1952 United States Senate elections

1952 United States Senate elections

← 1950 September 8[a] & November 4, 1952 1954 →
← 1946 1958 →
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 2 2 Popular vote 24,665,569 21,236,793 Percentage 52.0% 44.8% Seats up 21 14 Races won 23 12
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. Wayne Morse would caucus with the Republicans at the start of Congress’ second session on January 6, 1954 to allow the GOP to remain in control of the Senate. 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 2024, this is the last time both houses simultaneously changed hands in a presidential year.^[1]

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