| Elections in Idaho |
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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.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on August 14, 1956.[1]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Frank Church, attorney[1]
- Glen H. Taylor, former U.S. Senator
- Claude J. Burtenshaw, teacher,[1] Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 1950 special election and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 1954
- Alvin McCormack, farmer,[1] unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 1954
Results
| 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
Candidates
- Herman Welker, incumbent U.S. Senator
- William S. Holden, attorney[1]
- Ray J. Davis, teacher[1]
- John C. Sanborn, former U.S. Representative
- Mark L. Streeter, farmer[1]
Results
| 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
Campaign
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
Frank Church (D)
- Federal officials
- Estes Kefauver, United States Senator from Tennessee, Democratic candidate for Vice President[8]
Results
| 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
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 117.
- ^ "ID US Senate, 1956 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "ID US Senate, 1956 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Boise Lawyer's Defeat Of Taylor Confirmed". Evening star. Washington, D.C. August 26, 1956. p. A-5. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Glen Taylor May Head New Splinter Party". Sarasota Journal. Sarasota, Florida. October 8, 1956. p. 10. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Glen Taylor to Run As Independent". Evening star. Washington, D.C. October 22, 1956. p. A-6. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "No Indorsement". Evening star. Washington, D.C. October 23, 1956. p. A-6. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 85.
- ^ "ID US Senate, 1956". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ 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
- Congressional Elections, 1946-1996. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-248-4.