page_title: 1950 United States Senate elections
section_title: Kansas
hierarchical_section_title: 1950 United States Senate elections / Kansas
context_page_description: The 1950 United States Senate elections occurred in the middle of Harry S. Truman's second term as President. As with most 20th-century second-term mid-terms, the party out of the Presidency made significant gains. The Republican opposition made a net gain of five seats, taking advantage of the Democratic administration's declining popularity during the Cold War and the aftermath of the Recession of 1949. The Democrats held a narrow 49 to 47 seat majority after the election. This became the first time since 1932 that the Senate Majority Leader lost his seat and the only instance where the majority leader lost his seat while his party retained the majority.
context_section_description: There were 2 elections to the same seat on the same day due to the November 8, 1949 death of two-term Republican Clyde M. Reed.  Governor of Kansas Frank Carlson appointed fellow-Republican Harry Darby December 2, 1949 to continue the term, pending a special election.  Carlson won both elections and was seated November 29, 1950.
caption: Senator Frank Carlson
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