1956 United States Senate special election in West Virginia
The 1956 United States Senate special election in West Virginia took place on November 6, 1956, to elect a U.S. Senator to complete the unexpired term of Senator Harley M. Kilgore, who died on February 28. 1956. State Tax Commissioner William Laird III was appointed to fill this seat by Governor William C. Marland to fill the vacancy until a special election could be held and assumed office on March 13, 1956.[1]
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 County results Revercomb: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Marland: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Laird did not opt to run in the special election to fill the remainder of Kilgore's term through the end of the 85th Congress on January 3, 1959. Republican candidate former Senator Chapman Revercomb defeated the Democratic candidate Governor Marland in the special election.
This was the last time the Republicans won West Virginia's Class 1 seat, until Jim Justice flipped the seat in 2024. This was also the last time until 2014 that the Republicans won a U.S. Senate election in the state.
Primary elections
editPrimary elections were held on May 8, 1956.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Joseph Arcuri, children's writer[2]
- Walter G. Crichton, Charleston councilman,[3] unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for West Virginia's 6th congressional district in 1944
- John G. Fox, incumbent Attorney General of West Virginia
- William C. Marland, incumbent Governor of West Virginia
- Byron B. Randolph, former President of the West Virginia Senate[4]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William C. Marland | 118,159 | 37.25 | |
| Democratic | John G. Fox | 104,869 | 33.06 | |
| Democratic | Byron B. Randolph | 56,945 | 17.95 | |
| Democratic | Walter G. Crichton | 26,972 | 8.50 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Arcuri | 10,263 | 3.24 | |
| Total votes | 317,208 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Chapman Revercomb, former U.S. Senator
- Thomas Sweeney, insurance agent,[4] Republican candidate for U.S. Senator in 1940, 1946 and 1954
- Philip H. Hill, attorney,[3] Republican candidate for Attorney General of West Virginia in 1936
- Al J. Carey, Kanawha County Sheriff[2][3]
- Esta C. Wilson, television dealer[2]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chapman Revercomb | 79,106 | 41.53 | |
| Republican | Thomas Sweeney | 57,556 | 30.22 | |
| Republican | Philip H. Hill | 37,574 | 19.73 | |
| Republican | Al J. Carey | 11,268 | 5.92 | |
| Republican | Esta C. Wilson | 4,971 | 2.61 | |
| Total votes | 190,475 | 100.00 | ||
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chapman Revercomb | 432,123 | 53.67 | ||
| Democratic | William C. Marland | 373,051 | 46.33 | ||
| Majority | 59,072 | 7.34 | |||
| Turnout | 805,174 | ||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "SENATORS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1789-present, A chronological list of senators since the First Congress in 1789" (PDF). United States Senate. p. 64. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- ^ a b c "West Virginia To Certify Ten Candidates For Senate Seat". Cumberland Evening Times. Cumberland, Maryland. April 9, 1956. p. 6. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c "First Aid Needed to Heal Intraparty Cuts, Bruises of Campaign". Beckley Post Herald And Raleigh Register. Beckley, West Virginia. May 6, 1956. p. 22. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b "Eisenhower Gets 60% Of Total Indiana Vote". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. May 9, 1956. p. A-6. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ a b Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 160.
- ^ West Virginia Blue Book 1956, p. 641.
- ^ "WV US Senate, 1956 - Special D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ West Virginia Blue Book 1956, p. 666.
- ^ "WV US Senate, 1956 - Special R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 99.
- ^ "WV US Senate, 1956 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ Myers, J. Howard (ed.). West Virginia Blue Book 1957 (PDF). Vol. 41. Charleston, West Virginia: Jarrett Printing Company. p. 683.
- ^ 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.
- Myers, J. Howard (ed.). West Virginia Blue Book 1956 (PDF). Vol. 40. Charleston, West Virginia: Jarrett Printing Company.