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United States Senate election in California, 1950

United States Senate election in California, 1950
California
1946 ←
November 7, 1950 → 1952

  A smiling young man shakes hands; a Nixon bumper sticker is seen. A well-dressed, tired looking woman stands before a microphone, part of a campaign banner "Helen Gahagan Douglas" is visible in the background.
Nominee Richard Nixon Helen Gahagan Douglas
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,183,454 1,502,507
Percentage 59.23 40.76

California Senate Election Results by County, 1950.svg

Election results by county

Senator before election

Sheridan Downey
Democratic

Elected Senator

Richard Nixon
Republican


California Senate Election Results by County, 1950.svg

Sheridan Downey
Democratic

Richard Nixon
Republican

The 1950 United States Senate election in California followed a campaign characterized by accusations and name-calling. Republican Richard Nixon defeated Democrat Helen Gahagan Douglas, after Democratic incumbent Sheridan Downey withdrew during the primary election campaign. Douglas and Nixon each gave up their congressional seats to run against Downey; no other representatives were willing to risk the contest.

Both Douglas and Nixon announced their candidacies in late 1949. In March 1950 Downey withdrew from a vicious primary battle with Douglas by announcing his retirement, after which Los Angeles Daily News publisher Manchester Boddy joined the race. Boddy attacked Douglas as a leftist and was the first to compare her to New York Congressman Vito Marcantonio, who was accused of being a communist. Boddy, Nixon, and Douglas each entered both party primaries, a practice known as cross-filing. In the Republican primary, Nixon was challenged only by cross-filers and fringe candidates.


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