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1956 United States Senate election in Colorado

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1956 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1950 November 6, 1956 1962 →
 
Nominee John A. Carroll Daniel I. J. Thornton
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 319,872 317,102
Percentage 50.22% 49.78%

Results by county
Carroll:      50–60%      60–70%
Thornton:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Eugene Millikin
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John A. Carroll
Democratic

The 1956 United States Senate special election in Colorado took place on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Republican Senator Eugene Millikin declined to seek re-election to a third term and a competitive election ensued. Former Congressman John A. Carroll, in his third consecutive bid for the Senate, narrowly defeated former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Charles F. Brannan in the Democratic primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Governor Dan Thornton, the Republican nominee. Despite Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson's poor performance in Colorado, state-level Democrats fared much better. Carroll ended up narrowly defeating Thornton, winning his only term in the U.S. Senate.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John A. Carroll 62,688 50.81
Democratic Charles F. Brannan 60,701 49.19
Total votes 123,389 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Thornton 79,349 100.00
Total votes 79,349 100.00

General election

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Results

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1956 United States Senate election in Colorado[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John A. Carroll 319,872 50.22% +3.47%
Republican Dan Thornton 317,102 49.78% −3.47%
Majority 2,770 0.43% −6.07%
Turnout 636,974
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Baker, George J. (1956). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Eleventh Day of September, A. D. 1956 and at the General Election Held on the Sixth Day of November, A. D. 1956 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.