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1962 United States Senate elections

1962 United States Senate elections

← 1960 November 6, 1962 1964 →
← 1961 (TX)
39 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Mike Mansfield Everett Dirksen Party Democratic Republican Leader since January 3, 1961 January 3, 1959 Leader's seat Montana Illinois Seats before 64 36 Seats after 68 32 Seat change 4 4 Popular vote 21,387,598[1] 20,897,719[1] Percentage 50.3% 49.1% Seats up 21 18 Races won 25 14
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Id., Kan. & N. H.): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected Majority Leader Mike Mansfield Democratic

The 1962 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. Held on November 6, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They occurred in the middle of President John F. Kennedy's term. His Democratic Party made a net gain of four seats from the Republicans, increasing their control of the Senate to 68–32. However, this was reduced to 67–33 between the election and the next Congress, as on November 18, 1962, Democrat Dennis Chávez, who was not up for election that year, died. He was replaced on November 30, 1962, by Republican appointee Edwin L. Mechem. Additionally, Democrat Strom Thurmond became a Republican in 1964, further reducing Democrats to 66–34. This was the first time since 1932 that Democrats gained seats in this class of Senators.

This was the first time since 1914 that the president's party gained seats in the Senate and lost seats in the House, this would occur again in 1970, 2018, and 2022. This was the last time until 2022 that the Democrats would win full terms in Arizona's and Pennsylvania's Class 3 Senate seats.

Results summary[edit]

Parties					Total
		Democratic	Republican	Other
Last elections (1960) Before these elections		64	36	0	100
Not up		43	18	0	61
Up		21	18	—	39
	Class 3 (1956→1962)	19	15	—	34
	Special: Class 1	1	0	—	1
	Special: Class 2	1	3	—	4
Incumbent retired		2	2	—	4
	Held by same party	2	0	—	2
	Replaced by other party	2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats		—	2
	Result	4	0	0	4
Incumbent ran		19	16[a]	—	35
	Won re-election	17	12	—	29
	Lost re-election	3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans		—	5
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	0	0	—	0
	Lost renomination, and party lost	1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat		—	1
	Result	21	14	0	35
Total elected		25	14	0	39
Net gain/loss		4	4		4
Nationwide vote		21,387,598	20,897,719	258,084	42,543,401
	Share	50.27%	49.12%	0.61%	100%
Result		68	32	0	100

Source:^[1]

Gains, losses, and holds[edit]

Retirements[edit]

Two Republicans and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats[edit]

Four Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Post-election changes[edit]

Post-election changes[edit]

One Democrat switched to a Republican in September 1964.

Change in composition[edit]

Before the elections[edit]

Elections results[edit]

Beginning of the next Congress[edit]

Race summaries[edit]

Special elections during the 87th Congress[edit]

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1962 or before January 3, 1963; ordered by election date, then state.

Elections leading to the next Congress[edit]

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1963; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

Closest races[edit]

Nineteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Nevada was the tipping point state with a margin of 30.6%.

Alabama[edit]

1962 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1956 November 6, 1962 1968 →

Nominee J. Lister Hill James D. Martin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 201,937 195,134 Percentage 50.86% 49.14%

County Results Hill   50-60%   60-70%   70-80%   80-90% Martin   50-60%   60-70%   70-80%

U.S. senator before election J. Lister Hill Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. Lister Hill Democratic

Alaska[edit]

1962 United States Senate election in Alaska

← 1958 November 6, 1962 1968 →

Nominee Ernest Gruening Ted Stevens Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 33,827 24,354 Percentage 58.14% 41.86%

Results by state house district Gruening:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Ernest Gruening Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ernest Gruening Democratic

Incumbent Ernest Gruening defeated the Republican challenger, former U.S. Attorney, Interior Solicitor & future long-time U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, to win re-election to a full term.

Arizona[edit]

1962 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1956 November 6, 1962 1968 →

Nominee Carl Hayden Evan Mecham Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 199,217 163,338 Percentage 54.94% 45.06%

County results Hayden:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Mecham:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Carl Hayden Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carl Hayden Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Carl Hayden defeated future Governor Evan Mecham to win re-election to a seventh term.

Arkansas[edit]

1962 U.S. Senate election in Arkansas

← 1956 November 6, 1962 1968 →

Nominee J. William Fulbright Kenneth G. Jones Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 214,867 98,013 Percentage 68.67% 31.33%

County results Fulbright:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election J. William Fulbright Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright Democratic

California[edit]

1962 United States Senate election in California

← 1956 November 6, 1962 1968 →

Nominee Thomas Kuchel Richard Richards Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 3,180,483 2,452,839 Percentage 56.31% 43.43%

County results Kuchel:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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