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U.S. Senate election, 1964


The U.S. Senate election, 1964 was an election for the United States Senate which coincided with the re-election of President Lyndon Baines Johnson by an overwhelming majority. His Democratic Party picked up a net two seats from the Republicans. As of 2004, this is the last time either party has had a two-thirds majority in the Senate, although with a Democratic president the ability to override a veto or impeach a President was not particularly relevant.

Democrats defeated Republican incumbents Edwin L. Mechem (R-NM), Kenneth B. Keating (R-NY), and James Glenn Beall (R-MD), while Republicans defeated incumbent Pierre Salinger (D-CA).

Notable freshmen included future Vice President and presidential candidate Walter Mondale (D-MN), appointed to the seat left vacant by newly elected Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and future presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY), former attorney general and brother of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

In 1966, Republican Robert P. Griffin was appointed to the vacancy left by the death of Patrick V. McNamara (D-MI). This is not reflected in the party balances below.


Senate contests in 1964

State Incumbent Party Status Opposing Candidates
Arizona Barry Goldwater Republican Retired: Republican victory, 51.4 - 48.6 Paul Fannin (Republican)
Roy Elson (Democrat)
California Pierre Salinger Democrat Defeated, 51.5 - 48.5 George Murphy (Republican)
Connecticut Thomas J. Dodd Democrat Re-elected, 64.6 - 35.3 John Lodge (Republican)
Delaware John J. Williams Republican Re-elected, 51.7 - 48.3 Elbert N. Carvel (Democrat)
Florida Spessard L. Holland Democrat Re-elected, 63.9 - 36.0 Claude R. Kirk, Jr. (Republican)
Hawaii Hiram L. Fong Republican Re-elected, 53.0 - 46.4 Thomas P. Gill (Democrat)
Indiana Vance Hartke Democrat Re-elected, 54.3 - 45.3 D. Russell Bontrager (Republican)
Maine Edmund S. Muskie Democrat Re-elected, 66.6 - 33.4 Clifford G. McIntyre (Republican)
Maryland James Glenn Beall Republican Defeated, 62.8 - 37.2 Joseph D. Tydings (Democrat)
Massachusetts Edward M. Kennedy Democrat Re-elected, 74.3 - 25.4 Howard Whitmore, Jr. (Republican)
Michigan Philip A. Hart Democrat Re-elected, 64.4 - 35.3 Elly M. Petersen (Republican)
Minnesota Eugene J. McCarthy Democrat Re-elected, 60.3 - 39.3 Wheelock Whitney (Republican)
Mississippi John C. Stennis Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Missouri Stuart Symington Democrat Re-elected, 66.6 - 33.4 Jean P. Bradshaw (Republican)
Montana Mike Mansfield Democrat Re-elected, 64.5 - 35.5 Alex Blewett (Republican)
Nebraska Roman L. Hruska Republican Re-elected, 61.4 - 38.6 Raymond W. Arndt (Democrat)
Nevada Howard W. Cannon Democrat Re-elected, 50.0 - 50.0 Paul Laxalt (Republican)
New Jersey Harrison A. Williams, Jr. Democrat Re-elected, 61.9 - 37.3 Bernard M. Shanley (Republican)
New Mexico Edwin L. Mechem Republican Defeated, 54.7 - 45.3 Joseph M. Montoya (Democrat)
New York Kenneth B. Keating Republican Defeated, 53.5 - 43.4 Robert F. Kennedy (Democrat)
North Dakota Quentin N. Burdick Democrat Re-elected, 57.6 - 42.4 Thomas S. Kleppe (Republican)
Ohio Stephen M. Young Democrat Re-elected, 50.2 - 49.8 Robert A. Taft, Jr. (Republican)
Oklahoma1 James H. Edmondson Democrat Defeated in primary: Democrat victory, 51.2 - 48.8 Fred R. Harris (Democrat)
Bud Wilkinson (Republican)
Pennsylvania Hugh Scott Republican Re-elected, 50.6 - 49.1 Genevieve Blatt (Democrat)
Rhode Island John O. Pastore Democrat Re-elected, 82.7 - 17.3 Ronald R. Lagueux (Republican)
Tennessee Albert Gore, Sr. Democrat Re-elected, 53.6 - 46.4 Dan H. Kuykendall (Republican)
Tennessee2 Herbert S. Walters Democrat Retired: Democrat victory, 52.1 - 47.4 Ross Bass (Democrat)
Howard H. Baker, Jr. (Republican)
Texas Ralph Yarborough Democrat Re-elected, 56.2 - 43.6 George H. W. Bush (Republican)
Utah Frank E. Moss Democrat Re-elected, 57.3 - 42.7 Ernest L. Wilkinson (Republican)
Vermont Winston L. Prouty Republican Re-elected, 53.5 - 46.5 Frederick J. Fayette (Democrat)
Virginia Harry F. Byrd Democrat Re-elected, 63.8 - 19.0 - 10.3 Richard A. May (Republican)
James W. Respess (Independent)
Washington Henry M. Jackson Democrat Re-elected, 72.2 - 27.8 Lloyd J. Andrews (Republican)
West Virginia Robert C. Byrd Democrat Re-elected, 67.7 - 32.3 Cooper P. Benedict (Republican)
Wisconsin William Proxmire Democrat Re-elected, 53.3 - 46.6 Wilbur N. Renk (Republican)
Wyoming Gale McGee Democrat Re-elected, 54.0 - 46.0 John S. Wold (Republican)

1 special election held due to death of Robert S. Kerr (D-OK)

2 special election held due to death of Estes Kefauver (D-TN)

See also

Senate composition before and after elections

88th Congress Senate Composition   89th Congress Senate Composition
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     
Color Key: Democrats Republicans
Last updated: 05-30-2005 01:28:46
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04