1952 United States Senate elections

1952 United States Senate elections

← 1950 September 8[a] & November 4, 1952 1954 →

35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate
49 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Styles Bridges[b] Ernest McFarland
(Lost re-election)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since January 8, 1952 January 3, 1951
Leader's seat New Hampshire Arizona
Seats before 47 49
Seats after 49 47
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Popular vote 24,665,569 21,236,793
Percentage 52.0% 44.8%
Seats up 21 14
Races won 23 12

1952 United States Senate special election in Kentucky1952 United States Senate special election in Connecticut1952 United States Senate special election in Nebraska1952 United States Senate election in Arizona1952 United States Senate election in California1952 United States Senate election in Connecticut1952 United States Senate election in Delaware1952 United States Senate election in Florida1952 United States Senate election in Indiana1952 United States Senate election in Maine1952 United States Senate election in Maryland1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts1952 United States Senate election in Michigan1952 United States Senate election in Minnesota1952 United States Senate election in Mississippi1952 United States Senate election in Missouri1952 United States Senate election in Montana1952 United States Senate election in Nebraska1952 United States Senate election in Nevada1952 United States Senate election in New Jersey1952 United States Senate election in New Mexico1952 United States Senate election in New York1952 United States Senate election in North Dakota1952 United States Senate election in Ohio1952 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania1952 United States Senate election in Rhode Island1952 United States Senate election in Tennessee1952 United States Senate election in Texas1952 United States Senate election in Utah1952 United States Senate election in Vermont1952 United States Senate election in Virginia1952 United States Senate election in Washington1952 United States Senate election in West Virginia1952 United States Senate election in Wisconsin1952 United States Senate election in Wyoming
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     No election
Rectangular inset (Conn. & Neb.): both seats up for election

Majority Leader before election

Ernest McFarland
Democratic

Elected Majority Leader

Robert A. Taft
Republican

The 1952 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate which coincided with the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower to the presidency by a large margin. The 32 Senate seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and three special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Republicans took control of the Senate by managing to make a net gain of two seats. However, Wayne Morse (R-OR) became an independent forcing Republicans to rely on Vice President Richard Nixon's tie-breaking vote, although Republicans maintained a 48–47–1 plurality. Throughout the next Congress, Republicans were able to restore their 49–46–1 majority. This was the third time, as well as second consecutive, in which a sitting Senate leader lost his seat.

The 1952 United States Senate elections marked a significant shift in power, with the Republicans gaining control of the Senate by making a net gain of two seats.

This was the last time the Senate changed hands in a presidential election year until 1980 and the last time the Republicans won control of the Senate until 1980. As of 2020, this is the last time both houses simultaneously changed hands in a presidential year.[1]


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  1. ^ Wasserman, David (March 1, 2019). "2020 House Overview: Can Democrats Keep Their Majority?". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 18, 2021.