Elections for the members of the Senate were held on November 10, 1953 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Elpidio Quirino of the Liberal Party lost his opportunity to get a second full term as President of the Philippines to former Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay of the Nacionalista Party. Quirino's running mate, Senator Jose Yulo lost to Senator Carlos P. Garcia. Vice President Fernando Lopez did not run for re-election and ran for the Senate instead, in which he emerged as the candidate with the most votes. This was the first time that an elected president did not come from the Senate. To further compound the Liberal Party's woes, they also failed to win any seats in the Senate in this election.

Quick Facts 8 (of the 24) seats in the Senate 13 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1953 Philippine Senate election

← 1951 November 10, 1953 1955 →
8 (of the 24) seats in the Senate 13 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Eulogio Rodriguez Quintin Paredes Party Nacionalista Liberal Seats before 11 11 Seats after 13 7 Seat change 2 4 Popular vote 9,813,166 8,861,244 Percentage 39.8% 36.0% Swing 19.2% 3.0%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Fernando Lopez Lorenzo Tañada Party Democratic NCP Seats before 0 1 Seats after 2 1 Seat change 2 Popular vote 3,793,654 2,156,717 Percentage 15.4% 8.8% Swing 15.4% 8.8%
Senate President before election Jose Zulueta Nacionalista Elected Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez Nacionalista

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The Citizens' Party and the Democratic Party caucused with the Nacionalistas to provide them the majority in the Senate.

All senators whose seats were up contested the election.

The Nacionalista Party won five seats contested in the election, with the Democratic Party winning two, and the Citizens' Party winning one.

Nacionalista Eulogio Rodriguez and Lorenzo Tañada of the Citizens' Party both defended their Senate seats. The four Liberal senators whose seats were up in this election were defeated: Camilo Osias, Geronima Pecson, Pablo Angeles y David and Vicente Madrigal. Felixberto Verano, who won a special election in 1951, was the sole Nacionalista defeat.

Three winners are neophyte Nacionalista senators: Alejo Mabanag, Edmundo B. Cea and Emmanuel Pelaez.

Incumbent vice president and Democrat Fernando Lopez returned to the Senate after serving from 1947 to 1949. Mariano Jesús Cuenco, who was defeated in the last election, made a comeback in the Senate, this time under the banner of the Nacionalistas.

Senator Carlos P. Garcia of the Nacionalistas was elected vice president in concurrent elections; his seat will be vacant until 1955 when it would have been contested in a special election.

Key:

• ‡ Seats up
• + Gained by a party from another party
• √ Held by the incumbent
• * Held by the same party with a new senator
• ^ Vacancy

• Commission on Elections
• 3rd Congress of the Philippines