1964 United States Senate elections

1964 United States Senate elections

← 1962 November 3, 1964 1966 →
35 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 66 34 Seats after 68 32 Seat change 2 2 Popular vote 30,786,035[1][a] 23,171,991[1] Percentage 56.2% 42.3% Swing 5.9% 6.8% Seats up 26 9 Races won 28 7
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected Majority Leader Mike Mansfield Democratic

The 1964 United States Senate elections coincided with the election of President Lyndon B. Johnson by an overwhelming majority, to a full term. His Democratic Party picked up a net two seats from the Republicans. As of 2022, this is the last time either party has had a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which would have hypothetically allowed the Senate Democrats to override a veto, propose constitutional amendments, convict and expel certain officials, or invoke cloture without any votes from Senate Republicans. In practice, however, internal divisions could have prevented the Democrats from doing so. The Senate election coincided with Democratic gains in the House in the same year.

Notably, of the 35 seats up for election this year, 26 were held by Democrats, who managed to retain 25 of them. A party defending two-thirds of the seats up for election would not make net gains in the Senate again until 2012. Coincidentally, it would be the same Senate class, class 1.

Results summary[]

↓

68	32
Democratic	Republican

Parties					Total
		Democratic	Republican	Other
Last election (1962)		67	33	0	100
Before these elections		66	34	0	100
Not up		40	25	0	65
Up		26	9	—	35
	Class 1 (1958→1964)	24	9	—	33
	Special: Class 2	2	0	—	2
Incumbent retired		1	1	—	2
	Held by same party	1	1	—	2
	Replaced by other party	0	0	—	0
	Result	1	1	0	2
Incumbent ran		25	8	—	33
	Won re-election	23	5	—	28
	Lost re-election	3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	4
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	1	0	—	1
	Result	27	6	0	33
Total elected		28	7	0	35
Net gain/loss		2	2		2
Nationwide vote		30,786,035[a]	23,171,991	848,082	54,806,108
	Share	56.17%	42.28%	1.55%	100%
Result		68	32	0	100

Source:^[1]

Retirements[]

There were no net party changes from retirements.

Republicans replaced by Republicans[]

1. Arizona: Barry Goldwater retired to run for President. He was replaced by Paul Fannin (R)

Democrats replaced by Democrats[]

1. Tennessee (Class 2): Appointee Herbert S. Walters (D) was replaced by Ross Bass (D)

Incumbents who lost elections[]

Democrats had a two-seat net gain from beating incumbents.

Democrats lost to Republicans[]

1. California: Appointee Pierre Salinger (D) lost to George Murphy (R).

Democrats lost to Democrats[]

1. Oklahoma (Class 2): Appointee J. Howard Edmondson (D) lost nomination to Fred R. Harris (D), who won the general election.

Republicans lost to Democrats[]

1. Maryland: James Glenn Beall (R) lost to Joseph D. Tydings (D).
2. New Mexico: Edwin L. Mechem (R) lost to Joseph M. Montoya (D).
3. New York: Kenneth B. Keating (R) lost to Robert F. Kennedy (D).

Other races[]

In a close race in Nevada, Democratic incumbent Howard Cannon won re-election over Republican Lieutenant Governor Paul Laxalt by fewer than 100 votes. Laxalt joined Cannon in the Senate when he won Nevada's other seat in 1974.

Subsequent gains[]

1. Michigan: Patrick V. McNamara (D) died April 30, 1966, and was replaced May 11, 1966 by appointee Robert P. Griffin (R).

Change in composition[]

Before the elections[]

D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8	D9	D10
D20	D19	D18	D17	D16	D15	D14	D13	D12	D11
D21	D22	D23	D24	D25	D26	D27	D28	D29	D30
D40	D39	D38	D37	D36	D35	D34	D33	D32	D31
D41 Calif. Ran	D42 Conn. Ran	D43 Fla. Ran	D44 Ind. Ran	D45 Maine Ran	D46 Mass. Ran	D47 Mich. Ran	D48 Minn. Ran	D49 Miss. Ran	D50 Mo. Ran
Majority →									D51 Mont. Ran
D60 Texas Ran	D59 Tenn. (sp) Retired	D58 Tenn. (reg) Ran	D57 R.I. Ran	D56 Okla. (sp) Ran	D55 Ohio Ran	D54 N.D. Ran	D53 N.J. Ran	D52 Nev. Ran
D61 Utah Ran	D62 Va. Ran	D63 Wash. Ran	D64 W.Va. Ran	D65 Wis. Ran	D66 Wyo. Ran	R34 Vt. Ran	R33 Pa. Ran	R32 N.Y. Ran	R31 N.M. (sp) N.M. (reg) Ran
R21	R22	R23	R24	R25	R26 Ariz. Retired	R27 Del. Ran	R28 Hawaii Ran	R29 Md. Ran	R30 Neb. Ran
R20	R19	R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11
R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10

Elections results[]

D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8	D9	D10
D20	D19	D18	D17	D16	D15	D14	D13	D12	D11
D21	D22	D23	D24	D25	D26	D27	D28	D29	D30
D40	D39	D38	D37	D36	D35	D34	D33	D32	D31
D41 Conn. Re-elected	D42 Fla. Re-elected	D43 Ind. Re-elected	D44 Maine Re-elected	D45 Mass. Re-elected	D46 Mich. Re-elected	D47 Minn. Re-elected	D48 Miss. Re-elected	D49 Mo. Re-elected	D50 Mont. Re-elected
Majority →									D51 Nev. Re-elected
D60 Utah Re-elected	D59 Texas Re-elected	D58 Tenn. (sp) Hold	D57 Tenn. (reg) Re-elected	D56 R.I. Re-elected	D55 Okla. (sp) Hold	D54 Ohio Re-elected	D53 N.D. Re-elected	D52 N.J. Re-elected
D61 Va. Re-elected	D62 Wash. Re-elected	D63 W.Va. Re-elected	D64 Wis. Re-elected	D65 Wyo. Re-elected	D66 Md. Gain	D67 N.M. (sp) N.M. (reg) Gain	D68 N.Y. Gain	R32 Calif. Gain	R31 Vt. Re-elected
R21	R22	R23	R24	R25	R26 Ariz. Hold	R27 Del. Re-elected	R28 Hawaii Re-elected	R29 Neb. Re-elected	R30 Pa. Re-elected
R20	R19	R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11
R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10

Key	D# Democratic R# Republican

Race summary[]

Special elections during the 88th Congress[]

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1964 or before January 3, 1965; ordered by election date, then state.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
New Mexico (Class 1)	Edwin L. Mechem	Republican	1962 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. Winner also elected to the next term, see below.	▌Y Joseph Montoya (Democratic) 54.7% ▌Edwin L. Mechem (Republican) 45.3%
Oklahoma (Class 2)	J. Howard Edmondson	Democratic	1963 (Appointed)	Appointee lost nomination to finish term. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y Fred R. Harris (Democratic) 51.2% ▌Bud Wilkinson (Republican) 48.8%
Tennessee (Class 2)	Herbert S. Walters	Democratic	1963 (Appointed)	Appointee retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y Ross Bass (Democratic) 52.1% ▌Howard Baker (Republican) 47.4%

Elections leading to the next Congress[]

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1965; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Arizona	Barry Goldwater	Republican	1952 1958	Incumbent retired to run for President of the United States. New senator elected. Republican hold.	▌Y Paul Fannin (Republican) 51.4% ▌Roy Elson (Democratic) 48.6%
California	Pierre Salinger	Democratic	1964 (Appointed)	Appointee lost election to next term. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y George Murphy (Republican) 51.5% ▌Pierre Salinger (Democratic) 48.5%
Connecticut	Thomas J. Dodd	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Thomas J. Dodd (Democratic) 64.6% ▌John Davis Lodge (Republican) 35.3%
Delaware	John J. Williams	Republican	1946 1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John J. Williams (Republican) 51.7% ▌Elbert N. Carvel (Democratic) 48.3% ▌Hollon (Socialist Labor) 0.03%
Florida	Spessard Holland	Democratic	1946 (Appointed) 1946 1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Spessard Holland (Democratic) 63.9% ▌Claude R. Kirk Jr. (Republican) 36.0%
Hawaii	Hiram Fong	Republican	1959	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Hiram Fong (Republican) 53.0% ▌Thomas Gill (Democratic) 46.4% ▌ (Independent) 0.6%
Indiana	Vance Hartke	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Vance Hartke (Democratic) 54.3% ▌ (Republican) 45.3% ▌J. Ralston Miller (Prohibition) 0.3% ▌Casimer Kanczuzewski (Socialist Labor) 0.06%
Maine	Edmund Muskie	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Edmund Muskie (Democratic) 66.6% ▌Clifford McIntire (Republican) 33.4%
Maryland	James Glenn Beall	Republican	1952 1958	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Joseph Tydings (Democratic) 62.8% ▌James Glenn Beall (Republican) 37.2%
Massachusetts	Ted Kennedy	Democratic	1962 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Ted Kennedy (Democratic) 74.3% ▌Howard J. Whitmore Jr. (Republican) 25.4% ▌Lawrence Gilfedder (Socialist Labor) 0.2% ▌ (Prohibition) 0.1%
Michigan	Philip Hart	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Philip Hart (Democratic) 64.4% ▌Elly M. Peterson (Republican) 35.3% ▌Ernest C. Smith (Freedom Now) 0.1% ▌Evelyn Sell (Socialist Workers) 0.09% ▌James Sim (Socialist Labor) 0.05%
Minnesota	Eugene McCarthy	DFL[b]	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Eugene McCarthy (DFL) 60.3% ▌Wheelock Whitney Jr. (Republican) 39.3% ▌William Braatz (Industrial Government) 0.3% ▌Everett E. Luoma (Socialist Workers) 0.1%
Mississippi	John C. Stennis	Democratic	1947 (Special) 1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John C. Stennis (Democratic) Unopposed
Missouri	Stuart Symington	Democratic	1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Stuart Symington (Democratic) 66.6% ▌Jean P. Bradshaw (Republican) 33.4%
Montana	Mike Mansfield	Democratic	1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Mike Mansfield (Democratic) 64.5% ▌Alex Blewett (Republican) 35.5%
Nebraska	Roman Hruska	Republican	1954 (Special) 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Roman Hruska (Republican) 61.4% ▌Raymond W. Arndt (Democratic) 38.6%
Nevada	Howard Cannon	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Howard Cannon (Democratic) 50.0% ▌Paul Laxalt (Republican) 50.0%
New Jersey	Harrison A. Williams	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Harrison A. Williams (Democratic) 61.9% ▌Bernard M. Shanley (Republican) 37.3%
New Mexico	Edwin L. Mechem	Republican	1962 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. Winner was also elected to finish the term, see above.	▌Y Joseph Montoya (Democratic) 54.7% ▌Edwin L. Mechem (Republican) 45.3%
New York	Kenneth Keating	Republican	1958	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Robert F. Kennedy (Democratic) 53.5% ▌Kenneth Keating (Republican) 43.4%
North Dakota	Quentin Burdick	Democratic-NPL	1960 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Quentin Burdick (Democratic-NPL) 57.6% ▌Thomas S. Kleppe (Republican) 42.4%
Ohio	Stephen M. Young	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Stephen M. Young (Democratic) 50.2% ▌Robert Taft Jr. (Republican) 49.8%
Pennsylvania	Hugh Scott	Republican	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Hugh Scott (Republican) 50.6% ▌Genevieve Blatt (Democratic) 49.1%
Rhode Island	John Pastore	Democratic	1950 (Special) 1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John Pastore (Democratic) 82.7% ▌Ronald Rene Lagueux (Republican) 17.27%
Tennessee	Albert Gore Sr.	Democratic	1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Albert Gore Sr. (Democratic) 53.6% ▌Dan Kuykendall (Republican) 46.4%
Texas	Ralph Yarborough	Democratic	1957 (Special) 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Ralph Yarborough (Democratic) 56.2% ▌George H. W. Bush (Republican) 43.6%
Utah	Frank Moss	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Frank Moss (Democratic) 57.3% ▌Ernest L. Wilkinson (Republican) 42.7%
Vermont	Winston L. Prouty	Republican	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Winston L. Prouty (Republican) 53.5% ▌Frederick J. Fayette (Democratic) 46.5%
Virginia	Harry F. Byrd	Democratic	1933 (Appointed) 1933 (Special) 1934 1940 1946 1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Harry F. Byrd (Democratic) 63.8% ▌Richard A. May (Republican) 19.0% ▌James W. Respess (Independent) 10.3%
Washington	Henry M. Jackson	Democratic	1952 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Henry M. Jackson (Democratic) 72.2% ▌Lloyd J. Andrews (Republican) 27.8%
West Virginia	Robert Byrd	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Robert Byrd (Democratic) 67.7% ▌Cooper P. Benedict (Republican) 32.3%
Wisconsin	William Proxmire	Democratic	1957 (Special) 1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y William Proxmire (Democratic) 53.3% ▌Wilbur N. Renk (Republican) 46.6%
Wyoming	Gale W. McGee	Democratic	1958	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Gale W. McGee (Democratic) 54.0% ▌John S. Wold (Republican) 46.0%

Arizona[]

Arizona election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Paul Fannin Roy Elson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 241,089 227,712 Percentage 51.43% 48.57%

Red: counties won by Fannin, Blue: counties won by Elson.

U.S. senator before election Barry Goldwater Republican Elected U.S. senator Paul Fannin Republican

Incumbent Barry Goldwater decided not to run for re-election to a third term, instead running for President of the United States as the Republican Party nominee against Lyndon B. Johnson.^[2] Governor of Arizona Paul Fannin ran unopposed in the Republican primary, and defeated Democratic nominee Roy Elson, who was a staff member for U.S. senator Carl Hayden until Hayden's retirement in 1969. Despite a landslide loss throughout the country, and Goldwater only able to obtain 50.45% of the vote in his home state of Arizona, Fannin managed to prevail in the state's Senate election.

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Roy Elson	76,697	41.41
	Democratic	Renz L. Jennings	64,331	34.73
	Democratic	Howard V. Peterson	22,424	12.11
	Democratic	George Gavin	10,291	5.56
	Democratic	Raymond G. Neely	6,022	3.25
	Democratic	Robert P. Ketterer	5,460	2.95
Total votes			185,225	100.00

1964 United States Senate election in Arizona^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul Fannin	241,089	51.43
	Democratic	Roy Elson	227,712	48.57
Majority			13,377	2.86
Turnout			468,801
	Republican hold

California[]

California election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee George Murphy Pierre Salinger Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 3,628,552 3,411,915 Percentage 51.54% 48.46%

County Results Murphy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Salinger:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Pierre Salinger Democratic Elected U.S. Senator George Murphy Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in California^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George Murphy	3,628,552	51.54
	Democratic	Pierre Salinger (Incumbent)	3,411,915	48.46
Majority			216,537	3.08
Turnout			7,040,467
	Republican gain from Democratic

Connecticut[]

Connecticut election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Thomas J. Dodd John Davis Lodge Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 781,008 426,939 Percentage 64.66% 35.34%

U.S. senator before election Thomas J. Dodd Democratic Elected U.S. senator Thomas J. Dodd Democratic

Democrat Thomas J. Dodd was re-elected and served a second term. John Davis Lodge, grandson of Henry Cabot Lodge was defeated by almost 30%.

1964 United States Senate election in Connecticut^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas J. Dodd (Incumbent)	781,008	64.66
	Republican	John Davis Lodge	426,939	35.34
Majority			354,069	29.32
Turnout			1,207,947
	Democratic hold

Delaware[]

Delaware election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee John J. Williams Elbert Carvel Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 103,782 96,850 Percentage 51.71% 48.26%

County Results Williams:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election John J. Williams Republican Elected U.S. Senator John J. Williams Republican

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Delaware^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John J. Williams (Incumbent)	103,782	51.71
	Democratic	Elbert N. Carvel	96,850	48.26
	Socialist Labor	Joseph B. Hollon Sr.	71	0.04
Majority			6,932	3.45
Turnout			200,703
	Republican hold

Florida[]

Florida election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Spessard Holland Claude R. Kirk Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 997,585 562,212 Percentage 63.93% 36.03%

County Results Holland:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Kirk:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Spessard Holland Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Spessard Holland Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Florida^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Spessard L. Holland (Incumbent)	997,585	63.93
	Republican	Claude R. Kirk Jr.	562,212	36.03
	None	Scattering	540	0.03
Majority			435,373	27.90
Turnout			1,560,337
	Democratic hold

Hawaii[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Hawaii^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Hiram Fong (Incumbent)	110,747	53.04
	Democratic	Thomas P. Gill	96,789	46.35
	Independent	Lawrence Domine	1,278	0.61
Majority			3,958	6.69
Turnout			208,814
	Republican hold

Indiana[]

Indiana election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Vance Hartke D. Russell Bontrager Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,128,505 941,519 Percentage 54.33% 45.33%

U.S. senator before election Vance Hartke Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Vance Hartke Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Indiana^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Vance Hartke (Incumbent)	1,128,505	54.33
	Republican	D. Russell Bontrager	941,519	45.33
	Prohibition	J. Ralston Miller	5,708	0.27
	Socialist Labor	Casimer Kanczuzewski	1,231	0.06
Majority			187,986	9.00
Turnout			2,076,963
	Democratic hold

Maine[]

Maine election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Edmund Muskie Clifford McIntire Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 253,511 127,040 Percentage 66.62% 33.38%

County results Muskie:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% McIntire:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Edmund Muskie Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Maine^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edmund S. Muskie (Incumbent)	253,511	66.62
	Republican	Clifford McIntire	127,040	33.38
Majority			126,471	33.24
Turnout			380,551
	Democratic hold

Maryland[]

Maryland election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Joseph D. Tydings James Glenn Beall Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 678,649 402,393 Percentage 62.78% 37.22%

County results Tydings:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Beall:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election James Glenn Beall Republican Elected U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Maryland^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph D. Tydings	678,649	62.78
	Republican	James Glenn Beall (Incumbent)	402,393	37.22
	None	Write-Ins	7	0.00
Majority			276,256	25.56
Turnout			1,081,049
	Democratic gain from Republican

Incumbent Republican John Glenn Bell lost re-election 63%-37% to U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Tydings, a Democrat.

Massachusetts[]

Massachusetts election

← 1962 1970 →

Nominee Ted Kennedy Howard J. Whitmore, Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,716,907 587,663 Percentage 74.26% 25.42%

County Results

U.S. senator before election Ted Kennedy Democratic Elected U.S. senator Ted Kennedy Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Ted Kennedy defeated his challengers. Much of the campaign-appearance burden on behalf of Ted Kennedy fell on his wife, Joan, because of Ted's serious back injury in a plane crash.

Candidates:

• Ted Kennedy - Incumbent senator elected in 1962 to the unexpired term of John F. Kennedy.
• Howard J. Whitmore, Jr. - Member of Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1947–1953, and mayor of Newton, Massachusetts from 1954-1960. Served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II.^[6]
• Lawrence Gilfedder - Candidate for Lt. Governor in 1948. Ran for Governor in 1952 and 1954. Ran for Senate in 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1970.^[7]
• - Candidate for Massachusetts's 9th congressional district seat in 1950 and Massachusetts's 14th congressional district seat in 1952.^[8]

General election^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward M. Kennedy (Incumbent)	1,716,907	74.26	+21.3
	Republican	Howard J. Whitmore Jr.	587,663	25.42	-19.08
	Socialist Labor	Lawrence Gilfedder	4,745	0.21	-0.03
	Prohibition		2,700	0.12	+0.05
Majority			1,129,244	50.84
Turnout			2,312,028
	Democratic hold		Swing

Michigan[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Michigan^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Philip A. Hart (Incumbent)	1,996,912	64.38
	Republican	Elly M. Peterson	1,096,272	35.34
	Freedom Now	Ernest C. Smith	4,125	0.13
	Socialist Workers	Evelyn Sell	2,754	0.09
	Socialist Labor	James Sim	1,598	0.05
	None	Scattering	6	0.00
Majority			90,640	29.04
Turnout			3,101,667
	Democratic hold

Minnesota[]

Minnesota election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Eugene J. McCarthy Wheelock Whitney, Jr. Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 931,363 605,933 Percentage 60.34% 39.26%

U.S. senator before election Eugene J. McCarthy Democratic (DFL) Elected U.S. senator Eugene J. McCarthy Democratic (DFL)

Incumbent Democrat Eugene McCarthy defeated Republican challenger Wheelock Whitney, Jr., to win a second term.

Democratic primary election results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Eugene J. McCarthy (Incumbent)	245,068	90.47
	Democratic (DFL)	R. H. Underdahl	14,562	5.38
	Democratic (DFL)	Joseph Nowak	11,267	4.16

Republican primary election results^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Wheelock Whitney, Jr.	161,363	100.00

General election results^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Eugene J. McCarthy (Incumbent)	931,363	60.34
	Republican	Wheelock Whitney, Jr.	605,933	39.26
	Industrial Government	William Braatz	3,947	0.26
	Socialist Workers	Everett E. Luoma	2,357	0.15
Majority			325,420	21.09
Turnout			1,543,590
	Democratic (DFL) hold

Mississippi[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Mississippi^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John C. Stennis (Incumbent)	343,364	100.00
	Democratic hold

Missouri[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Missouri^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Stuart Symington (Incumbent)	1,186,666	66.55
	Republican	Jean Paul Bradshaw	596,377	33.45
Majority			590,289	33.10
Turnout			1,783,043
	Democratic hold

Montana[]

Montana election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Mike Mansfield Alex Blewett Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 180,643 99,367 Percentage 64.51% 35.49%

U.S. senator before election Mike Mansfield Democratic Elected U.S. senator Mike Mansfield Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Mike Mansfield, who was first elected to the Senate in 1952 and was re-elected in 1958, ran for re-election. Mansfield won the Democratic primary in a landslide, and advanced to the general election, where he faced Alex Blewett, the Majority Leader of the Montana House of Representatives and the Republican nominee. Though Mansfield's margin was significantly reduced from 1958, he still overwhelmingly defeated Blewett and won his third term in the Senate.

Democratic Party primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Mansfield (Incumbent)	109,904	85.51
	Democratic	Joseph P. Monaghan	18,630	14.49
Total votes			128,534	100.00

Republican Primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Alex Blewett	31,934	59.37
	Republican	Lyman Brewster	12,375	23.01
	Republican	Antoinette F. Rosell	9,480	17.62
Total votes			53,789	100.00

1964 United States Senate election in Montana^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mike Mansfield (Incumbent)	180,643	64.51	-11.71%
	Republican	Alex Blewett	99,367	35.49	+11.71%
Majority			81,276	29.03	-23.41%
Turnout			280,010
	Democratic hold		Swing

Nebraska[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Nebraska^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Roman L. Hruska (Incumbent)	345,772	61.37
	Democratic	Raymond W. Arndt	217,605	38.62
	None	Scattering	24	0.00
Majority			128,167	22.75
Turnout			563,401
	Republican hold

Nevada[]

Nevada election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Howard Cannon Paul Laxalt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 67,336 67,288 Percentage 50.02% 49.98%

U.S. senator before election Howard Cannon Democratic Elected U.S. senator Howard Cannon Democratic

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Howard Cannon won re-election to a second term by a slim margin of only 48 votes.

General election results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Howard Cannon (Incumbent)	67,336	50.02	-7.66
	Republican	Paul Laxalt	67,288	49.98	+7.66
Majority			48	0.04	-15.32
Turnout			134,624
	Democratic hold		Swing

New Jersey[]

New Jersey election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Harrison A. Williams Bernard M. Shanley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,677,515 1,011,280 Percentage 61.91% 37.32%

County results Williams:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Shanley:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Harrison A. Williams Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harrison A. Williams Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in New Jersey^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Harrison A. Williams (Incumbent)	1,677,515	61.91
	Republican	Bernard M. Shanley	1,011,280	37.32
	Conservative	Harold P. Poeschel	7,582	0.28
	Socialist Workers	Lawrence Stewart	6,147	0.23
	America First	John Valgene Mahalchik	4,926	0.18
	Socialist Labor	Albert Ronis	2,125	0.08
Majority			666,235	23.58
Turnout			2,709,575
	Democratic hold

New Mexico[]

New Mexico (regular)[]

New Mexico election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Joseph Montoya Edwin L. Mechem Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 178,209 147,562 Percentage 54.7% 45.3%

U.S. senator before election Edwin L. Mechem Republican Elected U.S. senator Joseph Montoya Democratic

Incumbent Republican Edwin L. Mechem sought re-election to a full term, but was defeated by Democrat Joseph Montoya.

Montoya was Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico (1947–1951 and 1955–1957) and a four-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1957–1964).

General election results^[14][1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Montoya	178,209	54.70
	Republican	Edwin L. Mechem (Incumbent)	147,562	45.30
Majority			30,647	9.41
Total votes			325,771	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

New Mexico (special)[]

Montoya was also elected to finish the term ending January 3, 1965.

New York[]

New York election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Robert F. Kennedy Kenneth Keating Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 3,823,749 3,104,056 Percentage 53.5% 43.4%

County Results

U.S. senator before election Kenneth Keating Republican Elected U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy Democratic

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Kenneth Keating ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Robert F. Kennedy.

The Socialist Labor state convention met on March 29, and nominated John Emanuel.^[15] The Republican state convention met on August 31, and re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Kenneth B. Keating.^[16] The Conservative state convention met on August 31 at Saratoga Springs, New York, and nominated Prof. Henry Paolucci.^[17] The Democratic state convention met on September 1, and nominated U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy on the first ballot, with 968 votes against 153 for Congressman Samuel S. Stratton.^[18] The Liberal Party met on September 1, and endorsed the Democratic nominee, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.^[19] The Socialist Workers Party filed a petition to nominate candidates on September 7. Richard Garza was nominated.^[20]

John English, a Nassau County leader who helped John F. Kennedy during the 1960 presidential election, encouraged Robert Kennedy to oppose Keating. At the time, Samuel S. Stratton, a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York's 35th congressional district, was considered the most likely Democratic candidate. At first, Kennedy resisted. After President Kennedy's assassination, Robert Kennedy remained as Attorney General for Lyndon B. Johnson. However, Johnson and Kennedy feuded. Kennedy decided to run for the Senate in New York in August, and resigned from the Cabinet on September 3, 1964. While many reform Democrats resisted Kennedy, support from Robert F. Wagner, Jr., and party bosses like Charles A. Buckley, of The Bronx, and Peter J. Crotty,^[c] of Buffalo, helped Kennedy win the nomination at the party convention.^[22]

During the campaign, Kennedy was frequently met by large crowds. Keating accused Kennedy of being a carpetbagger from Massachusetts. Kennedy responded to these charges in a televised town meeting by saying, "If the senator of the state of New York is going be selected on who's lived here the longest, then I think people are going vote for my opponent. If it's going be selected on who's got the best New York accent, then I think I'm probably out too. But I think if it's going be selected on the basis of who can make the best United States senator, I think I'm still in the contest."^[23]

The Democratic/Liberal candidate was elected. Campaign help from President Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as the Democratic landslide after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, helped carry Kennedy into office, as Kennedy polled about 1.1 million votes less in New York than Johnson did. The incumbent Keating was defeated.

1964 state election result

Ticket	U.S. Senator
Democratic	Y Robert F. Kennedy	3,539,746
Liberal	Y Robert F. Kennedy	284,646
Republican	Kenneth B. Keating	3,104,056
Conservative	Henry Paolucci[d]	212,216
Socialist Labor	John Emanuel[e]	7,358
Socialist Workers	Richard Garza[f]	4,202

(For Total Votes, the Democratic and Liberal votes for Kennedy are combined.)

North Dakota[]

North Dakota election

← 1960 1970 →

Nominee Quentin Burdick Thomas Kleppe Party Democratic-NPL Republican Popular vote 149,264 109,681 Percentage 57.64% 42.36%

U.S. Senate election results map. Blue denotes counties won by Burdick. Red denotes those won by Kleppe.   Burdick 50-60%   Burdick 60-70%   Burdick 70-80%   Kleppe 50-60%   Kleppe 60-70%

U.S. senator before election Quentin Burdick Democratic-NPL Elected U.S. senator Quentin Burdick Democratic-NPL

Incumbent Democratic-NPL Senator Quentin Burdick sought and received re-election to his second term, defeating Republican candidate Thomas S. Kleppe, who later became the United States Secretary of the Interior.^[1]

Only Burdick filed as a Democratic-NPLer, and the endorsed Republican candidate was Thomas S. Kleppe, who would go on to serve two terms as a Representative for North Dakota's second congressional district from 1967 to 1971. Burdick and Kleppe won the primary elections for their respective parties.

1964 United States Senate election in North Dakota

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic-NPL	Quentin Burdick (Incumbent)	149,264	57.64
	Republican	Thomas S. Kleppe	109,681	42.36
Turnout			219,560

Ohio[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Ohio^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Stephen M. Young (Incumbent)	1,923,608	50.22
	Republican	Robert Taft Jr.	1,906,781	49.78
Majority			16,827	0.44
Turnout			3,830,389
	Democratic hold

Oklahoma (special)[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate special election in Oklahoma^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Fred R. Harris (Incumbent)	466,782	51.17
	Republican	Bud Wilkinson	445,392	48.83
Majority			21,390	3.34
Turnout			912,174
	Democratic hold

Pennsylvania[]

Pennsylvania election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Hugh Scott Genevieve Blatt Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,429,858 2,359,223 Percentage 50.6% 49.1%

County results

U.S. senator before election Hugh Scott Republican Elected U.S. senator Hugh Scott Republican

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Hugh Scott successfully sought re-election to another term, defeating Democratic nominee Genevieve Blatt.

General election results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Hugh Scott (Incumbent)	2,429,858	50.59	-0.62%
	Democratic	Genevieve Blatt, Pennsylvania Secretary of Internal Affairs	2,359,223	49.12	+0.74%
	Socialist Workers	Morris Chertov	7,317	0.15	+0.01%
	Socialist Labor	George S. Taylor	6,881	0.14	-0.12%
	N/A	Other	473	0.00	N/A
Majority			70,635	1.47
Turnout			4,803,752
	Republican hold		Swing

Rhode Island[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Rhode Island^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Pastore (Incumbent)	319,607	82.73
	Republican	Ronald Legueux	66,715	17.27
Majority			252,892	65.45
Turnout			386,322
	Democratic hold

Tennessee[]

Tennessee (regular)[]

Tennessee regular election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Albert Gore Sr. Dan Kuykendall Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 570,542 493,475 Percentage 53.62% 46.38%

County results Gore:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Kuykendall:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Albert Gore Sr. Democratic Elected U.S. senator Albert Gore Sr. Democratic

Democrat Albert Gore Sr. was re-elected.

General election results^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Albert Gore Sr.	570,542	53.62
	Republican	Dan Kuykendall	493,475	46.38
Majority			77,067	7.24
Turnout			1,064,017
	Democratic hold

Tennessee (special)[]

Tennessee special election

← 1960 November 3, 1964 1966 →

Nominee Ross Bass Howard Baker Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 568,905 517,330 Percentage 52.14% 47.41%

County results Bass:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Baker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Herbert S. Walters Democratic Elected U.S. senator Ross Bass Democratic

Democrat Ross Bass won the election, he defeated Republican Howard Baker.

General election results^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ross Bass	568,905	52.14
	Republican	Howard Baker	517,330	47.41
	Independent	Melvin Babcock Morgan	4,853	0.44
Majority			51,575	4.73
Turnout			1,091,088
	Democratic hold

Texas[]

Texas election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Ralph Yarborough George H. W. Bush Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,463,958 1,134,337 Percentage 56.2% 43.6%

U.S. senator before election Ralph Yarborough Democratic Elected U.S. senator Ralph Yarborough Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Ralph Yarborough defeated future President of the United States George H. W. Bush.

Although Yarborough won this election, he would lose the Democratic Primary six years later, in 1970, to Lloyd Bentsen. Bush later went on to win an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1966; he was elected vice president of the United States in 1980 and was elected president in 1988.

1964 United States Senate election in Texas^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ralph W. Yarborough (Incumbent)	1,463,958	56.22
	Republican	George H. W. Bush	1,134,337	43.56
	Constitution	Jack Carswell	5,542	0.21
Majority			329,621	12.66
Turnout			2,603,837
	Democratic hold

Utah[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Utah^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Moss (Incumbent)	227,822	57.33
	Republican	Ernest L. Wilkinson	169,562	42.67
Majority			58,260	14.66
Turnout			397,384
	Democratic hold

Vermont[]

Vermont election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Winston L. Prouty Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 87,879 76,457 Percentage 53.4% 46.5%

U.S. senator before election Winston L. Prouty Republican Elected U.S. senator Winston L. Prouty Republican

Incumbent Republican Winston L. Prouty successfully ran for re-election, defeating Democratic candidate .

Republican primary results^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Winston L. Prouty (Incumbent)	43,648	99.9
	Republican	Other	63	0.1
Total votes			'43,711'	'100'

Democratic primary results^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic		12,388	71.1
	Democratic	William H. Meyer	4,913	28.2
	Democratic	Other	134	0.7
Total votes			'17,435'	'100'

1964 United States Senate election in Vermont^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Winston L. Prouty	83,302	50.7
	Independent	Winston L. Prouty	4,516	2.7
	N/A	Winston L. Prouty	61	0.0
	Total	Winston L. Prouty (Incumbent)	87,879	53.4
	Democratic		76,457	46.5
	N/A	Other	14	0.0
Majority			11,422	6.95
Total votes			'164,350'	'100.00%'
	Republican hold		Swing

Virginia[]

Virginia election

← 1958 1966 (special) →

Nominee Harry F. Byrd Richard A. May James W. Respess Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 592,270 176,624 95,526 Percentage 63.8% 19.0% 10.3%

U.S. senator before election Harry F. Byrd Democratic Elected U.S. senator Harry F. Byrd Democratic

Incumbent Harry F. Byrd was re-elected to a sixth term, defeating Republican Richard A. May and independent James W. Respess.

1964 United States Senate election in Virginia^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Harry F. Byrd (Incumbent)	592,270	63.80	-5.52%
	Republican	Richard A. May	176,624	19.03	+19.03%
	Independent	James W. Respess	95,526	10.29
	Independent	J.B. Brayman	30,594	3.30
	Independent	Milton L. Green	12,110	1.30
	Independent	Robert E. Poole Jr.	10,774	1.16
	Independent	Willie T. Wright	10,424	1.12
	Write-ins		51	0.01
Majority			415,646	44.77	+1.72%
Turnout			928,373
	Democratic hold

Washington[]

Washington election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Henry M. Jackson Lloyd J. Andrews Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 875,950 337,138 Percentage 71.21% 27.79%

U.S. senator before election Henry M. Jackson Democratic Elected U.S. senator Henry M. Jackson Democratic

1964 United States Senate election in Washington^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry M. Jackson (Incumbent)	875,950	72.21
	Republican	Lloyd J. Andrews	337,138	27.79
Majority			538,812	44.42
Turnout			1,213,088
	Democratic hold

West Virginia[]

West Virginia election

← 1958 1970 →

Nominee Robert Byrd Cooper P. Benedict Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 515,015 246,072 Percentage 67.67% 32.33%

County results Byrd:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Benedict:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Robert Byrd Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Robert Byrd Democratic

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in West Virginia^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Byrd (Incumbent)	515,015	67.67
	Republican	Cooper P. Benedict	246,072	32.33
Majority			268,943	34.33
Turnout			761,087
	Democratic hold

Wisconsin[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Wisconsin^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William Proxmire (Incumbent)	892,013	53.29
	Republican	Wilbur N. Renk	780,116	46.61
	Independent	Kenneth F. Klinkerk	1,062	0.06
	Independent	Wayne Leverenz	479	0.03
	None	Scattering	106	0.01
Majority			111,897	6.68
Turnout			1,673,776
	Democratic hold

Wyoming[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by . (August 2017)

1964 United States Senate election in Wyoming^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gale McGee (Incumbent)	76,485	53.99
	Republican	John S. Wold	65,185	46.01
Majority			11,300	6.98
Turnout			141,670
	Democratic hold

See also[]

• 1964 United States elections
  • 1964 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 1964 United States presidential election
  • 1964 United States House of Representatives elections
• 88th United States Congress
• 89th United States Congress

References[]

External links[]

• "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 3, 1964" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. 1965.
• Official result in New York City: Canvass Shows Conservatives Rivaled Liberals in City Vote in NYT on November 26, 1964 (subscription required)
• Images from the Robert Kennedy campaign