1956 United States Senate election in Oregon

1956 United States Senate election in Oregon

November 7, 1956

Nominee Wayne Morse Douglas McKay Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 396,849 335,405 Percentage 54.20% 45.80%

County results Morse:      50–60%      60–70% McKay:      50-60%

Senator before election Wayne Morse Democratic Elected Senator Wayne Morse Democratic

The 1956 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 7, 1956 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of Oregon. Republican-turned-Independent-turned Democratic Senator Wayne Morse decided to seek re-election for his first full term as a Democrat. Morse defeated Republican candidate Douglas McKay in the hotly contested general election.

Republican primary

Candidates

• George Altvater
• Elmer Deetz
• Phil Hitchcock, professor, clergyman, and former State Senator from Portland
• Douglas McKay, United States Secretary of the Interior and former Governor of Oregon

Results

Results by county
McKay:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Hitchcock:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

Republican primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Douglas McKay	123,281	49.5%
	Republican	Phil Hitchcock	99,296	39.8%
	Republican	Elmer Deetz	23,170	9.3%
	Republican	George Altvater	3,525	1.4%
Total votes			249,272	100.00%

Candidates

Democratic

• Wayne Morse, incumbent Senator since 1945 (Democratic)
• Douglas McKay, United States Secretary of the Interior and former Governor of Oregon (Republican)

Results

Oregon United States Senate election, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Wayne Morse (inc.)	396,849	54.20%
	Republican	Douglas McKay	335,405	45.80%
Majority			61,444	8.39%
Turnout			732,254

See also

• 1956 United States Senate elections