The 1954 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Republican Senator John Sherman Cooper, who won a 1952 special election to fill the vacant seat of Virgil Chapman, ran for a full term in office but was defeated by Democratic former Senator and Vice President of the United States Alben Barkley.

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1954 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1952 (special) November 2, 1954 1956 (special) →

Nominee Alben Barkley John Sherman Cooper Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 434,109 362,948 Percentage 54.46% 45.54%

County results Barkley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Cooper:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election John Sherman Cooper Republican Elected U.S. Senator Alben Barkley Democratic

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Following his victory, Barkley served a little over a year before dying of a heart attack on April 30, 1956. Cooper won the November special election to succeed him and returned to the Senate.

1954 United States Senate elections