1956 United States Senate election in Missouri
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The 1956 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 6, 1956 in Missouri. The incumbent Democratic Senator, Thomas C. Hennings Jr., was re-elected. He defeated Republican nominee Herbert Douglas, winning 56.4% of the vote. Hennings outperformed Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson II, who won 50.1% in the presidential election in Missouri.
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 County results Hennings: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Douglas: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Thomas C. Hennings Jr., incumbent Senator since 1951
Withdrew
- Tom J. Gavin, Kansas City councilman (name remained on ballot)[1]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (incumbent) | 389,986 | 95.91 | |
| Democratic | Tom J. Gavin | 16,624 | 4.09 | |
| Total votes | 406,610 | 100 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Herbert Douglas, attorney and candidate for Missouri Attorney General in 1948[1]
- Albert E. Schoenbeck, attorney[1]
- William McKinley Thomas, furniture warehouse employee[1]
- William E. Van Taay, director of economics and sociology at Fontbonne University[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Herbert Douglas | 83,458 | 40.77 | |
| Republican | Albert E. Schoenbeck | 78,747 | 38.47 | |
| Republican | William McKinley Thomas | 28,924 | 14.13 | |
| Republican | William E. Van Taay | 13,556 | 6.62 | |
| Total votes | 204,685 | 100 | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas C. Hennings Jr. (incumbent) | 1,015,936 | 56.41 | +2.81 | |
| Republican | Herbert Douglas | 785,048 | 43.59 | −2.75 | |
| Majority | 230,888 | 12.82 | |||
| Turnout | 1,800,984 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||