1958 United States Senate election in Michigan

1958 United States Senate election in Michigan

November 4, 1958

Nominee Philip Hart Charles E. Potter Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,216,966 1,046,963 Percentage 53.57% 46.09%

County results Hart:      50–60%      60–70% Potter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Charles E. Potter Republican Elected U.S. Senator Philip Hart Democratic

The 1958 United States Senate election in Michigan was held on November 4, 1958.

Incumbent Senator Charles E. Potter was defeated in his bid for re-election to a second term by Lieutenant Governor Philip A. Hart. This was one of a record 15 seats Democrats gained from the Republican Party. This was the first time since 1857 that Democrats held both Senate seats in the state simultaneously.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Charles E. Potter, incumbent Senator

Results

Senator Potter was unopposed for re-nomination by the Republican Party.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Philip Hart, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
• Homer Martin, former UAW President

Results

1958 Democratic U.S. Senate primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Philip Hart	297,767	80.24%
	Democratic	Homer Martin	73,334	19.76%
	Write-in	All others	18	0.00%
Total votes			371,114	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Philip Hart, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (Democratic)
• Elmer H. Ormiston (Prohibition)
• Charles E. Potter, incumbent Senator since 1953 (Republican)
• Evelyn Sell (Socialist Workers)
• James Sim, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Philip Hart	1,216,966	53.57%	4.53
	Republican	Charles E. Potter (incumbent)	1,046,963	46.09%	4.54
	Prohibition	Elmert H. Ormiston	3,518	0.16%	0.10
	Socialist Labor	James Sim	3,128	0.14%	0.10
	Socialist Workers	Evelyn Sell	1,068	0.05%	0.02
Total votes			2,271,643	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1958 United States Senate elections