1956 United States Senate election in Idaho

Summary

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.

1956 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →
 
Nominee Frank Church Herman Welker Glen H. Taylor (Write-in)
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Popular vote 149,096 102,781 13,415
Percentage 56.20% 38.74% 5.06%

County results
Church:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Welker:      40–50%      50-60%

U.S. senator before election

Herman Welker
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Church
Democratic

Primary elections edit

Primary elections were held on August 14, 1956.[1]

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[2][3]
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

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[2][4]
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

General election edit

Campaign edit

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]

Endorsements edit

Frank Church (D)
Federal officials

Results edit

1956 United States Senate election in Idaho[9][10][11]
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

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Nine in Idaho Senate Race". Evening star. Washington, D.C. August 14, 1956. p. A-5. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 117.
  3. ^ "ID US Senate, 1956 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "ID US Senate, 1956 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Boise Lawyer's Defeat Of Taylor Confirmed". Evening star. Washington, D.C. August 26, 1956. p. A-5. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "Glen Taylor May Head New Splinter Party". Sarasota Journal. Sarasota, Florida. October 8, 1956. p. 10. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Glen Taylor to Run As Independent". Evening star. Washington, D.C. October 22, 1956. p. A-6. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "No Indorsement". Evening star. Washington, D.C. October 23, 1956. p. A-6. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 85.
  10. ^ "ID US Senate, 1956". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Clerk of the House of Representatives (1958). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1956" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved October 2, 2022.

Bibliography edit

  • Congressional Elections, 1946-1996. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-248-4.