1954 United States Senate elections in Nebraska

none the Class II special and general elections to the United States Senate, for the completion of the unexpired term of Kenneth S. Wherry and the full term beginning in 1955 the simultaneous special Class I election to complete Hugh A. Butler's unexpired term 1954 United States Senate special election in Nebraska March 2026 March 2026 1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska Nebraska 1925 presidential no 1952 United States Senate special election in Nebraska 1952 (special) 1960 United States Senate election in Nebraska 1960 November 2, 1954 150x150px Carl Curtis.png Carl Curtis Republican Party (United States) 255,695 61.07% KeithNeville.jpg Keith Neville Democratic Party (United States) 162,990 38.93% 1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg 300px County resultsCurtis: #e38080 50–60% #d85d5d 60–70% #d82b2c 70–80%Neville: #7a97e3 50–60% U.S. Senator Hazel Abel Republican Party (US) Carl Curtis Republican Party (US) The 1954 United States Senate elections in Nebraska took place on November 2, 1954, for the Class II United States Senate seat. Incumbent Republican Senator Kenneth S. Wherry was elected to a second term in 1948, and died in office on November 29, 1951. Governor Val Peterson appointed Fred A. Seaton to hold the seat until the 1952 election. At the 1952 special election, former Governor Dwight Griswold was elected to serve out the remaining two years of Wherry's term. Griswold was a candidate for a full term, however, Griswold died suddenly on April 12, 1954, prompting another special election. Governor Robert B. Crosby appointed Eva Bowring to fill the seat until the November 2, 1954 special election. At the same time as the special election, a regular election was held on the same day to elect a Senator to serve for the next six-year term. Bowring sought neither the final months of Wherry's term nor a full six-year term. In the special election, Hazel Abel, the vice-chairman of the State Republican Central Committee, won the Republican primary for the special election and defeated Democratic nominee William H. Meier. On the same day, Congressman Carl Curtis, a Republican, defeated former Governor Keith Neville, the Democratic nominee in the general election for the full six-year term. Coincidentally, on the same day, another special election was held to fill the remaining four years of the term of the late Senator Hugh A. Butler, who was elected at the 1952 regular election and died on July 1, 1954. Democratic primary Regular election Candidates Joseph Benesch, former state senatorBenesch To File For Senate Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln, Nebraska April 16, 1954 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166535298/ February 23, 2025 Edward A. Dosek, Lincoln attorney, 1950 and 1944 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governorState GOP Picture Clearing; Demos Feel 'This Is the Year' Hastings Tribune Hastings, Nebraska July 17, 1954 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hastings-daily-tribune/166535490/ February 23, 2025 Keith Neville, former governor of Nebraska Results Democratic primaryMarsh Frank Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board: Primary Election, August 10, 1954, General Election, November 2, 1954 1954 https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1954prim_gen.pdf Keith Neville Democratic Party (United States) 38,114 52.83% Joseph V. Benesch Democratic Party (United States) 17,992 24.94% Edward A. Dosek Democratic Party (United States) 15,920 22.07% Scattering Democratic Party (United States) 116 0.16% 72,142 100.00% Special election Candidates Mabel Gillespie, former state senator Charles R. Herrick, former state senator William H. Meier, chairman of the Nebraska Democratic PartyDrake William A. Many Candidates Feel Their Party Owes Them Short Term Columbus Telegram Columbus, Nebraska August 6, 1954 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbus-telegram/166543319/ February 23, 2025 Results Democratic primary William H. Meier Democratic Party (United States) 26,885 39.83% Mabel Gillespie Democratic Party (United States) 21,029 31.15% Charles R. Herrick Democratic Party (United States) 19,559 28.97% Scattering Democratic Party (United States) 33 0.05% 67,506 100.00% Republican primary Regular election Candidates Terry Carpenter, state senator Robert B. Crosby, governor of Nebraska Carl Curtis, U.S. representative from NE 1 James L. Harrison, Air Force lieutenant colonelStandish, Harrison Pay Filing Fees To Enter Senate Race Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska May 22, 1954 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/166535818/ February 23, 2025 David Martin, former chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party Walter A. Nielsen, Omaha attorney, 1952 Republican candidate for the U.S. SenateOmahan Seeks Senate Seat Fremont Tribune Fremont, Nebraska April 9, 1954 15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune/166536374/ February 23, 2025 John P. Overgaard, Lincoln real estate brokerPolitical Front Buzzing As Deadline Nears Star-Herald Scottsbluff, Nebraska June 30, 1954 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/166536591/ February 23, 2025 Results Republican primary Carl Curtis Republican Party (United States) 64,410 39.42% Robert B. Crosby Republican Party (United States) 43,580 26.67% Terry Carpenter Republican Party (United States) 30,767 18.83% David Martin Republican Party (United States) 18,283 11.19% James L. Harrison Republican Party (United States) 2,782 1.70% Walter A. Nielsen Republican Party (United States) 2,592 1.59% John P. Overgaard Republican Party (United States) 954 0.58% Scattering Republican Party (United States) 20 0.01% 163,388 100.00% Special election Candidates Hazel Abel, vice chairman of the State Republican Central Committee Joseph Alexis, University of Nebraska–Lincoln modern languages professorAlexis Seeks Senate Term Lincoln Journal Lincoln, Nebraska June 30, 1954 2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166542684/ February 23, 2025 N. W. Anderson, Lincoln insurance salesman16 Republicans File For Short Senate Term Star-Herald Scottsbluff, Nebraska July 2, 1954 1, 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/166541139/ February 23, 2025 Mac Baldrige, former U.S. representative from NE 2 Chris C. Beck, Lincoln businessmanExpect More Last Minute Filings Today Columbus Telegram Columbus, Nebraska July 1, 1954 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbus-telegram/166542182/ February 23, 2025 Hugh Carson, state senatorHugh Carson Will File The Grand Island Independent Grand Island, Nebraska June 12, 1954 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/166541930/ February 23, 2025 Richard R. Dempster, North Platte furniture store ownerSenate Race by Dempster Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska April 28, 1954 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166540887/ February 23, 2025 Max A. Denny, Fairbury attorneyDenney Files For Short U.S. Senate Term Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska May 11, 1954 20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/166542380/ February 23, 2025 E. W. Gustafson, Scottsbluff accountantGustafson To Seek Short Senate Term Star-Herald Scottsbluff, Nebraska July 1, 1954 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald/166542528/ February 23, 2025 H. P. Heiliger, former state senatorHeiliger Seventh After Short-Term Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska June 22, 1954 2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166543130/ February 23, 2025 John R. Jirdon, Morrill businessmanJ. R. Jirdon Considers Filing for Short Term Fremont Tribune Fremont, Nebraska April 29, 1954 19 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune/166541542/ February 23, 2025 William Keeshan, former Boone County attorneyAlbion Attorney in Senate Race Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska June 26, 1954 3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-world-herald/166542893/ February 23, 2025 Gerald Merritt, Lincoln building materials business owner John S. Samson, Omaha attorney Myles Standish, Omaha businessman S. E. Torgeson, Kimball attorney Results Republican primary Hazel Abel Republican Party (United States) 32,321 22.63% Richard R. Dempster Republican Party (United States) 13,895 9.73% N. W. Anderson Republican Party (United States) 12,862 9.01% John R. Jirdon Republican Party (United States) 11,396 7.98% Hugh Carson Republican Party (United States) 10,436 7.31% Chris C. Beck Republican Party (United States) 8,939 6.26% S. E. Torgeson Republican Party (United States) 8,826 6.18% Max A. Denney Republican Party (United States) 8,824 6.18% Myles Standish Republican Party (United States) 6,846 4.79% E. W. Gustafson Republican Party (United States) 6,696 4.69% Mac Baldrige Republican Party (United States) 5,937 4.16% Joseph Alexis Republican Party (United States) 4,461 3.12% William Keeshan Republican Party (United States) 3,193 2.24% H. P. Heiliger Republican Party (United States) 2,844 1.99% Gerald Merritt Republican Party (United States) 2,729 1.91% John S. Samson Republican Party (United States) 2,544 1.78% Scattering Republican Party (United States) 65 0.05% 142,814 100.00% General election Regular election 1954 United States Senate election in Nebraska Republican Party (United States) Carl Curtis 255,695 61.07% -2.50% Democratic Party (United States) Keith Neville 162,990 38.93% +2.51% 6 0.00% — 92,705 22.14% -5.01% 418,691 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Special election 1954 United States Senate special election in Nebraska Republican Party (United States) Hazel Abel 233,589 57.76% -5.81% Democratic Party (United States) William H. Meier 170,828 42.24% +5.82% 5 0.00% — 62,761 15.52% -11.63% 404,422 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References 1954 Nebraska United States Senate Nebraska 1954 Nebraska 1954 United States Senate 1954