1952 United States Senate elections

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.

1952 United States Senate elections

September 8 & November 4, 1952

35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate
49 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Styles Bridges 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

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.

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