1956 United States Senate election in Maryland
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The 1956 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Marshall Butler was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating Democratic businessman George P. Mahoney.
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November 6, 1956
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 County results Butler: 50–60% 60–70% Mahoney: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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As of 2023[update], this was the last time Maryland voted simultaneously for a Republican presidential candidate and a Republican senate candidate. This was the first time ever that Maryland re-elected a Republican Senator.[1]
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Marshall Butler, incumbent Senator since 1951
- Earl E. Knepper
- Henry J. Laque Jr.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Marshall Butler (inc.) | 40,848 | 86.66% | |
| Republican | Earl E. Knepper | 3,814 | 8.09% | |
| Republican | Harry L. Simms | 2,474 | 5.25% | |
| Total votes | 47,136 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- George P. Mahoney, Baltimore businessman and 1952 nominee for Senate
- Millard Tydings, former Senator from 1927 to 1951
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Millard Tydings | 142,238 | 47.50% | |
| Democratic | George P. Mahoney | 134,246 | 44.83% | |
| Democratic | George Washington Williams | 13,348 | 4.46% | |
| Democratic | Thomas L. Christian | 7,285 | 2.43% | |
| Democratic | Andrew J. Easter | 2,311 | 0.77% | |
| Total votes | 299,428 | 100.00% | ||
After winning the primary, Tydings was forced to withdraw from the race due to ill health. Mahoney replaced him on the general election ticket.[6]
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Marshall Butler (inc.) | 473,059 | 52.96% | |
| Democratic | George P. Mahoney | 420,108 | 47.04% | |
| Total votes | 893,167 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Results by county
| County | John Marshall Butler
Republican |
George P. Mahoney
Democratic |
Margin | Total
Votes Cast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Allegany | 17435 | 58.51% | 12365 | 41.49% | 5070 | 17.01% | 29800 |
| Anne Arundel | 25459 | 59.31% | 17466 | 40.69% | 7993 | 18.62% | 42925 |
| Baltimore (City) | 147761 | 49.15% | 152898 | 50.85% | -5137 | -1.71% | 300659 |
| Baltimore (County) | 86524 | 58.22% | 62082 | 41.78% | 24442 | 16.45% | 148606 |
| Calvert | 2185 | 49.41% | 2237 | 50.59% | -52 | -1.18% | 4422 |
| Caroline | 3655 | 55.51% | 2929 | 44.49% | 726 | 11.03% | 6584 |
| Carroll | 10461 | 66.44% | 5283 | 33.56% | 5178 | 32.89% | 15744 |
| Cecil | 6122 | 53.09% | 5410 | 46.91% | 712 | 6.17% | 11532 |
| Charles | 4446 | 50.74% | 4317 | 49.26% | 129 | 1.47% | 8763 |
| Dorchester | 4967 | 54.12% | 4211 | 45.88% | 756 | 8.24% | 9178 |
| Frederick | 12616 | 59.32% | 8653 | 40.68% | 3963 | 18.63% | 21269 |
| Garrett | 4648 | 63.21% | 2705 | 36.79% | 1943 | 26.42% | 7353 |
| Harford | 10095 | 55.64% | 8049 | 44.36% | 2046 | 11.28% | 18144 |
| Howard | 5571 | 57.09% | 4188 | 42.91% | 1383 | 14.17% | 9759 |
| Kent | 3220 | 54.82% | 2654 | 45.18% | 566 | 9.64% | 5874 |
| Montgomery | 48509 | 50.90% | 46788 | 49.10% | 1721 | 1.81% | 95297 |
| Prince George's | 34081 | 44.44% | 42603 | 55.56% | -8522 | -11.11% | 76684 |
| Queen Anne's | 2863 | 49.65% | 2903 | 50.35% | -40 | -0.69% | 5766 |
| St. Mary's | 3367 | 45.64% | 4010 | 54.36% | -643 | -8.72% | 7377 |
| Somerset | 3990 | 54.40% | 3344 | 45.60% | 646 | 8.81% | 7334 |
| Talbot | 5126 | 61.18% | 3253 | 38.82% | 1873 | 22.35% | 8379 |
| Washington | 17404 | 58.15% | 12524 | 41.85% | 4880 | 16.31% | 29928 |
| Wicomico | 8571 | 60.93% | 5497 | 39.07% | 3074 | 21.85% | 14068 |
| Worcester | 3983 | 59.25% | 2739 | 40.75% | 1244 | 18.51% | 6722 |
| Total | 473059 | 53.02% | 419108 | 46.98% | 53951 | 6.05% | 892167 |