1958 United States Senate election in California

1958 United States Senate election in California

← 1952 November 4, 1958 1964 →

Nominee Clair Engle Goodwin Knight Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,927,693 2,204,337 Percentage 57.01% 42.93%

County results Engle:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Knight:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election William F. Knowland Republican Elected U.S. Senator Clair Engle Democratic

Elections in California
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The 1958 United States Senate election in California was held on November 4, 1958.

Incumbent Senator William F. Knowland opted not to run for re-election, choosing instead to run for election as Governor. Incumbent Governor Goodwin Knight exchanged places with Knowland and lost to U.S. Representative Clair Engle in the midst of a national landslide for the Democratic Party.

This was one of ten seats Democrats gained from the Republican Party in 1958, part of a record swing (including the elections of new Senators from Alaska and Hawaii).

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• George Christopher, Mayor of San Francisco
• William Jolley
• Goodwin Knight, Governor of California
• Alexander Williamson

Results[]

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Clair Engle, U.S. Representative from Red Bluff
• Fritjof Thygeson

Results[]

General election[]

Results[]

1958 U.S. Senate election in California^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Clair Engle	2,927,693	57.01%	57.01
	Republican	Goodwin Knight	2,204,337	42.93%	44.86
	Write-in	Jesse M. Ritchie	892	0.02%	N/A
	Write-in	Ray B. Pollard	281	0.01%	N/A
	Write-in	All others	2,018	0.04%	N/A
Total votes			5,135,221	100.00

See also[]

• 1958 United States Senate elections

References[]