# 1956 United States Senate special election in West Virginia

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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.
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

Primary elections were held on May 8, 1956.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Joseph Arcuri, children's writer
* Walter G. Crichton, Charleston councilman, 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

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 317,208 | 100.00 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Chapman Revercomb, former U.S. Senator
* Thomas Sweeney, insurance agent, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator in 1940, 1946 and 1954
* Philip H. Hill, attorney, Republican candidate for Attorney General of West Virginia in 1936
* Al J. Carey, Kanawha County Sheriff
* Esta C. Wilson, television dealer

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 190,475 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

1956 United States Senate special election in West Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chapman Revercomb | 432,123 | 53.67 |
| | Democratic | William C. Marland | 373,051 | 46.33 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59,072 | 7.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 805,174 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |