1958 United States Senate election in New Jersey

1958 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 1952 November 4, 1958 1964 →
 
Nominee Harrison Williams Robert Kean
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 966,832 882,287
Percentage 51.39% 46.90%

County results
Williams:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Kean:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

H. Alexander Smith
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Harrison Williams
Democratic

The 1958 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on November 4, 1958.

Incumbent Senator H. Alexander Smith chose not to seek a third term in office. Democratic former U.S. Representative Harrison Williams won the open seat over U.S. Representative Robert Kean. Primary elections were held on April 15. Kean defeated Eisenhower aide Bernard M. Shanley and Robert J. Morris, while Williams narrowly defeated Hoboken mayor John Grogan.

This was one of a record 15 seats Democrats gained from the Republican Party in 1958. Williams was the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from New Jersey since 1936; as of 2024, Democrats have won every subsequent election to this seat.