The 1956 United States Senate election in Idaho took place on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Republican Senator Herman Welker was defeated for re-election by Democratic nominee Frank Church.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
County results Church: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Welker: 40–50% 50-60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Primary elections were held on August 14, 1956.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank Church | 27,942 | 37.75 | |
Democratic | Glen H. Taylor | 27,742 | 37.48 | |
Democratic | Claude J. Burtenshaw | 11,738 | 15.86 | |
Democratic | Alvin McCormack | 6,596 | 8.91 | |
Total votes | 74,018 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Herman Welker (incumbent) | 31,399 | 42.51 | |
Republican | William S. Holden | 21,081 | 28.54 | |
Republican | Ray J. Davis | 12,349 | 16.72 | |
Republican | John C. Sanborn | 8,261 | 11.18 | |
Republican | Mark Streeter | 774 | 1.05 | |
Total votes | 73,864 |
The State Board of Canvassers confirmed Church's narrow victory over Taylor on August 25.[5] Taylor decided to run as a write-in candidate.[6][7]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Frank Church | 149,096 | 56.20 | |
Republican | Herman Welker (Incumbent) | 102,781 | 38.74 | |
Write-in | Glen H. Taylor | 13,415 | 5.06 | |
Majority | 46,315 | 17.46 | ||
Turnout | 265,292 | |||
Democratic gain from Republican |