1954 United States Senate special election in California

1954 United States Senate special election in California
← 1950 November 2, 1954 1956 →
 
Nominee Thomas Kuchel Sam Yorty
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,090,836 1,788,071
Percentage 53.21% 45.50%
County results:

Thomas Kuchel:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Sam Yorty:      50-60%
U.S. senator before election

Thomas Kuchel
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Thomas Kuchel
Republican

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The 1954 United States Senate special election in California was held on November 2, 1954, to elect a U.S. Senator to complete the unexpired term of Senator Richard Nixon, who resigned on becoming Vice President of the United States following the 1952 presidential election. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Thomas Kuchel, who had been appointed by Governor Earl Warren, won election to the remainder of the term, defeating Democratic nominee Sam Yorty.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 8, 1954.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2][3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Yorty 829,977 52.38
Republican Thomas Kuchel 455,530 28.75
Democratic Leo Gallagher 168,970 10.66
Democratic Adam C. Derkum 103,484 6.53
Independent–Progressive Isobel M. Cerney 26,667 1.68
Total votes 1,584,628 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2][3][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Kuchel 1,118,312 88.57
Democratic Sam Yorty 100,746 7.98
Republican William T. Hooley 32,684 2.59
Independent–Progressive Isobel M. Cerney 10,826 0.86
Total votes 1,262,568 100.00

Independent–Progressive primary

Candidates

  • Isobel M. Cerney, teacher and writer

Results

Independent–Progressive primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent–Progressive Isobel M. Cerney 3,405 100.00
Total votes 3,405 100.00

General election

Results

Shift by county
Trend by county
Legend
  •   Republican — >15%
  •   Republican — +12.5−15%
  •   Republican — +10−12.5%
  •   Republican — +7.5−10%
  •   Republican — +5−7.5%
  •   Republican — +2.5−5%
  •   Republican — +0−2.5%
  •   Democratic — +0−2.5%
  •   Democratic — +2.5−5%
  •   Democratic — +5−7.5%
  •   Democratic — +7.5-10%
  •   Democratic — +10−12.5%
  •   Democratic — +12.5−15%
  •   Democratic — >15%
1954 United States Senate special election in California[6][7][8][9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Kuchel (Incumbent) 2,090,836 53.21
Democratic Sam Yorty 1,788,071 45.50
Independent–Progressive Isobel M. Cerney 50,506 1.29
None Scattering 255 0.01
Majority 302,765 7.71
Turnout 3,929,668
Republican hold

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Certified List of Candidates for Nomination". Placerville Mountain-Democrat. Placerville, California. May 13, 1954. p. 24. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c CA Primary 1954, p. 13.
  3. ^ a b Barclay, p. 598.
  4. ^ "CA US Senate Special, 1954 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "CA US Senate Special, 1954 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "CA US Senate Special, 1954". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  7. ^ CA General 1954, p. 10.
  8. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (October 15, 1955). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1954" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
  9. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 83.

Bibliography

  • Compiled by Frank M. Jordan, Secretary of State. State of California. Statement of Vote. Direct Primary Election June 8, 1954. California State Printing Office.
  • Compiled by Frank M. Jordan, Secretary of State. State of California. Statement of Vote. General Election November 2, 1954. California State Printing Office.
  • Congressional Elections, 1946-1996. California, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-248-4.
  • Barclay, Thomas S. (December 1954). "The 1954 Election in California". The Western Political Quarterly. 7 (4). University of Utah on behalf of the Western Political Science Association: 597–604. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
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