The 1956 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska were held on November 6, 1956, to elect the state of Nebraska's four members to the United States House of Representatives.
Overview 1956 United States House of Representatives elections in NebraskaPartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Republican 323,641 59.23% 4 Democratic 220,372 40.33% 0 Independent 2,389 0.44% 0 — Write-ins 27 0.00% 0 — Totals 546,429 100.00% 4 —
District 1 Incumbent Republican Congressman Phil Weaver ran for re-election to a second term. He defeated Richard Johnson, a student and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, in the Republican primary, and was challenged by perennial candidate Samuel Freeman, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Weaver defeated Freeman in a landslide, winning re-election with 67 percent of the vote.
Republican primary Candidates Phil Weaver, incumbent U.S. Representative Richard W. Johnson, University of Nebraska student, U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Samuel Freeman, perennial candidate Clair A. Callan, businessman
Results
General election Candidates Phil Weaver (Republican) Samuel Freeman (Democratic)
Results
District 2 Incumbent Republican Congressman Jackson B. Chase declined to seek re-election to a second term, observing that he "had no intention of seeking a second term," and instead sought to return to the Fourth Judicial District Court, where he had served prior to his election in 1954. Former Omaha Mayor Glenn Cunningham won the Republican primary and faced former State Senator Joseph Benesch, who narrowly won the Democratic primary, and independent Al Misegadis in the general election. Cunningham defeated Benesch, winning his first term with 53 percent of the vote to Benesch's 45 percent.
Republican primary Candidates Glenn Cunningham, former Mayor of Omaha Warren R. Swigart, Omaha City Councilman, Public Property Commissioner Paul S. Kruger, campaign staffer William H. Thomas, attorney Tom P. Epsen, businessman
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Joseph Benesch, former State Senator, 1954 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Philip A. Allen, news reporter, 1946 Democratic nominee for Iowa's 7th congressional district Mabel Gillespie, former State Representative, 1954 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Clayton Shrout, attorney, former Chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party J. Emmet McArdle, farmer
Results
General election Candidates Glenn Cunningham (Republican) Joseph Benesch (Democratic) Al Misegadis (Independent)
Results
District 3 Incumbent Republican Congressman R. D. Harrison ran for re-election to another term. He was challenged in the Republican primary by State Senator Lester Anderson and former South Sioux City Mayor Merle Haynes. Harrison won the primary with a narrow majority, receiving 51 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Democratic nominee Lawrence Brock, the former Chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party. Harrison only narrowly defeated Brock, winning by just 246 votes. Brock considered contesting the election before the U.S. House Committee on Elections, but ultimately conceded the race.
Republican primary Candidates R. D. Harrison, incumbent U.S. Representative Merle A. Haynes, former Mayor of South Sioux City Lester H. Anderson, State Senator E. A. Carlson, farmer
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Lawrence Brock, former Chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party Ernest M. Luther, farmer, 1954 Democratic nominee for Congress Jesse F. Tepner, automobile dealer, 1954 Democratic candidate for Congress
Results
General election Candidates R. D. Harrison (Republican) Lawrence Brock (Democratic)
Results
District 4 Incumbent Republican Congressman Arthur L. Miller ran for re-election. He won the Republican primary in a landslide over dentist Howard Eby, and was challenged by Carlton W. Laird, his Democratic opponent from 1954, in the general election. Miller defeated Laird by a wide margin, winning 66 percent of the vote to Laird's 34 percent.
Republican primary Candidates Arthur L. Miller, incumbent U.S. Representative Howard F. Eby, dentist
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Carlton W. Laird, factory manager, 1954 Democratic nominee for Congress
Results
General election Candidates Arthur L. Miller (Republican) Carlton W. Laird (Democratic)
Results
References
See also 1956 United States House of Representatives elections