Senate
United States elections · 1956 · held
State Senate races in this election cycle, with separate candidate results and election-era ideology attribution.
State races and results map
Each race has its own denominator. Missing counts are blank. The interactive map uses modern state outlines as navigation references.
Alabama — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Lister Hill | Democratic | 330182 | 100.00% | Elected |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y J. Lister Hill (Democratic)
Unopposed
Sources & further reading
Arizona — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Hayden | Democratic | 170816 | 61.39% | Elected |
| Ross F. Jones | Republican | 107447 | 38.61% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Carl Hayden (Democratic) 61.4%
▌Ross F. Jones (Republican) 38.6%
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. William Fulbright | Democratic | 331689 | 82.98% | Elected |
| Ben C. Henley | Republican | 68016 | 17.02% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y J. William Fulbright (Democratic) 83.0%
▌Ben C. Henley (Republican) 17.0%
Sources & further reading
California — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Kuchel | Republican | 2892918 | 53.96% | Elected |
| Richard Richards | Democratic | 2445816 | 45.62% | — |
| Ray Gourley | Prohibition | 22410 | 0.42% | — |
| Scattering | None | 323 | 0.01% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Thomas Kuchel (Republican) 54.0%
▌Richard Richards (Democratic) 45.6%
▌Ray Gourley (Prohibition) 0.4%
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John A. Carroll | Democratic | — | 50.20% | Elected |
| Daniel I. J. Thornton | Republican | — | 49.80% | — |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John A. Carroll (Democratic) 50.2%
▌Daniel I. J. Thornton (Republican) 49.8%
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott Bush | Republican | 610829 | 54.84% | Elected |
| Thomas J. Dodd | Democratic | 479460 | 43.05% | — |
| Suzanne S. Stevenson | Independent Republican | 10199 | 0.92% | — |
| Jasper McLevy | Socialist | 7079 | 0.64% | — |
| Vivien Kellems | Write-In | 6219 | 0.56% | — |
| Scattering | None | 33 | 0.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Prescott Bush (Republican) 54.8%
▌Thomas J. Dodd (Democratic) 43.1%
Sources & further reading
Florida — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Smathers | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y George Smathers (Democratic)
Unopposed
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herman Talmadge | Democratic | 541094 | 99.97% | Elected |
| Scattering | None | 173 | 0.03% | — |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Herman Talmadge (Democratic)
Unopposed
Sources & further reading
Idaho — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Church | Democratic | 149096 | 56.20% | Elected |
| Herman Welker | Republican | 102781 | 38.74% | — |
| Glen Taylor | Write-in | 13415 | 5.06% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Frank Church (Democratic) 56.2%
▌Herman Welker (Republican) 38.7%
Sources & further reading
Illinois — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everett Dirksen | Republican | 2307352 | 54.10% | Elected |
| Richard Stengel | Democratic | 1949883 | 45.72% | — |
| Louis Fisher | Socialist Labor | 7587 | 0.18% | — |
| Scattering | None | 8 | 0.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Everett Dirksen (Republican) 54.1%
▌Richard Stengel (Democratic) 45.7%
Sources & further reading
Indiana — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homer E. Capehart | Republican | — | 55.20% | Elected |
| Claude R. Wickard | Democratic | — | 44.40% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Homer E. Capehart (Republican) 55.2%
▌Claude R. Wickard (Democratic) 44.4%
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourke B. Hickenlooper | Republican | — | 53.90% | Elected |
| R. M. Evans | Democratic | — | 46.10% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Republican) 53.9%
▌R. M. Evans (Democratic) 46.1%
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Carlson | Republican | 477822 | 57.90% | Elected |
| George Hart | Democratic | 333939 | 40.46% | — |
| C. Floyd Hester | Prohibition | 13519 | 1.64% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Frank Carlson (Republican) 57.9%
▌George Hart (Democratic) 40.5%
Sources & further reading
Kentucky — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thruston Ballard Morton | Republican | — | 50.40% | Elected |
| Earle Clements | Democratic | — | 49.60% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Thruston Ballard Morton (Republican) 50.4%
▌Earle Clements (Democratic) 49.6%
Sources & further reading
Kentucky — Senate (Class 2) — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Sherman Cooper | Republican | — | 53.20% | Elected |
| Lawrence Wetherby | Democratic | — | 46.80% | — |
Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John Sherman Cooper (Republican) 53.2%
▌Lawrence Wetherby (Democratic) 46.8%
Sources & further reading
Louisiana — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell B. Long | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Russell B. Long (Democratic)
Unopposed
Sources & further reading
Maryland — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Marshall Butler | Republican | 473059 | 52.96% | Elected |
| George P. Mahoney | Democratic | 420108 | 47.04% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John Marshall Butler (Republican) 53.0%
▌George P. Mahoney (Democratic) 47.0%
Sources & further reading
Missouri — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas C. Hennings Jr. | Democratic | 1015936 | 56.41% | Elected |
| Herbert Douglas | Republican | 785048 | 43.59% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (Democratic) 56.4%
▌Herbert Douglas (Republican) 43.6%
Sources & further reading
Nevada — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Bible | Democratic | — | 52.60% | Elected |
| Clarence Clifton Young | Republican | — | 47.40% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Alan Bible (Democratic) 52.6%
▌Clarence Clifton Young (Republican) 47.4%
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norris Cotton | Republican | 161424 | 64.07% | Elected |
| Laurence M. Pickett | Democratic | 90519 | 35.93% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Norris Cotton (Republican) 64.1%
▌Laurence M. Pickett (Democratic) 35.9%
Sources & further reading
New York — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Javits | Republican | 3723933 | 53.26% | Elected |
| Robert F. Wagner Jr. | Democratic | 3265159 | 46.70% | — |
| Scattering | None | 1390 | 0.02% | — |
| Miscellaneous | None | 654 | 0.01% | — |
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. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Jacob Javits (Republican) 53.3%
▌Robert F. Wagner Jr. (Democratic) 46.7%
Sources & further reading
North Carolina — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Ervin | Democratic | — | 66.60% | Elected |
| Joel A. Johnson | Republican | — | 33.40% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Sam Ervin (Democratic) 66.6%
▌Joel A. Johnson (Republican) 33.4%
Sources & further reading
North Dakota — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton Young | Republican | — | 63.60% | Elected |
| Quentin Burdick | Democratic-NPL | — | 36.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Milton Young (Republican) 63.6%
▌Quentin Burdick (Democratic-NPL) 36.0%
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Lausche | Democratic | — | 52.90% | Elected |
| George H. Bender | Republican | — | 47.10% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Frank Lausche (Democratic) 52.9%
▌George H. Bender (Republican) 47.1%
Sources & further reading
Oklahoma — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Monroney | Democratic | 459996 | 55.35% | Elected |
| Douglas McKeever | Republican | 371146 | 44.65% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Mike Monroney (Democratic) 55.4%
▌Douglas McKeever (Republican) 44.7%
Sources & further reading
Oregon — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Morse | Democratic | — | 54.20% | Elected |
| Douglas McKay | Republican | — | 45.80% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Wayne Morse (Democratic) 54.2%
▌Douglas McKay (Republican) 45.8%
Sources & further reading
Pennsylvania — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph S. Clark Jr. | Democratic | — | 50.10% | Elected |
| James H. Duff | Republican | — | 49.70% | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Joseph S. Clark Jr. (Democratic) 50.1%
▌James H. Duff (Republican) 49.7%
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olin D. Johnston | Democratic | 230150 | 82.21% | Elected |
| Leon P. Crawford | Republican | 49695 | 17.75% | — |
| Write-Ins | Write-in | 124 | 0.04% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Olin D. Johnston (Democratic)
Unopposed
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Senate (Class 2) — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strom Thurmond | Democratic | 245371 | 100.00% | Elected |
Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Democratic hold. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Strom Thurmond (Democratic)
Unopposed
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Case | Republican | 147621 | 50.79% | Elected |
| Kenneth Holum | Democratic | 143001 | 49.21% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Francis Case (Republican) 50.8%
▌Kenneth Holum (Democratic) 49.2%
Sources & further reading
Utah — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace F. Bennett | Republican | 178261 | 53.96% | Elected |
| Alonzo F. Hopkin | Democratic | 152120 | 46.04% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Wallace F. Bennett (Republican) 54.0%
▌Alonzo F. Hopkin (Democratic) 46.0%
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Aiken | Republican | 103101 | 66.39% | Elected |
| Bernard G. O'Shea | Democratic | 52184 | 33.60% | — |
| Scattering | None | 4 | 0.00% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y George Aiken (Republican) 66.4%
▌Bernard G. O'Shea (Democratic) 33.6%
Sources & further reading
Washington — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Magnuson | Democratic | — | 61.10% | Elected |
| Arthur B. Langlie | Republican | — | 38.90% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Warren Magnuson (Democratic) 61.1%
▌Arthur B. Langlie (Republican) 38.9%
Sources & further reading
West Virginia — Senate (Class 1) — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman Revercomb | Republican | — | 53.70% | Elected |
| William C. Marland | Democratic | — | 46.30% | — |
Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 6, 1956. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 53.7%
▌William C. Marland (Democratic) 46.3%
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Senate — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Wiley | Republican | — | 58.60% | Elected |
| Henry Maier | Democratic | — | 41.20% | — |
Incumbent re-elected. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Alexander Wiley (Republican) 58.6%
▌Henry Maier (Democratic) 41.2%
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Elected candidates in regular races; continuing senators are not included
| Party / candidate | Votes | Vote share | Seats | Electoral votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Lister Hill · Alabama | — | — | 1 | — |
| Carl Hayden · Arizona | — | — | 1 | — |
| J. William Fulbright · Arkansas | — | — | 1 | — |
| Thomas Kuchel · California | — | — | 1 | — |
| John A. Carroll · Colorado | — | — | 1 | — |
| Prescott Bush · Connecticut | — | — | 1 | — |
| George Smathers · Florida | — | — | 1 | — |
| Herman Talmadge · Georgia | — | — | 1 | — |
| Frank Church · Idaho | — | — | 1 | — |
| Everett Dirksen · Illinois | — | — | 1 | — |
| Homer E. Capehart · Indiana | — | — | 1 | — |
| Bourke B. Hickenlooper · Iowa | — | — | 1 | — |
| Frank Carlson · Kansas | — | — | 1 | — |
| Thruston Ballard Morton · Kentucky | — | — | 1 | — |
| Russell B. Long · Louisiana | — | — | 1 | — |
| John Marshall Butler · Maryland | — | — | 1 | — |
| Thomas C. Hennings Jr. · Missouri | — | — | 1 | — |
| Alan Bible · Nevada | — | — | 1 | — |
| Norris Cotton · New Hampshire | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jacob Javits · New York | — | — | 1 | — |
| Sam Ervin · North Carolina | — | — | 1 | — |
| Milton Young · North Dakota | — | — | 1 | — |
| Frank Lausche · Ohio | — | — | 1 | — |
| Mike Monroney · Oklahoma | — | — | 1 | — |
| Wayne Morse · Oregon | — | — | 1 | — |
| Joseph S. Clark Jr. · Pennsylvania | — | — | 1 | — |
| Olin D. Johnston · South Carolina | — | — | 1 | — |
| Francis Case · South Dakota | — | — | 1 | — |
| Wallace F. Bennett · Utah | — | — | 1 | — |
| George Aiken · Vermont | — | — | 1 | — |
| Warren Magnuson · Washington | — | — | 1 | — |
| Alexander Wiley · Wisconsin | — | — | 1 | — |
The seat diagram shows only regular seats contested in this cycle, not the full Senate. Special races remain available in the state selector. Early cycles span two years and use legislative selection; missing or non-comparable vote totals are left blank. Candidate ideology is used where sourced; otherwise the broad election-era party tradition is used. Unassessed candidates are not assigned an ideology.
Sources & further reading
U.S. Senate historical party divisions