U.S. Senate election, 1958

The U.S. Senate election, 1958 was an election for the United States Senate which
occurred in the middle of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's second term. As is common in midterm elections, the ruling party lost seats, but in this year it was on a huge scale, perhaps due to high unemployment. The Democratic party took thirteen Republican seats, as well as winning both Senate elections in the new state of Alaska. Senate elections in 1959 in the new state of Hawaii were split between the two parties, yielding an aggregate gain of 16 seats for the Democrats and giving a party balance of 65-35.

Democrats gained three open seats in California, Indiana, and New Jersey, and defeated ten Republican incumbents:

William C. Revercomb (R-WV)

John D. Hoblitzell, Jr (R-WV)

John W. Bricker (R-OH)

Edward J. Thye (R-MN)

William A. Purtell (R-CT)

Frederick G. Payne (R-ME)

Charles E. Potter (R-MI)

Alexander V. Watkins (R-UT)

Frank A. Barrett (R-WY)

George W. Malone (R-NV)

Notable freshmen were future Democratic contenders Eugene McCarthy (D-MN) and Ed Muskie (D-ME), as well as Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), who as of 2004 is the longest-serving Senator.

Senate contests in 1958

¹ special election held due to Alaska's admission as a state.

² special election held due to Alaska's admission as a state.

³ special election held due to death of William Kerr Scott (D-NC)

⁴ special election held due to death of Matthew M. Neely (D-WV)