1954 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

none March 2026 September 2023 1954 United States Senate election in Massachusetts Massachusetts 1908 presidential no 1948 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1948 1960 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1960 November 2, 1954 Image:LeverettSaltonstall.jpg 150x150px Leverett Saltonstall Republican Party (United States) 956,605 50.54% File:Foster Furcolo, 60th Governor of Massachusetts.jpg Foster Furcolo Democratic Party (United States) 927,899 49.03% 300px County results 300px| Municipality results 1 250px Saltonstall: #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90% Furcolo: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Senator Leverett Saltonstall Republican Party (United States) Leverett Saltonstall Republican Party (United States) The 1954 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on November 2. Republican incumbent Leverett Saltonstall was narrowly reelected to a third term in office over Massachusetts treasurer Foster Furcolo. Two years later, Furcolo would be elected Governor of Massachusetts. Republican primary Candidates Leverett Saltonstall, incumbent U.S. senator since 1945 Results Senator Saltonstall was unopposed for re-nomination. He received the unanimous support of all 1,378 delegates to the Republican state convention in Worcester.Fenton John H. 1954-06-13 SALTONSTALL GETS 3D TERM SUPPORT; Massachusetts Pre-Primary Convention of G. O. P. Backs Senator and Gov. Herter https://www.nytimes.com/1954/06/13/archives/saltonstall-gets-3d-term-support-massachusetts-preprimary.html 2026-08-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331TIME 1954-06-21 National Affairs: Nominations by the Clock https://time.com/archive/6798272/national-affairs-nominations-by-the-clock/ 2026-08-18 TIME en Democratic primary Candidates Foster Furcolo, treasurer and receiver-general of Massachusetts John I. Fitzgerald, former member of the Boston City Council and nominee for Senate in 1948 Joseph L. Murphy, former state senator from South Boston Withdrew Mark J. Dalton, Boston lawyerFenton John H. 1954-05-09 DEMOCRATS LACK BAY STATE STARS; Convention Meets in Early June, With Most of the Top Leaders on Side Lines https://www.nytimes.com/1954/05/09/archives/democrats-lack-bay-state-stars-convention-meets-in-early-june-with.html 2026-08-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Campaign Furcolo received the party endorsement at the state convention in Worcester in June. Results 1954 Democratic U.S. Senate primaryhttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29251 Our Campaigns - MA US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1960 Democratic Party (US) Foster Furcolo 207,232 59.13% Democratic Party (US) Joseph L. Murphy 79,463 22.68% Democratic Party (US) John I. Fitzgerald 63,752 18.19% 350,447 100.00% General election Candidates Foster Furcolo, treasurer and receiver-general of Massachusetts (Democratic) Thelma Ingersoll, nominee for Senate in 1952 (Socialist Workers) Harold J. Ireland, nominee for treasurer and receiver-general in 1948 and 1952 (Prohibition) Leverett Saltonstall, incumbent U.S. senator since 1945 (Republican) Campaign In October, Furcolo suffered a significant setback when junior senator John F. Kennedy declined to endorse his candidacy after the candidates fought over a television appearance Kennedy made for Furcolo and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Robert F. Murphy. The script called for Kennedy to say, "I wish you both and the entire Democratic ticket every success in November." Instead, Kennedy delivered the line as "I wish you, Bob, and the entire Democratic ticket every success in November."Times John H. Fentonspecial To the New York 1954-10-12 KENNEDY REBUFFS PARTY CANDIDATE; Refuses to Endorse Furcolo Personally for Senate -- Bay State G.O.P. Gleeful https://www.nytimes.com/1954/10/12/archives/kennedy-rebuffs-party-candidate-refuses-to-endorse-furcolo.html 2026-08-18 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 According to Kennedy aide Francis X. Morrissey, Kennedy intentionally omitted Furcolo after an exchange of words between the two men prior to the appearance, in which Furcolo unsuccessfully pressed Kennedy to attack Saltonstall's record during the program.Kennedy-Furcolo Feud News The Harvard Crimson https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1954/10/19/kennedy-furcolo-feud-pwelcoming-the-delegates-to/ 2026-08-18 www.thecrimson.com Republican state chairman Elmer Nelson cited Kennedy's decision as "verification that higher type Democratic candidates and voters" supported Saltonstall. Furcolo was also denied the endorsement of the Massachusetts chapter of Americans for Democratic Action; he had addressed the chapter the prior fall and urged it to disband for the good of the Democratic Party. Results thumb|Results by county General election Republican Party (US) Leverett Saltonstall (incumbent) 956,605 50.54% 2.41 Democratic Party (US) Foster Furcolo 927,899 49.03% 2.60 Socialist Labor Party of America Thelma Ingersoll 5,353 0.28% 0.17 Prohibition Party Harold J. Ireland 2,832 0.15% 0.03 1,892,689 100.00% References Massachusetts 1954 Category:1954 Massachusetts elections