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.

Quick Facts 35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1952 United States Senate elections

← 1950 September 8[lower-alpha 1] & 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[lower-alpha 2] 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

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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]

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

More information Parties, Total ...

Parties					Total
		Democratic	Republican	Other
Last elections (1950) Before these elections		49	47	0	96
Not up		35	26	0	61
Up		14	21	—	35
	Class 1 (1946→1952)	13	19	—	32
	Special: Class 2	1	1	—	2
	Special: Class 3	0	1	—	1
Incumbent retired		2	2	—	4
	Held by same party	1	2	—	3
	Replaced by other party	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	1
	Result	1	3	0	4
Incumbent ran		12	19	—	31
	Won re-election	6	14	—	20
	Lost re-election	4 Republicans replaced by 4 Democrats 5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans		—	9
	Lost renomination but held by same party	1	1	—	2
	Result	11	20	0	31
Total elected		12	23	0	35
Net change		2	2		2
Nationwide vote		21,236,793	24,665,569	1,534,837	47,437,199
	Share	44.77%	52.00%	3.24%	100%
Result		47	49	0	96

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Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives^[2]

Twenty races had a margin of victory under 10%:

There were two elections on the same day due to the July 28, 1952 death of two-term Democrat Brien McMahon.

Republican businessman William Purtell was appointed August 29, 1952 to continue the class 3 term, pending a special election in which he was not a candidate. Purtell was already the Republican nominee in the regular election for the class 1 seat, a race he then won.

Connecticut (special)

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1952 United States Senate special election in Connecticut

← 1950 November 4, 1952 1956 →

Nominee Prescott Bush Abraham Ribicoff Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 559,465 530,505 Percentage 51.17% 48.52%

County results Ribicoff:      50–60% Bush:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election William A. Purtell Republican Elected U.S. Senator Prescott Bush Republican

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Main article: 1952 United States Senate special election in Connecticut

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

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Connecticut special election^[2][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Prescott Bush	559,465	51.17
	Democratic	Abraham A. Ribicoff	530,505	48.52
	Socialist	William J. Taft	3,298	0.30
Majority			28,960	2.65
Turnout			1,093,268	54.47
	Republican hold

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Connecticut (regular)

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1952 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1950 (special) November 3, 1952 1958 →

Nominee William A. Purtell William Benton Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 573,854 485,066 Percentage 52.48% 44.36%

County results Municipality results Purtell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Benton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election William Benton Democratic Elected U.S. Senator William A. Purtell Republican

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Main article: 1952 United States Senate election in Connecticut

More information Party, Candidate ...

Connecticut general election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William A. Purtell	573,854	52.48
	Democratic	William Benton (Incumbent)	485,066	44.36
	Independent Republican	Vivien Kellems	22,268	2.04
	Socialist	Jasper McLevy	12,279	1.12
Majority			88,788	8.12
Turnout			1,093,467
	Republican gain from Democratic

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Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

Michigan election

← 1946 November 4, 1952 1958 →

Nominee Charles E. Potter Blair Moody Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,428,352 1,383,416 Percentage 50.63% 49.04%

County results Potter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Moody:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Blair Moody Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Charles E. Potter Republican

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There were two elections to the same seat on the same day due to the April 18, 1951 death of five-term Republican Arthur Vandenberg. Democratic journalist Blair Moody was appointed April 23, 1951 to continue the term pending a special election. The primary elections were held August 5, 1952.^[8] Moody lost both the special and the regular elections to Republican congressman Charles E. Potter.

Michigan (special)

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

More information Party, Candidate ...

Michigan special election^[2][9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles E. Potter	1,417,032	51.24
	Democratic	Blair Moody (Incumbent)	1,347,705	48.73
	Socialist Workers	Genora Dollinger	819	0.03
	None	Scattering	160	0.01
Majority			69,327	2.51
Turnout			2,765,716	43.40
	Republican gain from Democratic

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Michigan (regular)

Main article: 1952 United States Senate elections in Michigan

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)

More information Party, Candidate ...

Michigan general election^[2][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles E. Potter	1,428,352	50.63
	Democratic	Blair Moody (Incumbent)	1,383,416	49.04
	Prohibition	LeRoy M. Lowell	7,435	0.26
	Socialist Labor	James Sim	1,202	0.04
	Socialist Workers	Genora Dollinger	726	0.03
	None	Scattering	2	0.00
Majority			44,936	1.59
Turnout			2,821,131	44.28
	Republican gain from Democratic

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Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

New Jersey election

← 1946 1958 →

Nominee Howard Smith Archibald S. Alexander Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,286,782 1,011,187 Percentage 55.51% 43.62%

County Results Smith:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Alexander:      50–60%

Senator before election Howard Smith Republican Elected Senator Howard Smith Republican

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As of 2020, this was the last time that Republicans have won the Class 1 U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey.