# 1948 United States Senate elections

The 1948 United States Senate elections were held concurrently with the election of Democratic President Harry S. Truman for a full term. The 32 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and one special election was held to fill a vacancy. Truman campaigned against an "obstructionist" Congress that had blocked many of his initiatives, and additionally, the U.S. economy recovered from the postwar recession of 1946–1947 by election day. Thus, Truman was rewarded with a Democratic gain of nine seats in the Senate, enough to give them control of the chamber. This was the last time until 2020 that Democrats flipped a chamber of Congress in a presidential election cycle.

## Results summary

| 54 | 42 |
| Democratic | Republican |
Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.
| Parties | Parties | | | | Total |
| Parties | Parties | Democratic | Republican | Other | Total |
| Last elections (1946) Before these elections | Last elections (1946) Before these elections | 45 | 51 | 0 | 96 |
| Not up | Not up | 30 | 33 | 0 | 63 |
| Up | Up | 15 | 18 | 0 | 33 |
| | Class 2 (1942→1948) | 14 | 18 | 0 | 32 |
| | Special: Class 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Incumbent retired | Incumbent retired | 3 | 5 | — | 8 |
| | Held by same party | 3 | 4 | — | 7 |
| | Replaced by other party | 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat | 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat | — | 1 |
| | Result | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Incumbent ran | Incumbent ran | 12 | 13 | — | 25 |
| | Won re-election | 10 | 5 | — | 17 |
| | Lost re-election | 8 Republicans replaced by 8 Democrats | 8 Republicans replaced by 8 Democrats | — | 8 |
| | Lost renomination but held by same party | 2 | 0 | — | 2 |
| | Result | 20 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| Total elected | Total elected | 24 | 9 | 0 | 33 |
| Net change | Net change | 9 | 9 | | 9 |
| Nationwide vote | Nationwide vote | 13,056,944 | 9,764,384 | 269,669 | 23,090,997 |
| | Share | 56.55% | 42.29% | 1.17% | 100% |
| Result | Result | 54 | 42 | 0 | 96 |
Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

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

Five Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Kansas | Arthur Capper | Andrew Frank Schoeppel |
| Louisiana (special) | William C. Feazel | Russell B. Long |
| Maine | Wallace H. White | Margaret Chase Smith |
| New Jersey | Albert W. Hawkes | Robert C. Hendrickson |
| New Mexico | Carl Hatch | Clinton Anderson |
| Oklahoma | Edward H. Moore | Robert S. Kerr |
| South Dakota | Vera C. Bushfield | Karl Mundt |
| Texas | W. Lee O'Daniel | Lyndon B. Johnson |

### Defeats

Eight Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Delaware | C. Douglass Buck | J. Allen Frear Jr. |
| Idaho | Henry Dworshak | Bert H. Miller |
| Illinois | C. Wayland Brooks | Paul Douglas |
| Iowa | George A. Wilson | Guy Gillette |
| Kentucky | John Sherman Cooper | Virgil Chapman |
| Minnesota | Joseph H. Ball | Hubert Humphrey |
| North Carolina | William B. Umstead | J. Melville Broughton |
| Tennessee | Tom Stewart | Estes Kefauver |
| West Virginia | Chapman Revercomb | Matthew M. Neely |
| Wyoming | Edward V. Robertson | Lester C. Hunt |

### Post election changes

| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Connecticut | Raymond E. Baldwin | William Benton |
| New York | Robert F. Wagner | John Foster Dulles |
| New York | John Foster Dulles | Herbert H. Lehman |
| North Carolina | J. Melville Broughton | Frank Porter Graham |
| Idaho | Bert H. Miller | Henry Dworshak |
| Kansas | Clyde M. Reed | Harry Darby |
| Kentucky | Alben W. Barkley | Garrett Withers |
| Rhode Island | J. Howard McGrath | Edward L. Leahy |

## Change in composition
### Before the elections

| | | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ |
| D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ |
| D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ |
| D$_{38}$ Mont. Ran | D$_{37}$ Miss. Ran | D$_{36}$ La. (sp) Retired | D$_{35}$ La. (reg) Ran | D$_{34}$ Ga. Ran | D$_{33}$ Colo. Ran | D$_{32}$ Ark. Ran | D$_{31}$ Ala. Ran | D$_{30}$ | D$_{29}$ |
| D$_{39}$ N.M. Retired | D$_{40}$ N.C. (sp) N.C. (reg) Ran | D$_{41}$ R.I. Ran | D$_{42}$ S.C. Ran | D$_{43}$ Tenn. Ran | D$_{44}$ Texas Retired | D$_{45}$ Va. Ran | R$_{51}$ Wyo. Ran | R$_{50}$ W.Va. Ran | R$_{49}$ S.D. Retired |
| R$_{49}$ S.D. Retired |||||||||
| R$_{39}$ Ky. Ran | R$_{40}$ Maine Retired | R$_{41}$ Mass. Ran | R$_{42}$ Mich. Ran | R$_{43}$ Minn. Ran | R$_{44}$ Neb. Ran | R$_{45}$ N.H. Ran | R$_{46}$ N.J. Retired | R$_{47}$ Okla. Retired | R$_{48}$ Ore. Ran |
| R$_{38}$ Kan. Retired | R$_{37}$ Iowa Ran | R$_{36}$ Ill. Ran | R$_{35}$ Idaho Ran | R$_{34}$ Del. Ran | R$_{33}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{29}$ |
| R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ |
| R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ |
| | | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ |

### Election results

| | | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ |
| D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ |
| D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ |
| D$_{38}$ Mont. Re-elected | D$_{37}$ Miss. Re-elected | D$_{36}$ La. (sp) Hold | D$_{35}$ La. (reg) Re-elected | D$_{34}$ Ga. Re-elected | D$_{33}$ Colo. Re-elected | D$_{32}$ Ark. Re-elected | D$_{31}$ Ala. Re-elected | D$_{30}$ | D$_{29}$ |
| D$_{39}$ N.M. Hold | D$_{40}$ N.C. (sp) N.C. (reg) Hold | D$_{41}$ R.I. Re-elected | D$_{42}$ S.C. Re-elected | D$_{43}$ Tenn. Hold | D$_{44}$ Texas Hold | D$_{45}$ Va. Re-elected | D$_{46}$ Del. Gain | D$_{47}$ Idaho Gain | D$_{48}$ Ill. Gain |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{49}$ Iowa Gain |
| R$_{39}$ N.H. Re-elected | R$_{40}$ N.J. Hold | R$_{41}$ Ore. Re-elected | R$_{42}$ S.D. Hold | D$_{54}$ Wyo. Gain | D$_{53}$ W.Va. Gain | D$_{52}$ Okla. Gain | D$_{51}$ Minn. Gain | D$_{50}$ Ky. Gain | D$_{49}$ Iowa Gain |
| R$_{38}$ Neb. Re-elected | R$_{37}$ Mich. Re-elected | R$_{36}$ Mass. Re-elected | R$_{35}$ Maine Hold | R$_{34}$ Kan. Hold | R$_{33}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{29}$ |
| R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ |
| R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ |
| | | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic R$_#$ Republican |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 80th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1948 or before January 3, 1949; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Louisiana (Class 3) | William C. Feazel | Democratic | 1948 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. Winner elected November 2, 1948. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Russell B. Long (Democratic) 74.9% ▌Clem S. Clarke (Republican) 25.1% |
| North Carolina (Class 2) | William B. Umstead | Democratic | 1946 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost nomination. Winner elected November 2, 1948. Democratic hold. Winner also elected to the next full term. | ▌Y J. Melville Broughton (Democratic) Unopposed |

### Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1949; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | John Sparkman | Democratic | 1946 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John Sparkman (Democratic) 84.0% ▌Paul G. Parsons (Republican) 16.0% |
| Arkansas | John L. McClellan | Democratic | 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John L. McClellan (Democratic) 93.3% ▌R. Walter Tucker (Independent) 6.7% |
| Colorado | Edwin C. Johnson | Democratic | 1936 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Edwin C. Johnson (Democratic) 66.8% ▌Will Nicholson (Republican) 32.4% |
| Delaware | C. Douglass Buck | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y J. Allen Frear Jr. (Democratic) 50.9% ▌C. Douglass Buck (Republican) 48.3% |
| Georgia | Richard Russell Jr. | Democratic | 1932 (special) 1936 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Richard Russell Jr. (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Idaho | Henry Dworshak | Republican | 1946 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Bert H. Miller (Democratic) 50.0% ▌Henry Dworshak (Republican) 48.5% |
| Illinois | C. Wayland Brooks | Republican | 1940 (special) 1942 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Paul Douglas (Democratic) 55.1% ▌C. Wayland Brooks (Republican) 44.6% |
| Iowa | George A. Wilson | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Guy Gillette (Democratic) 57.8% ▌George A. Wilson (Republican) 41.6% |
| Kansas | Arthur Capper | Republican | 1918 1924 1930 1936 1942 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. | ▌Y Andrew Frank Schoeppel (Republican) 54.9% ▌George McGill (Democratic) 42.7% |
| Kentucky | John Sherman Cooper | Republican | 1946 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Virgil Chapman (Democratic) 51.4% ▌John Sherman Cooper (Republican) 48.3% |
| Louisiana | Allen J. Ellender | Democratic | 1936 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Allen J. Ellender (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Maine | Wallace H. White | Republican | 1930 1936 1942 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. | ▌Y Margaret Chase Smith (Republican) 71.3% ▌Adrian H. Scolten (Democratic) 28.7% |
| Massachusetts | Leverett Saltonstall | Republican | 1944 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Leverett Saltonstall (Republican) 53.0% ▌John I. Fitzgerald (Democratic) 46.4% |
| Michigan | Homer S. Ferguson | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Homer S. Ferguson (Republican) 50.7% ▌Frank Eugene Hook (Democratic) 48.5% |
| Minnesota | Joseph H. Ball | Republican | 1940 (Appointed) 1942 (Retired) 1942 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic–Farmer–Labor gain. | ▌Y Hubert Humphrey (DFL) 59.9% ▌Joseph H. Ball (Republican) 39.7% |
| Mississippi | James Eastland | Democratic | 1941 (Appointed) 1941 (Retired) 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y James Eastland (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Montana | James E. Murray | Democratic | 1934 (special) 1936 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y James E. Murray (Democratic) 56.7% ▌Tom J. Davis (Republican) 42.7% |
| Nebraska | Kenneth S. Wherry | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Kenneth S. Wherry (Republican) 56.7% ▌Terry Carpenter (Democratic) 43.3% |
| New Hampshire | Styles Bridges | Republican | 1936 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Styles Bridges (Republican) 58.1% ▌Alfred E. Fortin (Democratic) 41.2% |
| New Jersey | Albert W. Hawkes | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. | ▌Y Robert C. Hendrickson (Republican) 50.0% ▌Archibald S. Alexander (Democratic) 47.3% |
| New Mexico | Carl Hatch | Democratic | 1933 (Appointed) 1934 (special) 1936 1942 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Clinton Anderson (Democratic) 57.2% ▌Patrick J. Hurley (Republican) 42.4% |
| North Carolina | William B. Umstead | Democratic | 1946 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost nomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. Winner also elected to finish the term, see above. | ▌Y J. Melville Broughton (Democratic) 70.7% ▌John A. Wilkinson (Republican) 28.8% |
| Oklahoma | Edward H. Moore | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Robert S. Kerr (Democratic) 62.3% ▌Ross Rizley (Republican) 37.4% |
| Oregon | Guy Cordon | Republican | 1944 (Appointed) 1944 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Guy Cordon (Republican) 60.0% ▌Manley J. Wilson (Democratic) 40.0% |
| Rhode Island | Theodore F. Green | Democratic | 1936 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Theodore F. Green (Democratic) 59.3% ▌Thomas P. Hazard (Republican) 40.7% |
| South Carolina | Burnet R. Maybank | Democratic | 1941 (special) 1942 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Burnet R. Maybank (Democratic) Unopposed |
| South Dakota | Vera C. Bushfield | Republican | 1948 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. Incumbent resigned December 26, 1948 and winner appointed December 31, 1948 to finish the term. | ▌Y Karl Mundt (Republican) 59.3% ▌John A. Engel (Democratic) 40.7% |
| Tennessee | Tom Stewart | Democratic | 1938 (special) | Incumbent lost re-nomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Estes Kefauver (Democratic) 65.3% ▌B. Carroll Reece (Republican) 33.5% |
| Texas | W. Lee O'Daniel | Democratic | 1941 (special) 1942 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic) 66.2% ▌Homa J. Porter (Republican) 32.9% ▌Samuel N. Morris (Prohibition) 0.8% |
| Virginia | A. Willis Robertson | Democratic | 1946 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y A. Willis Robertson (Democratic) 65.6% ▌Robert H. Woods (Republican) 30.8% |
| West Virginia | Chapman Revercomb | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Matthew M. Neely (Democratic) 57.0% ▌Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 43.0% |
| Wyoming | Edward V. Robertson | Republican | 1942 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Lester C. Hunt (Democratic) 57.1% ▌Edward V. Robertson (Republican) 42.9% |

## Closest races

Six races had a margin of victory under 10%:
| State | Party of winner | Margin |
| Idaho | Democratic (flip) | 1.5% |
| Michigan | Republican | 2.2% |
| Delaware | Democratic (flip) | 2.6% |
| New Jersey | Republican | 2.7% |
| Kentucky | Democratic (flip) | 3.1% |
| Massachusetts | Republican | 6.6% |
Wyoming is the tipping point state with a margin of 14.2%.

## Alabama

Alabama election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Sparkman (Incumbent) | 185,534 | 84.00% |
| | Republican | Paul G. Parsons | 35,341 | 16.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150,193 | 68.00% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 220,875 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Arkansas

Arkansas election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John L. McClellan (Incumbent) | 216,401 | 93.19% |
| | Independent | R. Walter Tucker | 15,821 | 6.81% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 232,222 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Colorado

Colorado election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edwin C. Johnson (Incumbent) | 340,719 | 66.79% |
| | Republican | Will Nicholson | 165,069 | 32.36% |
| | Progressive | Joe Gurule | 2,981 | 0.58% |
| | Socialist | Carle Whithead | 1,352 | 0.27% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 175,650 | 34.43% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 510,121 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Delaware

Delaware election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Allen Frear Jr. | 71,888 | 50.85% |
| | Republican | C. Douglass Buck (incumbent) | 68,246 | 48.28% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,642 | 2.57% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 141,362 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Georgia

Georgia election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Russell Jr. (Incumbent) | 362,104 | 99.89% |
| | Write-In | Larkin Marshall | 388 | 0.11% |
| | Write-In | Ellis Arnall | 9 | 0.00% |
| | Write-In | Roy Harris | 2 | 0.00% |
| | Write-In | Harry Sommers | 1 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 361,716 | 99.78% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 362,504 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Idaho

Democrat Bert H. Miller defeated incumbent Republican Henry Dworshak. As of 2024, this remains the only time that a Democrat would win Idaho's Class 2 Senate seat. Dworshak was appointed back to this seat in October 1949 after Miller died earlier that month and served until he himself died in 1962.
Idaho election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bert H. Miller | 107,000 | 49.96% |
| | Republican | Henry Dworshak (Incumbent) | 103,868 | 48.49% |
| | Progressive | John Derr | 3,154 | 1.47% |
| | Socialist | Paul Wengert | 166 | 0.08% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,132 | 1.47% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 214,188 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Illinois

Illinois election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Paul Douglas | 2,147,754 | 55.07% |
| | Republican | Charles W. Brooks (Incumbent) | 1,740,026 | 44.61% |
| | Prohibition | Enoch A. Holtwick | 9,784 | 0.25% |
| | Socialist Labor | Frank Schnur | 2,693 | 0.07% |
| | None | Write-In | 28 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 407,728 | 10.46% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,900,285 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Iowa

Iowa election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Guy Gillette | 578,226 | 57.80% |
| | Republican | George A. Wilson (Incumbent) | 415,778 | 41.56% |
| | Progressive | Seymour Pitcher | 3,387 | 0.34% |
| | Prohibition | Z. Everett Kellum | 2,580 | 0.26% |
| | Socialist | Hugo Bockewitz | 441 | 0.04% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 162,448 | 16.24% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,000,412 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Kansas

Kansas election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andrew Frank Schoeppel | 393,412 | 54.92% |
| | Democratic | George McGill | 305,987 | 42.72% |
| | Prohibition | C. Floyd Hester | 16,943 | 2.37% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87,425 | 12.20% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 716,342 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Kentucky

Kentucky election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Virgil Chapman | 408,256 | 51.39% |
| | Republican | John Sherman Cooper (Incumbent) | 383,776 | 48.31% |
| | Socialist | W. A. Standefur | 1,232 | 0.16% |
| | Progressive | H. G. Stanfield | 924 | 0.12% |
| | Socialist Labor | David R. Cox | 254 | 0.03% |
| | Write-In | John Y. Brown | 26 | 0.00% |
| | Write-In | O. G. Gaines | 1 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,480 | 3.08% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 794,469 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Louisiana
### Louisiana (regular)

Louisiana election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Allen J. Ellender (Incumbent) | 330,115 | 100.00% |
| | Independent | Maurice Eugene Clark | 9 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 330,106 | 100.00% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 330,124 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Louisiana (special)

1948 United States Senate special election in Louisiana :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Russell B. Long | 306,336 | 74.96% |
| | Republican | Clem S. Clarke | 102,331 | 25.04% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 204,005 | 49.92% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 408,667 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Maine

Maine election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Margaret Chase Smith | 159,182 | 71.30% |
| | Democratic | Adrian H. Scolten | 64,074 | 28.70% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95,108 | 42.60% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 223,256 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Massachusetts

General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Leverett Saltonstall (Incumbent) | 1,088,475 | 52.95% |
| | Democratic | John I. Fitzgerald | 954,398 | 46.42% |
| | Socialist Labor | Henning A. Blomen | 9,266 | 0.45% |
| | Prohibition | E. Tallmadge Root | 3,652 | 0.18% |
| | None | Scattering | 7 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 134,077 | 6.53% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,055,798 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Michigan

Michigan election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Homer S. Ferguson (Incumbent) | 1,045,156 | 50.68% |
| | Democratic | Frank E. Hook | 1,000,329 | 48.51% |
| | Prohibition | Harold A. Lindahl | 12,146 | 0.59% |
| | Socialist | Michael Magee | 2,160 | 0.10% |
| | Socialist Labor | Theos S. Grove | 1,418 | 0.07% |
| | Socialist Workers | Genora Dollinger | 882 | 0.04% |
| | None | Scattering | 2.57% | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44,827 | 2.17% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,062,093 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Minnesota

Minnesota election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Hubert Humphrey | 729,494 | 59.78% |
| | Republican | Joseph H. Ball (Incumbent) | 485,801 | 39.81% |
| | Socialist Workers | Vincent R. Dunne | 4,951 | 0.41% |
| | None | Scattering | 41.56% | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 243,693 | 19.97% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,220,250 | |
| | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican |

## Mississippi

Mississippi election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James Eastland (Incumbent) | 151,478 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Montana

Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936 and 1942, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary, he faced Tom J. Davis, an attorney and the Republican nominee, in the general election. Following a narrow re-election in 1936, Murray significantly expanded his margin of victory and comfortably won re-election over Davis, winning his fourth term and his third full term in the Senate.
1948 United States Senate election in Montana :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James E. Murray (Incumbent) | 125,193 | 56.65% |
| | Republican | Tom J. Davis | 94,458 | 42.74% |
| | Prohibition | C. S. Hanna | 1,352 | 0.61% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30,735 | 13.91% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 221,003 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Nebraska

Nebraska election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kenneth S. Wherry (Incumbent) | 267,575 | 56.67% |
| | Democratic | Terry Carpenter | 204,320 | 43.27% |
| | N/A | Scattering | 261 | 0.06% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63,255 | 13.40% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 472,156 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## New Hampshire

New Hampshire election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Styles Bridges (Incumbent) | 129,600 | 58.14% |
| | Democratic | Alfred E. Fortin | 91,760 | 41.17% |
| | Progressive | John G. Rideout | 1,538 | 0.69% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37,840 | 16.97% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 222,898 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## New Jersey

New Jersey election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert C. Hendrickson | 934,720 | 49.99% |
| | Democratic | Archibald S. Alexander | 884,414 | 47.30% |
| | Progressive | James Imbrie | 22,658 | 1.21% |
| | Socialist | Rubye Smith | 11,450 | 0.61% |
| | Socialist Workers | George Breitman | 8,076 | 0.43% |
| | Prohibition | George W. Rideout | 4,656 | 0.25% |
| | Socialist Labor | George E. Bopp | 3,908 | 0.21% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50,306 | 2.69% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,869,882 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## New Mexico

New Mexico election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Clinton Anderson | 108,269 | 57.44% |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Hurley | 80,226 | 42.40% |
| | Progressive | Brígido Provencio | 705 | 0.37% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28,043 | 14.04% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 188,202 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## North Carolina

There were 2 elections to the same seat, due to the December 15, 1946 death of three-term Democrat Josiah Bailey. Democratic former congressman William B. Umstead was appointed December 18, 1946 to continue Bailey's term, pending a special election.
Umstead supported the conservative Taft–Hartley Act. The Democratic former Governor of North Carolina J. Melville Broughton was seen as a "rather liberal alternative" to Umstead. Broughton beat Umstead in the Democratic primaries and then won the general elections.

### North Carolina (special)

North Carolina special Democratic primary election, May 29, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Melville Broughton | 206,605 | 52.30% |
| | Democratic | William B. Umstead (Incumbent) | 188,420 | 47.70% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,196 | 4.60% |
North Carolina special election, November 2, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Melville Broughton | 534,917 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### North Carolina (regular)

North Carolina regular Democratic primary election, May 29, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Melville Broughton | 207,981 | 53.10% |
| | Democratic | William B. Umstead (Incumbent) | 183,865 | 46.90% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,894 | 6.10% |
North Carolina regular election, November 2, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Melville Broughton | 540,762 | 70.70% |
| | Republican | John A. Wilkinson | 220,307 | 28.80% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 320,455 | 41.91% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
Broughton was seated December 31, 1948 to finish the current term but died March 6, 1949, just after the new term began. His death lead to another appointment (Democrat Frank Graham) in 1949 and another special election in 1950 of Democrat Willis Smith. Smith also died during the term, leading to yet another appointment (Democrat Alton A. Lennon) and 1954 special election (of Democrat W. Kerr Scott). In all, five senators held the seat during the 1949–1955 term.

## Oklahoma

Oklahoma election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert S. Kerr | 441,654 | 62.30% |
| | Republican | Ross Rizley | 265,169 | 37.40% |
| | Independent | W. O. Pratt | 2,108 | 0.30% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 176,485 | 24.90% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 708,931 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Oregon

Oregon election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Guy Cordon (Incumbent) | 299,295 | 60.03% |
| | Democratic | Manley J. Wilson | 199,275 | 39.97% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100,020 | 20.06% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 498,570 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Rhode Island

Rhode Island election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Theodore F. Green (Incumbent) | 190,158 | 59.35% |
| | Republican | Thomas P. Hazard | 130,262 | 40.65% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59,896 | 18.70% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 320,420 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## South Carolina

Senator Burnet R. Maybank was opposed in the Democratic primary by U.S. Representative William Jennings Bryan Dorn and three other candidates. Maybank obtained over 50% in the primary election on August 10 to avoid a runoff election.
Democratic Primary :
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Burnet R. Maybank | 161,608 | 51.5 |
| W.J. Bryan Dorn | 76,749 | 24.4 |
| Neville Bennett | 43,068 | 13.7 |
| Alan Johnstone | 17,689 | 5.6 |
| Marcus A. Stone | 14,904 | 4.8 |
Since the end of Reconstruction in 1877, the Democratic Party dominated the politics of South Carolina and its statewide candidates were never seriously challenged. Maybank did not campaign for the general election as there was no chance of defeat.
South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Burnet R. Maybank (Incumbent) | 135,998 | 96.45% |
| | Republican | J. Bates Gerald | 5,008 | 3.55% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 130,990 | 92.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 141,006 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## South Dakota

South Dakota election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Karl E. Mundt | 144,084 | 59.33% |
| | Democratic | John A. Engel | 98,749 | 40.67% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45,335 | 18.66% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 242,833 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Tennessee

Tennessee election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Estes Kefauver | 326,142 | 65.33% |
| | Republican | B. Carroll Reece | 166,947 | 33.44% |
| | Independent | John Randolph Neal Jr. | 6,103 | 1.22% |
| | None | Scattering | 26 | 0.01% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 159,195 | 31.89% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 499,218 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Texas

Incumbent Democrat W. Lee O'Daniel decided to retire rather than seek a second full term. Congressman Lyndon Johnson won the highly contested Democratic primary against former governor Coke Stevenson. Johnson went on to win the general election against Republican Jack Porter, but by a closer margin than usual for Texas Democrats.
Texas election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lyndon Johnson | 702,985 | 66.22% |
| | Republican | Jack Porter | 349,665 | 32.94% |
| | Prohibition | Samuel N. Morris | 8,913 | 0.84% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 353,320 | 33.28% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,061,563 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Virginia

Incumbent Democrat A. Willis Robertson defeated Republican Robert H. Woods and was re-elected to his first full term in office.
1948 United States Senate election in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | A. Willis Robertson (Incumbent) | 253,865 | 65.74% | −2.41% |
| | Republican | Robert H. Woods | 118,546 | 30.70% | +1.68% |
| | Independent | Howard Carwile | 6,788 | 1.76% | |
| | Progressive | Virginia Foster Durr | 5,347 | 1.38% | +1.38% |
| | Socialist | Clarke T. Robb | 1,627 | 0.42% | −2.40% |
| | Write-ins | | 5 | <0.01% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 135,319 | 35.04% | −4.09% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 386,168 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## West Virginia

West Virginia election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Matthew M. Neely | 435,354 | 56.99% |
| | Republican | Chapman Revercomb (Incumbent) | 328,534 | 43.01% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 106,810 | 13.98% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 763,888 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Wyoming

Wyoming election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lester C. Hunt | 57,953 | 57.11% |
| | Republican | Edward V. Robertson (Incumbent) | 43,527 | 42.89% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,426 | 14.22% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 101,480 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |