# 1962 United States Senate elections

The 1962 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. Held on November 6, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They occurred in the middle of President John F. Kennedy's term. His Democratic Party made a net gain of four seats from the Republicans, increasing their control of the Senate to 68–32. However, this was reduced to 67–33 between the election and the next Congress, as on November 18, 1962, Democrat Dennis Chávez, who was not up for election that year, died. He was replaced on November 30, 1962, by Republican appointee Edwin L. Mechem. Additionally, Democrat Strom Thurmond became a Republican in 1964, further reducing Democrats to 66–34. This was the first time since 1932 that Democrats gained seats in this class of Senators.
This was the first time since 1914 that the president's party gained seats in the Senate and lost seats in the House, this would occur again in 1970, 2018, and 2022.

## Results summary

| 68 | 32 |
| Democratic | Republican |
| Parties | Parties | | | | Total |
| Parties | Parties | Democratic | Republican | Other | Total |
| Last elections (1960) Before these elections | Last elections (1960) Before these elections | 64 | 36 | 0 | 100 |
| Not up | Not up | 43 | 18 | 0 | 61 |
| Up | Up | 21 | 18 | — | 39 |
| | Class 3 (1956→1962) | 19 | 15 | — | 34 |
| | Special: Class 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
| | Special: Class 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 4 |
| Incumbent retired | Incumbent retired | 2 | 2 | — | 4 |
| | Held by same party | 2 | 0 | — | 2 |
| | Replaced by other party | 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats | 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats | — | 2 |
| | Result | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Incumbent ran | Incumbent ran | 19 | 16 | — | 35 |
| | Won re-election | 17 | 12 | — | 29 |
| | Lost re-election | 3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans | 3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans | — | 5 |
| | Lost renomination, but held by same party | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| | Lost renomination, and party lost | 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat | 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat | — | 1 |
| | Result | 21 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Total elected | Total elected | 25 | 14 | 0 | 39 |
| Net gain/loss | Net gain/loss | 4 | 4 | | 4 |
| Nationwide vote | Nationwide vote | 21,387,598 | 20,897,719 | 258,084 | 42,543,401 |
| | Share | 50.27% | 49.12% | 0.61% | 100% |
| Result | Result | 68 | 32 | 0 | 100 |
Source:

## Gains, losses, and holds
### Retirements

Two Republicans and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Connecticut | Prescott Bush | Abraham Ribicoff |
| Hawaii | Oren E. Long | Daniel Inouye |
| Maryland | John Marshall Butler | Daniel Brewster |
| Massachusetts | Benjamin A. Smith II | Ted Kennedy |

### Defeats

Four Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Colorado | John A. Carroll | Peter H. Dominick |
| Indiana | Homer E. Capehart | Birch Bayh |
| New Hampshire (special) | Maurice J. Murphy Jr. | Thomas J. McIntyre |
| South Dakota | Joe Bottum | George McGovern |
| Wisconsin | Alexander Wiley | Gaylord Nelson |
| Wyoming (special) | Joe Hickey | Milward Simpson |

### Post-election changes

| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| California (Class 1) | Clair Engle | Pierre Salinger |
| New Mexico (Class 1) | Dennis Chávez | Edwin L. Mechem |
| Tennessee (Class 2) | Estes Kefauver | Herbert S. Walters |

### Post-election changes

One Democrat switched to a Republican in September 1964.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| South Carolina (Class 2) | Strom Thurmond | Strom Thurmond |

## Change in composition
### Before the elections

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ | D$_{39}$ | D$_{38}$ | D$_{37}$ | D$_{36}$ | D$_{35}$ | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ | D$_{42}$ | D$_{43}$ | D$_{44}$ Ala. Ran | D$_{45}$ Alaska Ran | D$_{46}$ Ariz. Ran | D$_{47}$ Ark. Ran | D$_{48}$ Colo. Ran | D$_{49}$ Fla. Ran | D$_{50}$ Ga. Ran |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{51}$ Hawaii Retired |
| D$_{60}$ Ore. Ran | D$_{59}$ Okla. Ran | D$_{58}$ Ohio Ran | D$_{57}$ N.C. Ran | D$_{56}$ Nev. Ran | D$_{55}$ Mo. Ran | D$_{54}$ Mass. (sp) Retired | D$_{53}$ La. Ran | D$_{52}$ Idaho (reg) Ran | D$_{51}$ Hawaii Retired |
| D$_{61}$ Pa. Ran | D$_{62}$ S.C. Ran | D$_{63}$ Wash. Ran | D$_{64}$ Wyo. (sp) Ran | R$_{36}$ Wisc. Ran | R$_{35}$ Vt. Ran | R$_{34}$ Utah Ran | R$_{33}$ S.D. Ran | R$_{32}$ N.D. Ran | R$_{31}$ N.Y. Ran |
| R$_{30}$ N.H. (sp) Ran | R$_{29}$ N.H. (reg) Ran | R$_{28}$ Md. Retired | R$_{27}$ Ky. Ran | R$_{26}$ Kan. (sp) Ran | R$_{25}$ Kan. (reg) Ran | R$_{24}$ Iowa Ran | R$_{23}$ Ind. Ran | R$_{22}$ Ill. Ran | R$_{21}$ Idaho (sp) Ran |
| R$_{20}$ Conn. Retired | R$_{19}$ Calif. Ran | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |

### Elections results

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ | D$_{39}$ | D$_{38}$ | D$_{37}$ | D$_{36}$ | D$_{35}$ | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ | D$_{42}$ | D$_{43}$ | D$_{44}$ Ala. Re-elected | D$_{45}$ Alaska Re-elected | D$_{46}$ Ariz. Re-elected | D$_{47}$ Ark. Re-elected | D$_{48}$ Fla. Re-elected | D$_{49}$ Ga. Re-elected | D$_{50}$ Hawaii Hold |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{51}$ Idaho (reg) Re-elected |
| D$_{60}$ Pa. Re-elected | D$_{59}$ Ore. Re-elected | D$_{58}$ Okla. Re-elected | D$_{57}$ Ohio Re-elected | D$_{56}$ N.C. Re-elected | D$_{55}$ Nev. Re-elected | D$_{54}$ Mo. Re-elected | D$_{53}$ Mass. (sp) Hold | D$_{52}$ La. Re-elected | D$_{51}$ Idaho (reg) Re-elected |
| D$_{61}$ S.C. Re-elected | D$_{62}$ Wash. Re-elected | D$_{63}$ Conn. Gain | D$_{64}$ Ind. Gain | D$_{65}$ Md. Gain | D$_{66}$ N.H. (sp) Gain | D$_{67}$ S.D. Gain | D$_{68}$ Wisc. Gain | R$_{32}$ Wyo. (sp) Gain | R$_{31}$ Colo. Gain |
| R$_{30}$ Vt. Re-elected | R$_{29}$ Utah Re-elected | R$_{28}$ N.D. Re-elected | R$_{27}$ N.Y. Re-elected | R$_{26}$ N.H. (reg) Re-elected | R$_{25}$ Ky. Re-elected | R$_{24}$ Kan. (sp) Elected | R$_{23}$ Kan. (reg) Re-elected | R$_{22}$ Iowa Re-elected | R$_{21}$ Ill. Re-elected |
| R$_{20}$ Idaho (sp) Elected | R$_{19}$ Calif. Re-elected | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |

### Beginning of the next Congress

| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ |
| D$_{40}$ | D$_{39}$ | D$_{38}$ | D$_{37}$ | D$_{36}$ | D$_{35}$ | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ |
| D$_{41}$ | D$_{42}$ | D$_{43}$ | D$_{44}$ | D$_{45}$ | D$_{46}$ | D$_{47}$ | D$_{48}$ | D$_{49}$ | D$_{50}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{51}$ |
| D$_{60}$ | D$_{59}$ | D$_{58}$ | D$_{57}$ | D$_{56}$ | D$_{55}$ | D$_{54}$ | D$_{53}$ | D$_{52}$ | D$_{51}$ |
| D$_{61}$ | D$_{62}$ | D$_{63}$ | D$_{64}$ | D$_{65}$ | V$_1$ Okla. Died | V$_2$ Wisc. Delayed | R$_{33}$ N.M. Gain | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ |
| R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ |
| R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |
| Key | D$_#$ Democratic R$_#$ Republican V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 87th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1962 or before January 3, 1963; ordered by election date, then state.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Idaho (Class 2) | Leonard B. Jordan | Republican | 1962 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected. | ▌Y Leonard B. Jordan (Republican) 51.0% ▌Gracie Pfost (Democratic) 49.0% |
| Kansas (Class 2) | James B. Pearson | Republican | 1962 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected. | ▌Y James B. Pearson (Republican) 56.2% ▌Paul L. Aylward (Democratic) 42.5% |
| Massachusetts (Class 1) | Benjamin A. Smith II | Democratic | 1960 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Ted Kennedy (Democratic) 55.4% ▌George C. Lodge (Republican) 41.9% |
| New Hampshire (Class 2) | Maurice J. Murphy Jr. | Republican | 1961 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost nomination New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Thomas J. McIntyre (Democratic) 52.3% ▌Perkins Bass (Republican) 47.7% |
| Wyoming (Class 2) | Joe Hickey | Democratic | 1961 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost election New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Milward Simpson (Republican) 57.8% ▌Joe Hickey (Democratic) 42.2% |

### Elections leading to the next Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1963; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | J. Lister Hill | Democratic | 1938 (Appointed) 1938 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y J. Lister Hill (Democratic) 50.9% ▌James D. Martin (Republican) 49.1% |
| Alaska | Ernest Gruening | Democratic | 1958 (New state) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Ernest Gruening (Democratic) 58.1% ▌Ted Stevens (Republican) 41.9% |
| Arizona | Carl Hayden | Democratic | 1926 1932 1938 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Carl Hayden (Democratic) 54.9% ▌Evan Mecham (Republican) 45.1% |
| Arkansas | J. William Fulbright | Democratic | 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y J. William Fulbright (Democratic) 68.7% ▌Kenneth Jones (Republican) 31.3% |
| California | Thomas Kuchel | Republican | 1953 (Appointed) 1954 (special) 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Thomas Kuchel (Republican) 56.3% ▌Richard B. Richards (Democratic) 43.4% |
| Colorado | John A. Carroll | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Peter H. Dominick (Republican) 53.6% ▌John A. Carroll (Democratic) 45.6% |
| Connecticut | Prescott Bush | Republican | 1952 (special) 1956 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Abraham Ribicoff (Democratic) 51.3% ▌Horace Seely-Brown Jr. (Republican) 48.8% |
| Florida | George Smathers | Democratic | 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y George Smathers (Democratic) 70.0% ▌Emerson Rupert (Republican) 30.0% |
| Georgia | Herman Talmadge | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Herman Talmadge (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Hawaii | Oren E. Long | Democratic | 1959 (New state) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Daniel Inouye (Democratic) 69.4% ▌Ben Dillingham (Republican) 30.6% |
| Idaho | Frank Church | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Frank Church (Democratic) 54.7% ▌Jack Hawley (Republican) 45.3% |
| Illinois | Everett Dirksen | Republican | 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Everett Dirksen (Republican) 52.9% ▌Sidney R. Yates (Democratic) 47.1% |
| Indiana | Homer E. Capehart | Republican | 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Birch Bayh (Democratic) 50.3% ▌Homer E. Capehart (Republican) 49.7% |
| Iowa | Bourke B. Hickenlooper | Republican | 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Republican) 53.4% ▌Elbert B. Smith (Democratic) 46.6% |
| Kansas | Frank Carlson | Republican | 1950 (special) 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Frank Carlson (Republican) 62.4% ▌K. L. Smith (Democratic) 35.9% |
| Kentucky | Thruston Ballard Morton | Republican | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Thruston Ballard Morton (Republican) 52.8% ▌Wilson W. Wyatt (Democratic) 47.2% |
| Louisiana | Russell B. Long | Democratic | 1948 (special) 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Russell B. Long (Democratic) 75.6% ▌Taylor W. O'Hearn (Republican) 24.4% |
| Maryland | John Marshall Butler | Republican | 1950 1956 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Daniel Brewster (Democratic) 62.0% ▌Edward Tylor Miller (Republican) 38.0% |
| Missouri | Edward V. Long | Democratic | 1960 (Appointed) 1960 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Edward V. Long (Democratic) 54.6% ▌R. Crosby Kemper Jr. (Republican) 45.4% |
| Nevada | Alan Bible | Democratic | 1954 (special) 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Alan Bible (Democratic) 65.3% ▌William B. Wright (Republican) 34.7% |
| New Hampshire | Norris Cotton | Republican | 1954 (special) 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Norris Cotton (Republican) 59.7% ▌Alfred Catalfo Jr. (Democratic) 40.3% |
| New York | Jacob Javits | Republican | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jacob Javits (Republican) 57.4% ▌James B. Donovan (Democratic) 40.1% |
| North Carolina | Sam Ervin | Democratic | 1954 (Appointed) 1954 (special) 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Sam Ervin (Democratic) 60.5% ▌Claude L. Greene Jr. (Republican) 39.6% |
| North Dakota | Milton Young | Republican | 1945 (Appointed) 1946 (special) 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Milton Young (Republican) 60.7% ▌William Lanier (Democratic-NPL) 39.4% |
| Ohio | Frank Lausche | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Frank Lausche (Democratic) 61.6% ▌John M. Briley (Republican) 38.4% |
| Oklahoma | Mike Monroney | Democratic | 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Mike Monroney (Democratic) 53.2% ▌B. Hayden Crawford (Republican) 46.3% |
| Oregon | Wayne Morse | Democratic | 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Wayne Morse (Democratic) 54.2% ▌Sig Unander (Republican) 45.8% |
| Pennsylvania | Joseph S. Clark Jr. | Democratic | 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Joseph S. Clark Jr. (Democratic) 51.1% ▌James E. Van Zandt (Republican) 48.7% |
| South Carolina | Olin D. Johnston | Democratic | 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Olin D. Johnston (Democratic) 57.2% ▌W. D. Workman Jr. (Republican) 42.8% |
| South Dakota | Joe Bottum | Republican | 1962 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y George McGovern (Democratic) 50.1% ▌Joe Bottum (Republican) 49.9% |
| Utah | Wallace F. Bennett | Republican | 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Wallace F. Bennett (Republican) 52.4% ▌David S. King (Democratic) 47.6% |
| Vermont | George Aiken | Republican | 1940 (special) 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y George Aiken (Republican) 66.9% ▌W. Robert Johnson (Democratic) 33.1% |
| Washington | Warren Magnuson | Democratic | 1944 (Appointed) 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Warren Magnuson (Democratic) 52.1% ▌Richard G. Christensen (Republican) 47.3% |
| Wisconsin | Alexander Wiley | Republican | 1938 1944 1950 1956 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Gaylord Nelson (Democratic) 52.6% ▌Alexander Wiley (Republican) 47.2% |

## Closest races

Nineteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:
| State | Party of winner | Margin |
| South Dakota | Democratic (flip) | 0.2% |
| Indiana | Democratic (flip) | 0.6% |
| Alabama | Democratic | 1.8% |
| Idaho (special) | Republican | 2.0% |
| Connecticut | Democratic (flip) | 2.5% |
| New Hampshire (special) | Democratic (flip) | 4.6% |
| Utah | Republican | 4.8% |
| Washington | Democratic | 4.8% |
| Wisconsin | Democratic (flip) | 5.4% |
| Kentucky | Republican | 5.6% |
| Illinois | Republican | 5.8% |
| Pennsylvania | Democratic | 2.4% |
| Iowa | Republican | 6.8% |
| Oklahoma | Democratic | 6.9% |
| Colorado | Republican (flip) | 8.0% |
| Oregon | Democratic | 8.4% |
| Missouri | Democratic | 9.2% |
| Idaho | Democratic | 9.4% |
| Arizona | Democratic | 9.5% |
Nevada was the tipping point state with a margin of 30.6%.

## Alabama

Alabama general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lister Hill (Incumbent) | 201,937 | 50.86 |
| | Republican | James D. Martin | 195,134 | 49.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,803 | 1.72 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 397,071 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Alaska

Incumbent Ernest Gruening defeated the Republican challenger, former U.S. Attorney, Interior Solicitor & future long-time U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, to win re-election to a full term.
Alaska general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ernest Gruening (Incumbent) | 33,827 | 58.14 |
| | Republican | Ted Stevens | 24,354 | 41.86 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,473 | 16.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,181 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Arizona

Incumbent Democrat Carl Hayden defeated future Governor Evan Mecham to win re-election to a seventh term.
Arizona general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Carl Hayden (Incumbent) | 199,217 | 54.94 |
| | Republican | Evan Mecham | 163,388 | 45.06 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35,829 | 9.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 362,605 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Arkansas

Arkansas general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. William Fulbright (Incumbent) | 214,867 | 68.67 |
| | Republican | Kenneth Jones | 98,013 | 31.33 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116,854 | 37.34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 312,880 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## California

California general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas H. Kuchel (Incumbent) | 3,180,483 | 56.31 |
| | Democratic | Richard B. Richards | 2,452,839 | 43.43 |
| | Write-In | Howard Jarvis | 9,963 | 0.18 |
| | Write-In | Linus Pauling | 2,964 | 0.05 |
| | Write-In | Edward Brothers | 1,689 | 0.03 |
| | None | Scattering | 284 | 0.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 727,644 | 12.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,648,222 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Colorado

Colorado general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Peter H. Dominick | 328,655 | 53.58 |
| | Democratic | John A. Carroll (Incumbent) | 279,586 | 45.58 |
| | Socialist Labor | Charlotte Benson | 3,546 | 0.58 |
| | Independent | Henry John Olshaw | 1,217 | 0.20 |
| | Socialist Workers | Thomas Leonard | 440 | 0.07 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49,069 | 8.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 613,444 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Connecticut

Connecticut general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Abraham Ribicoff | 527,522 | 51.25 |
| | Republican | Horace Seely-Brown Jr. | 501,694 | 48.74 |
| | None | Scattering | 85 | 0.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,828 | 2.51 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,029,301 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Florida

1962 United States Senate election in Florida :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | George Smathers (Incumbent) | 657,633 | 70.02 |
| | Republican | Emerson Rupert | 281,381 | 29.96 |
| | None | Scattering | 193 | 0.02 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 376,252 | 40.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 939,207 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Georgia

Georgia general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Herman Talmadge (Incumbent) | 306,250 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Hawaii

Hawaii general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel K. Inouye | 136,294 | 69.41 |
| | Republican | Ben F. Dillingham | 60,067 | 30.59 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76,227 | 38.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 196,361 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Idaho
### Idaho (regular)

Idaho general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank Church (Incumbent) | 141,657 | 54.74 |
| | Republican | Jack Hawley | 117,129 | 45.26 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,528 | 9.48 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 258,786 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Idaho (special)

1962 United States Senate special election in Idaho :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Len Jordan (Incumbent) | 131,279 | 50.95 |
| | Democratic | Gracie Pfost | 126,398 | 49.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,881 | 1.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 257,677 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Illinois

Illinois general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Everett Dirksen (Incumbent) | 1,961,202 | 52.87 |
| | Democratic | Sidney R. Yates | 1,748,007 | 47.13 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 213,195 | 5.74 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,709,209 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Indiana

Indiana general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Birch Bayh | 905,491 | 50.30 |
| | Republican | Homer E. Capehart (Incumbent) | 894,547 | 49.70 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,944 | 0.60 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,800,038 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Iowa

Iowa general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Incumbent) | 431,364 | 53.39 |
| | Democratic | E. B. Smith | 376,602 | 46.61 |
| | None | Scattering | 6 | 0.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54,762 | 6.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 807,972 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Kansas
### Kansas (regular)

Kansas general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Carlson (Incumbent) | 388,500 | 62.44 |
| | Democratic | K. L. (Ken) Smith | 223,630 | 35.94 |
| | Prohibition | George E. Kline | 10,098 | 1.62 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 164,870 | 26.50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 622,228 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### Kansas (special)

Kansas special general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James B. Pearson (Incumbent) | 344,689 | 56.21 |
| | Democratic | Paul L. Aylward | 260,756 | 42.52 |
| | Prohibition | C.E. Cowen | 7,804 | 1.27 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83,933 | 13.69 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 613,249 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Kentucky

Kentucky general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thruston B. Morton (Incumbent) | 432,648 | 52.76 |
| | Democratic | Wilson W. Wyatt | 387,440 | 47.24 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45,208 | 5.52 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 820,088 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Louisiana

Louisiana general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Russell B. Long (Incumbent) | 318,838 | 75.57 |
| | Republican | Taylor Walters O'Hearn | 103,066 | 24.43 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 215,772 | 51.14 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 421,904 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Maryland

Maryland general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Daniel B. Brewster | 439,723 | 62.03 |
| | Republican | Edward Tylor Miller | 269,131 | 37.97 |
| | None | Scattering | 1 | 0.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 170,592 | 24.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 708,855 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Massachusetts (special)

Massachusetts special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Ted Kennedy | 1,162,611 | 55.44 | −17.76% |
| | Republican | George C. Lodge | 877,668 | 41.85 | +15.62% |
| | Independent | H. Stuart Hughes | 50,013 | 2.38 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labor | Lawrence Gilfedder | 5,330 | 0.25 | −0.04% |
| | Prohibition | Mark R. Shaw | 1,439 | 0.07 | −0.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,097,061 | 100.00% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
John F. Kennedy, originally elected to the U.S. Senate in 1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts, resigned in 1961 after being elected in the 1960 United States presidential election. Incumbent Benjamin A. Smith II chose not to run for re-election. Ted Kennedy, brother of John and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, defeated Edward J. McCormack, Jr. by a wide margin in the Democratic primary. In the Republican primary, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for International Affairs George C. Lodge defeated U.S. representative Laurence Curtis in a close race.
A battle between two candidates from influential political families, H. Stuart Hughes ran as an independent. Kennedy defeated Lodge with 55% of the vote to 42% for Lodge, with 2% to Hughes. Kennedy would serve until 2009.

## Missouri

Missouri general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edward V. Long (Incumbent) | 663,301 | 54.43 |
| | Republican | Crosby Kemper | 555,330 | 45.57 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 107,971 | 8.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,218,631 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Nevada

Nevada general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Alan Bible (Incumbent) | 63,443 | 65.28 |
| | Republican | William B. Wright | 33,749 | 34.72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29,694 | 30.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 97,192 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## New Hampshire
### New Hampshire (regular)

New Hampshire general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Norris Cotton (Incumbent) | 134,035 | 59.71 |
| | Democratic | Alfred Catalfo Jr. | 90,444 | 40.29 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43,591 | 19.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 224,479 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### New Hampshire (special)

1962 United States Senate special election in New Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Thomas J. McIntyre | 117,612 | 52.32 |
| | Republican | Perkins Bass | 107,199 | 47.68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,413 | 4.64 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 224,811 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## New York

New York general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jacob Javits (Incumbent) | 3,272,417 | 57.38 |
| | Democratic | James B. Donovan | 2,289,323 | 40.14 |
| | Constitution | Kieran O’Dougherty | 116,151 | 2.04 |
| | Socialist Workers | Carl Feingold | 17,440 | 0.31 |
| | Socialist Labor | Stephen Emery | 7,786 | 0.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 983,094 | 17.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,703,117 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## North Carolina

North Carolina general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sam Ervin (Incumbent) | 491,520 | 60.45 |
| | Republican | Claude L. Greene Jr. | 321,635 | 39.55 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 169,885 | 20.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 813,155 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## North Dakota

Incumbent Republican Milton Young was re-elected to his fourth term, defeating North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate William Lanier of Fargo. Only Young filed as a Republican, and the endorsed Democratic candidate was Lanier, who had previously faced Young in a special election held in 1946 to fill the seat which was vacated by the late John Moses. Young and Lanier won the primary elections for their respective parties. No independents ran.
North Dakota Senate election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Milton R. Young (incumbent) | 135,705 | 60.65 |
| | Democratic–NPL | William Lanier | 88,032 | 39.35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 47,673 | 21.30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 223,737 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Ohio

Ohio general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Frank J. Lausche (Incumbent) | 1,843,813 | 61.56 |
| | Republican | John Marshall Briley | 1,151,173 | 38.44 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 692,640 | 23.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,994,986 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Oklahoma

Oklahoma general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | A. S. Mike Monroney (Incumbent) | 353,890 | 53.24 |
| | Republican | B. Hayden Crawford | 307,966 | 46.33 |
| | Independent | Paul V. Beck | 2,856 | 0.43 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45,924 | 6.91 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 664,712 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Oregon

Democratic incumbent Wayne Morse was re-elected to a fourth term. He defeated Republican candidate Sig Unander in the general election.
1962 United States Senate election in Oregon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Wayne Morse (Incumbent) | 344,716 | 54.15% |
| | Republican | Sig Unander | 291,587 | 45.81% |
| | Write-in | write-ins | 253 | 0.04% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53,129 | 8.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 636,556 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph S. Clark (Incumbent) | 2,238,383 | 51.06 |
| | Republican | James E. Van Zandt | 2,134,649 | 48.70 |
| | Socialist Labor | Arla A. Aubaugh | 10,387 | 0.24 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 103,734 | 2.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,383,419 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## South Carolina

Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin D. Johnston defeated Governor Fritz Hollings in the Democratic primary and Republican W. D. Workman Jr. in the general election. The South Carolina Democratic Party held their primary on June 12, 1962. Olin D. Johnston, the incumbent Senator, faced stiff competition from Governor Fritz Hollings who argued that Johnston was too liberal and not representative of South Carolina interests. Johnston merely told the voters that he was doing what he thought was best for the agriculture and textile workers of the state. Hollings was decisively defeated by Johnston because Johnston used his position as Post Office and Civil Service Committee to build 40 new post offices in the state and thus demonstrate the pull he had in Washington to bring home the bacon.
Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Olin D. Johnston (incumbent) | 216,918 | 66.3 |
| | Democratic | Fritz Hollings | 110,023 | 33.7 |
W. D. Workman Jr., a correspondent for the News and Courier, faced no opposition from South Carolina Republicans and avoided a primary election.
Both Johnston and Workman supported segregation, so the campaign centered on the economic issues of the state. Workman tried to persuade the voters that Johnston's policies were socialist and that he was too closely aligned with the Kennedy administration. Johnston was a consistent supporter of socialized health care proposals and Workman was able to win considerable support from the medical establishment. However, the state's citizens were much poorer than that of the rest of the nation and Johnston's class based appeals made him a very popular figure for the downtrodden of both the white and black races. The competitive nature of this race foresaw the eventual rise of the Republican Party and that South Carolinians were growing increasingly suspicious of policies generated at the federal level.
South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1962 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Olin D. Johnston (Incumbent) | 178,712 | 57.2 | −25.0 |
| | Republican | W. D. Workman Jr. | 133,930 | 42.8 | +25.0 |
| | No party | Write-Ins | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44,782 | 14.4 | −50.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 312,647 | 46.9 | +8.8 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## South Dakota

South Dakota general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | George McGovern | 127,458 | 50.12 |
| | Republican | Joseph H. Bottum (Incumbent) | 126,861 | 49.88 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 597 | 0.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 254,319 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Utah

Utah general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Wallace F. Bennett (Incumbent) | 166,755 | 52.37 |
| | Democratic | David S. King | 151,656 | 47.63 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,099 | 4.74 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 318,411 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Vermont

Vermont general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George D. Aiken (Incumbent) | 81,242 | 66.93 |
| | Democratic | W. Robert Johnson Sr. | 40,134 | 33.07 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41,108 | 33.86 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 121,376 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Washington

Washington general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Warren G. Magnuson (Incumbent) | 491,365 | 52.09 |
| | Republican | Richard G. Christensen | 446,204 | 47.31 |
| | Socialist Labor | Henry Killman | 4,730 | 0.50 |
| | Constitution | W. Frank Horne | 930 | 0.10 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45,161 | 4.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 943,229 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Wisconsin

Incumbent Republican Alexander Wiley lost to Democrat Gaylord A. Nelson.
Wisconsin election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gaylord A. Nelson | 662,342 | 52.26 |
| | Republican | Alexander Wiley (Incumbent) | 594,846 | 47.21 |
| | Independent | William Osborne Hart | 1,428 | 0.11 |
| | Socialist Labor | Georgia Cozzini | 1,096 | 0.09 |
| | Socialist Workers | Wayne Leverenz | 368 | 0.03 |
| | None | Scattering | 88 | 0.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 67,496 | 5.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,260,168 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Wyoming (special)

1962 United States Senate special election in Wyoming :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Milward Simpson | 69,043 | 57.84 |
| | Democratic | John J. Hickey (Incumbent) | 50,329 | 42.16 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,714 | 15.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 119,372 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |