate for fifty-four days in 1954. She was the first woman elected to the Sena ...
was elected to finish the term.


Nebraska (regular)

Although elected to finish the class 2 term, Abel did not run for the next term, and Republican
Carl Curtis Carl Thomas Curtis (March 15, 1905 – January 24, 2000) was an American attorney and politician from the U.S. state of Nebraska. He served as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives (1939–1954) and later the United States Se ...
was elected in November to the next term. On December 31, 1954 Abel resigned and Curtis was appointed January 1, 1955, two days ahead of his elected term.


Nevada (special)


New Hampshire


New Hampshire (regular)


New Hampshire (special)


New Jersey


New Mexico


North Carolina

Like Nebraska, North Carolina had three elections on the ballot. Both senators had died during the 83rd Congress, leading to appointments and special elections.


North Carolina (special, Class 2)

Democrat
Willis Smith Willis Smith (December 19, 1887June 26, 1953) was an American attorney and Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1950 and 1953. Early life and education Born in Norfolk Virginia, he moved to North Carolina before age ...
died June 26, 1953 and Democrat Alton A. Lennon was appointed July 10, 1953 to continue the term. In November, Lennon lost the nomination to Democrat W. Kerr Scott to finish the term. Scott took office November 29, 1954.


North Carolina (regular)

Democrat W. Kerr Scott was also elected to the next term, which would begin January 3, 1955.


North Carolina (special, Class 3)

Democrat
Clyde R. Hoey Clyde Roark Hoey (December 11, 1877May 12, 1954) was an American Southern Democrats, Democratic politician from North Carolina. He served in both houses of the state legislature and served briefly in the United States House of Representatives, U ...
died May 12, 1954 and Democrat
Sam Ervin Samuel James Ervin Jr. (September 27, 1896April 23, 1985) was an American politician. A Southern Democrats, Democrat, he served as a United States Senate, U.S. Senator from North Carolina from 1954 to 1974. A native of Morganton, North Carolina, ...
was appointed June 5, 1954 to continue the term. In November, Ervin was elected to finish the term.


Ohio (special)


Oklahoma


Oregon


Rhode Island


South Carolina

In South Carolina, Senator
Burnet R. Maybank Burnet Rhett Maybank (March 7, 1899September 1, 1954) was a three-term United States Senate, US senator, the List of Governors of South Carolina, 99th governor of South Carolina, and mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. He was the first governo ...
did not face a primary challenge in the summer and was therefore renominated as the Democratic Party's nominee for the election in the fall. However, his death on September 1 left the Democratic Party without a nominee and the executive committee decided to nominate
state Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...
Edgar A. Brown Edgar Allan Brown (July 11, 1888 – June 26, 1975) was a long time Democratic legislator of South Carolina from Barnwell County who served South Carolina from 1922-1972. He was a principal member of the so-called "Barnwell Ring". Early lif ...
as their candidate for the election. Many South Carolinians were outraged by the party's decision to forgo a primary election and former
Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Strom Thurmond James Strom Thurmond Sr. (December 5, 1902June 26, 2003) was an American politician who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to 2003. Prior to his 48 years as a senator, he served as the 103rd governor of South Caro ...
entered the race as a
write-in candidate A write-in candidate is a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot but seeks election by asking voters to cast a vote for the candidate by physically writing in the person's name on the ballot. Depending on electoral law it may be poss ...
. He easily won the election and became the first U.S. senator to be elected by a write-in vote (
William Knowland William Fife Knowland (June 26, 1908 – February 23, 1974) was an American politician and newspaper publisher. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a United States Senator from California from 1945 to 1959. He was Senate Majority Le ...
of California in 1946 was technically the first, but the ballots in that election were blank with no candidates listed, so essentially every candidate was running a write-in campaign). Sitting Senator
Burnet R. Maybank Burnet Rhett Maybank (March 7, 1899September 1, 1954) was a three-term United States Senate, US senator, the List of Governors of South Carolina, 99th governor of South Carolina, and mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. He was the first governo ...
entered the 1954 contest without a challenge in the Democratic
primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Works * ...
nor in the general election. His unexpected death on September 1 caused panic and confusion within the hierarchy of the state Democratic party because the state law required that a party's nominee be certified by September 3. Hours after Maybank's funeral, the state Democratic executive committee met in secret and chose
state Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...
Edgar A. Brown Edgar Allan Brown (July 11, 1888 – June 26, 1975) was a long time Democratic legislator of South Carolina from Barnwell County who served South Carolina from 1922-1972. He was a principal member of the so-called "Barnwell Ring". Early lif ...
of Barnwell County as the party's nominee for the general election. Not only was Brown a part of the "
Barnwell Ring The so-called "Barnwell Ring" was a grouping of influential Democratic South Carolina political leaders from Barnwell County. The group included state Senator Edgar A. Brown, state Representative Solomon Blatt, Sr., Governor Joseph Emile Harley, a ...
", but he was also a member of the executive committee. The state Democratic Party's decision to choose a candidate without holding a special primary election drew widespread criticism across the state. On September 3, ''
The Greenville News ''The Greenville News'' is a daily morning newspaper published in Greenville, South Carolina. After ''The State'' in Columbia and Charleston's ''The Post and Courier'', it is the third largest paper in South Carolina. History ''The Greenville N ...
'' ran an editorial advocating that a primary election be called and several newspapers across the state followed suit. At least six county Democratic committees repudiated the action by the state committee and called for a primary election. Despite repeated calls for a primary, the state executive committee voted against holding a primary because they did not think that there was enough time before the general election to hold a primary election. Immediately after the executive committee voted against holding a primary election, former Governor
Strom Thurmond James Strom Thurmond Sr. (December 5, 1902June 26, 2003) was an American politician who represented South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954 to 2003. Prior to his 48 years as a senator, he served as the 103rd governor of South Caro ...
and lumberman Marcus Stone announced their intention to run as Democratic
write-in candidate A write-in candidate is a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot but seeks election by asking voters to cast a vote for the candidate by physically writing in the person's name on the ballot. Depending on electoral law it may be poss ...
s. Thurmond and his supporters stated that the executive committee had several legal alternatives as opposed to the outright appointment of state Senator Brown. In addition, Thurmond promised that if he were elected he would resign in 1956 so that the voters could choose a candidate in the regular primary for the remaining four years of the term. Thurmond received support from Governor
James F. Byrnes James Francis Byrnes ( ; May 2, 1882 – April 9, 1972) was an American judge and politician from South Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in U.S. Congress and on the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in the executive branch, mos ...
and from those who backed his Presidential bid as a
Dixiecrat The States' Rights Democratic Party (whose members are often called the Dixiecrats) was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States, active primarily in the South. It arose due to a Southern regional split in opposition t ...
in the
1948 Presidential election The following elections occurred in the year 1948. Africa * 1948 Mauritian general election * 1948 South African general election * 1948 Southern Rhodesian general election Asia * 1948 North Korean parliamentary election * 1948 Republic of China ...
. Thurmond framed the race as a "moral issue: democracy versus committee rule"Lander, Ernest: ''A History of South Carolina 1865-1960'', page 183. University of South Carolina Press, 1970. and his write-in campaign was repeatedly assisted by every newspaper in the state, except for those in
Anderson Anderson or Andersson may refer to: Companies * Anderson (Carriage), a company that manufactured automobiles from 1907 to 1910 * Anderson Electric, an early 20th-century electric car * Anderson Greenwood, an industrial manufacturer * Anderson Ra ...
. For instance, ''
The News and Courier ''The Post and Courier'' is the main daily newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the ''Charleston Courier'', founded in 1803, the ''Charleston Daily News'', founded 1865, and ''The Evening Post'', f ...
'' devoted its front page on November 2 to show voters a sample ballot and it also provided detailed instructions on how to cast a write-in vote. Not only that, but the newspaper also printed an editorial on the front page giving precise reasons why voters should vote for Thurmond instead of Brown. On the other hand, Brown was supported by the Democratic party regulars and he also gained the endorsement of Senator Olin D. Johnston. Brown based his campaign entirely on the issue of party loyalty, stressing that Thurmond was a
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
ally because he had voted for
President Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...
in 1952. Marcus A. Stone, a lumberman in
Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
and
Dillon Dillon may refer to: People *Dillon (surname) * Dillon (given name) * Dillon (singer) (born 1988), Brazilian singer *Viscount Dillon, a title in the Peerage of Ireland Places Canada *Dillon, Saskatchewan United States *Dillon Beach, Californi ...
, was a candidate in previous Democratic primaries for governor and senator. He did very little campaigning for the general election.


South Dakota


Tennessee


Texas


Virginia

In Virginia, Democratic incumbent Senator
Absalom Willis Robertson Absalom Willis Robertson (May 27, 1887 – November 1, 1971) was an American politician from Virginia who served over 50 years in public office. A member of the Democratic Party and lukewarm ally of the Byrd Organization led by fellow U.S. Senato ...
defeated
Independent Democrat In U.S. politics, an independent Democrat is an individual who loosely identifies with the ideals of the Democratic Party but chooses not to be a formal member of the party (chooses to be an independent) or is denied the Democratic nomination i ...
Charles Lewis and Social Democrat Clarke Robb and was re-elected to a third term in office.


West Virginia


Wyoming

There were two elections the same day to the same seat, due to the June 19, 1954 death of Democrat
Lester C. Hunt Lester Callaway Hunt, Sr. (July 8, 1892June 19, 1954), was an American Democratic politician from the state of Wyoming. Hunt was the first to be elected to two consecutive terms as Wyoming's governor, serving as its 19th Governor from January ...
. Both elections were won by Democratic former senator
Joseph C. O'Mahoney Joseph Christopher O'Mahoney (November 5, 1884December 1, 1962) was an American journalist, lawyer, and politician. A Democrat, he served four complete terms as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming on two occasions, first from 1934-1953 and then again fro ...
.


Wyoming (special)

Republican
Edward D. Crippa Edward David Crippa (April 8, 1899October 20, 1960) was an American politician who served as a United States Senate, U.S. Senator from Wyoming. Crippa was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, Sweetwater County, ...
was appointed June 24, 1954 to continue the term, pending a November 2, 1954 special election.


Wyoming (regular)

O'Mahoney would serve out the remainder of Hunt's term followed by this one term and then retire after 1960.


See also

*
1954 United States elections The 1954 United States elections were held on November 2, 1954. The election took place in the middle of Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower's first term. In the election, the Republicans lost the Congressional majorities they had won in th ...
**
1954 United States House of Representatives elections The 1954 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1954 which occurred in the middle of President Dwight Eisenhower's first term. Eisenhower's Republican Party lost eightee ...
*
83rd United States Congress The 83rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1953, until January 3, 1955, during the last two weeks of the Truman administration, with ...
*
84th United States Congress The 84th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1955 ...


Notes


References


Sources

* * * * "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." ''Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina''. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1955, pp. 4–5.
U.S. Senate Biography of Strom Thurmond
{{1954 United States elections