The 1954 United States Senate elections was a midterm election in the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency. The 32 Senate seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and six special elections were held to fill vacancies. Eisenhower's Republican party lost a net of two seats to the Democratic opposition. This small change was just enough to give Democrats control of the chamber with the support of an Independent (Wayne Morse of Oregon) who agreed to caucus with them, he later officially joined the party in April 1955.

Quick Facts 38 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1954 United States Senate elections

← 1952 September 13[lower-alpha 1] & November 2, 1954 1956 →
38 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Lyndon Johnson William Knowland Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1953 August 4, 1953 Leader's seat Texas California Seats before 46 49 Seats after 48 47 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 15,137,069[1] 12,585,368[1] Percentage 53.9% 44.8% Seats up 22 16 Races won 24 14   Third party   Party Independent Seats before 1 Seats after 1[lower-alpha 2] Seat change Seats up 0 Races won 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Neb., N. H. & N. C.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Bill Knowland Republican Elected Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson Democratic

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The elections resulted in a divided government that continued to the end of Eisenhower's presidency and a Democratic majority that would last until 1981. As of 2022^[update], this is the last Senate election cycle in which a state (both Nebraska and North Carolina) had to hold three simultaneous elections (two special elections and one regular election) due to the near-simultaneous deaths of both incumbent Senators.

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

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Parties						Total
		Democratic	Republican	Independent	Other
Last elections (1952)		47	49	0	0	96
Before these elections		46	49	1	0	96
Not up		24	33	0	1	58
Up		22	16	0	—	38
	Class 2 (1948→1954)	20	12	—	—	32
	Special: Class 1	0	1	—	—	1
	Special: Class 3	2	3	—	—	5
Incumbent retired		2	4	—	—	6
	Held by same party	1	3	—	—	4
	Replaced by other party	1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	2
	Result	2	4	0	0	6
Incumbent ran		20	12	—	—	32
	Won re-election	17	7	—	—	24
	Lost re-election	4 Republicans replaced by 4 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans		—	—	6
	Lost renomination but held by same party	1	1	—	—	2
	Result	22	10	0	0	32
Total elected		24	14	0	0	38
Net change		2	2			2
Nationwide vote		15,137,069	12,585,368	35,661	323,147	28,081,245
	Share	53.90%	44.82%	0.13%	1.15%	100%
Result		48	47	1	0	96

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Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives^[1]

Twelve races had a margin of victory under 10%:

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1954 United States Senate special election in California

← 1950 November 2, 1954 1956 →

Nominee Thomas Kuchel Sam Yorty Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,090,836 1,788,071 Percentage 53.21% 45.50%

County results: Thomas Kuchel:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Sam Yorty:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Thomas Kuchel Republican Elected U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel Republican

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Following the resignation of Richard Nixon to assume the vice presidency, Governor Earl Warren appointed Thomas Kuchel to Nixon's seat; Kuchel assumed the office on January 2, 1953.^[3]

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Idaho election

← 1948 1960 →

Nominee Henry Dworshak Glen H. Taylor Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 142,269 84,139 Percentage 62.84% 37.16%

U.S. senator before election Henry Dworshak Republican Elected U.S. Senator Henry Dworshak Republican

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In Idaho, Republican Incumbent Henry Dworshak defeated Glen H. Taylor, who had previously represented Idaho in the Senate from 1945 to 1951. Allegations of Communist ties were used against Taylor by Dworshak and other Republicans to win the election.^[4]

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1954 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Leverett Saltonstall Foster Furcolo Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 956,605 927,899 Percentage 50.54% 49.03%

County Results Municipality Results Saltonstall   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100% Furcolo   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%

Senator before election Leverett Saltonstall Republican Elected Senator Leverett Saltonstall Republican

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In Massachusetts, Republican Incumbent Leverett Saltonstall defeated his challengers.

Democrat Foster Furcolo (Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts since 1952 and member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district from 1949 to 1952) beat John I. Fitzgerald (former member of the Boston City Council and Democratic candidate for Senate in 1948) and Joseph L. Murphy (former member of the Massachusetts Senate).

Republican incumbent Leverett Saltonstall (United States senator since 1945 and Governor of Massachusetts from 1939 to 1945) was renominated. Other nominees included Socialist Workers Thelma Ingersoll (ran for Senate in 1952.^[5]) and Prohibition Harold J. Ireland (candidate for Treasurer and Receiver-General in 1948 and 1952).

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1954 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee James E. Murray Wesley A. D'Ewart Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 114,591 112,863 Percentage 50.38% 49.62%

County results Murray:      50–60%      60–70% D'Ewart:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election James E. Murray Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James E. Murray Democratic

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In Montana incumbent senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, 1942, and 1948, ran for re-election.

Murray won the Democratic primary against trivial opponents (farmer Ray E. Gulick and Sam G. Feezell).

Republican Wesley A. D'Ewart United States Congressman from Montana's 2nd congressional district beat Robert Yellowtail, former Superintendent of the Crow Indian Reservation, for the GOP nomination.

A contentious and close election ensued, but ultimately, Murray was able to narrowly win re-election over D'Ewart to a final term in the Senate.

Nebraska had three Senate elections on the ballot. Both incumbents had died in the span of three months, leading to appointments and special elections.

Nebraska (special, class 1)

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1954 United States Senate Class I special election in Nebraska

← 1952 November 2, 1954 1958 →

Nominee Roman Hruska James F. Green Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 250,341 160,881 Percentage 60.88% 39.12%

County results Hruska:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Green:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Samuel W. Reynolds Republican Elected U.S. Senator Roman Hruska Republican

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Main article: 1954 United States Senate special elections in Nebraska § Class I

Incumbent Republican Hugh A. Butler died July 1, 1954, and Republican Samuel W. Reynolds was appointed July 3 to continue the term. Reynolds did not run to finish the term, and Republican Roman Hruska won the seat in November to finish the term ending in 1959.

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Nebraska class 1 special election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Roman Hruska	250,341	60.88
	Democratic	James F. Green	160,881	39.12
	None	Scattering	3	0.00
Majority			89,460	21.76
Turnout			411,225
	Republican hold

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Nebraska (special, class 2)

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1954 United States Senate Class II special election in Nebraska

← 1952 (special) November 2, 1954 1954 →

Nominee Hazel Abel William H. Meier Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 233,589 170,828 Percentage 57.76% 42.24%

County results Abel:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Meier:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Eva Bowring Republican Elected U.S. Senator Hazel Abel Republican

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Main article: 1954 United States Senate special elections in Nebraska § Class II

Incumbent Republican Dwight P. Griswold died April 12, 1954, and Republican Eva Bowring was appointed April 16 to continue the term. In November, Republican Hazel Abel was elected to finish the term.

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Nebraska class 2 special election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Hazel Abel	233,589	57.76
	Democratic	William H. Meier	170,828	42.24
	None	Scattering	5	0.00
Majority			62,761	15.52
Turnout			404,422
	Republican hold

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Nebraska (regular)

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1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1954 (special) November 2, 1954 1960 →

Nominee Carl Curtis Keith Neville Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 255,695 162,990 Percentage 61.07% 38.93%

County results Curtis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Neville:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Hazel Abel Republican Elected U.S. Senator Carl Curtis Republican

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Main article: 1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska

Although elected to finish the class 2 term, Abel did not run for the next term, and Republican Carl Curtis was elected in November to the next term.

More information Party, Candidate ...

Nebraska general election (class 2)^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Carl T. Curtis	255,695	61.07
	Democratic	Keith Neville	162,990	38.93
	None	Scattering	6	0.00
Majority			92,705	22.14
Turnout			418,691
	Republican hold

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On December 31, 1954, Abel resigned and Curtis was appointed January 1, 1955, two days ahead of his elected term.