The 1958 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 4, 1958. Democratic U.S. Representative Eugene McCarthy defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Edward John Thye, who sought a third term. With his victory, McCarthy became the first Democrat ever to be popularly elected to Minnesota's Class 1 Senate seat, and marked the first time since 1859 that Democrats held both Senate seats in the state.
Democratic–Farmer-Labor primary Eugene McCarthy was nominated. Governor Orville Freeman was considered as a candidate for U.S. Senate. Freeman said there was a 'superabundance of good candidates' and refused to run. McCarthy announced his candidacy within a day of Freeman's decline. Karl Rolvaag and Miles Lord were considered as potential candidates.
Eugene J. McCarthy, U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 4th congressional district since 1949 Hans R. Miller Hjalmar Petersen, 23rd Governor of Minnesota (1936–1937) and 28th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (1935–1936)
Republican primary Mrs. Peder P. Schmidt Edward C. Slettedahl Edward John Thye, Incumbent U.S. Senator since 1947
General election
See also 1958 United States Senate elections
References