# 1956 United States Senate election in Missouri

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vte :
The 1956 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 6, 1956 in Missouri. The incumbent Democratic Senator, Thomas C. Hennings Jr., was re-elected. He defeated Republican nominee Herbert Douglas, winning 56.4% of the vote. Hennings outperformed Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson II, who won 50.1% in the presidential election in Missouri.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Thomas C. Hennings Jr., incumbent Senator since 1951

#### Withdrew

* Tom J. Gavin, Kansas City councilman (name remained on ballot)

### Results

Democratic primary August 7, 1956 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (incumbent) | 389,986 | 95.91 |
| | Democratic | Tom J. Gavin | 16,624 | 4.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 406,610 | 100 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Herbert Douglas, attorney and candidate for Missouri Attorney General in 1948
* Albert E. Schoenbeck, attorney
* William McKinley Thomas, furniture warehouse employee
* William E. Van Taay, director of economics and sociology at Fontbonne University

### Results

Republican primary August 7, 1956 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Herbert Douglas | 83,458 | 40.77 |
| | Republican | Albert E. Schoenbeck | 78,747 | 38.47 |
| | Republican | William McKinley Thomas | 28,924 | 14.13 |
| | Republican | William E. Van Taay | 13,556 | 6.62 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 204,685 | 100 |

## General election

1956 United States Senate election in Missouri :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (incumbent) | 1,015,936 | 56.41 | +2.81 |
| | Republican | Herbert Douglas | 785,048 | 43.59 | −2.75 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 230,888 | 12.82 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,800,984 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |