# 1953 United States elections

Elections were held on November 3, 1953. This off-year election involved local, state, and congressional elections.

## Congressional Elections

Eight special elections were held to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives. The Democrats gained two seats.
| District | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | This race | This race |
| District | Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates |
| Georgia 2 | Edward E. Cox | Democratic | 1924 | Incumbent member-elect died December 24, 1952. New member elected February 4, 1953. Democratic hold. | ▌Y J. L. Pilcher (Democratic) 35.50% ▌H. Grady Rawls (Democratic) 31.66% ▌Harry L. Wingate (Democratic) 19.71% ▌John E. Sheffield Jr. (Democratic) 10.16% Others ▌J. Cheney Robinson (Democratic) 1.17% ▌Lonnie Brookard (Democratic) 1.13% |
| Virginia 5 | Thomas B. Stanley | Democratic | 1946 | Incumbent resigned February 3, 1953, to run for Governor of Virginia. New member elected April 14, 1953. Democratic hold. | ▌Y William M. Tuck (Democratic) 57.81% ▌Lorne R. Campbell (Republican) 42.19% |
| South Carolina 4 | Joseph R. Bryson | Democratic | 1938 | Incumbent died March 10, 1953. New member elected June 2, 1953. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Robert T. Ashmore (Democratic) 44.15% ▌Charles C. Moore (Democratic) 36.93% ▌Robert C. Wasson (Democratic) 10.80% ▌Francis M. Easterling (Democratic) 5.40% ▌John F. Barry (Democratic) 1.73% |
| Illinois 7 | Adolph J. Sabath | Democratic | 1906 | Incumbent member-elect died November 6, 1952. New member elected July 7, 1953. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James Bowler (Democratic) 83.50% ▌Philip J. Boffa (Republican) 16.49% |
| Kentucky 2 | Garrett Withers | Democratic | 1952 | Incumbent died April 30, 1953. New member elected August 1, 1953. Democratic hold. | ▌Y William Natcher (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Wisconsin 9 | Merlin Hull | Republican | 1928 1930 (lost) 1934 | Incumbent died May 17, 1953. New member elected October 13, 1953. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Lester Johnson (Democratic) 56.87% ▌Arthur L. Padrutt (Republican) 43.13% |
| New Jersey 6 | Clifford P. Case | Republican | 1944 | Incumbent resigned August 16, 1953 to run for Governor of New Jersey. New member elected November 3, 1953. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Harrison A. Williams (Democratic) 50.76% ▌George F. Hetfield (Republican) 49.24% |
| California 24 | Norris Poulson | Republican | 1942 1944 (lost) 1946 | Incumbent resigned June 11, 1953, after being elected Mayor of Los Angeles. New member elected November 10, 1953. Republican hold. | ▌Y Glenard P. Lipscomb (Republican) 52.28% ▌George L. Arnold (Democratic) 41.93% ▌Bud Collier (Republican) 4.40% ▌Irving Markheim (Democratic) 1.40% |

## Gubernatorial Elections

Two states, New Jersey and Virginia, held gubernatorial elections in 1953.
| State | Incumbent | First elected | Result | Candidates |
| New Jersey | Alfred E. Driscoll (Republican) | 1949 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain. | Y Robert B. Meyner (Democratic) 53.2% Paul L. Troast (Republican) 44.7% |
| Virginia | John S. Battle (Democratic) | 1949 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. | Y Thomas B. Stanley (Democratic) 54.8% Ted Dalton (Republican) 44.3% |

## Local elections

Alongside state and congressional elections, local elections were also held.
* New York City: Robert F. Wagner Jr. was elected mayor with 46.3% of the vote.
* Los Angeles: Norris Poulson was elected mayor with 53.23% in the second round vote.