The 1954 United States Senate elections in Nebraska took place on November 2, 1954, for the Class II United States Senate seat. Incumbent Republican Senator Kenneth S. Wherry was elected to a second term in 1948, and died in office on November 29, 1951. Governor Val Peterson appointed Fred A. Seaton to hold the seat until the 1952 election. At the 1952 special election, former Governor Dwight Griswold was elected to serve out the remaining two years of Wherry's term. Griswold was a candidate for a full term, however, Griswold died suddenly on April 12, 1954, prompting another special election. Governor Robert B. Crosby appointed Eva Bowring to fill the seat until the November 2, 1954 special election.
At the same time as the special election, a regular election was held on the same day to elect a Senator to serve for the next six-year term. Bowring sought neither the final months of Wherry's term nor a full six-year term. In the special election, Hazel Abel, the vice-chairman of the State Republican Central Committee, won the Republican primary for the special election and defeated Democratic nominee William H. Meier. On the same day, Congressman Carl Curtis, a Republican, defeated former Governor Keith Neville, the Democratic nominee in the general election for the full six-year term.
Coincidentally, on the same day, another special election was held to fill the remaining four years of the term of the late Senator Hugh A. Butler, who was elected at the 1952 regular election and died on July 1, 1954.
Democratic primary Regular election Candidates Joseph Benesch, former state senator Edward A. Dosek, Lincoln attorney, 1950 and 1944 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Keith Neville, former governor of Nebraska
Results
Special election Candidates Mabel Gillespie, former state senator Charles R. Herrick, former state senator William H. Meier, chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party
Results
Republican primary Regular election Candidates Terry Carpenter, state senator Robert B. Crosby, governor of Nebraska Carl Curtis, U.S. representative from James L. Harrison, Air Force lieutenant colonel David Martin, former chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party Walter A. Nielsen, Omaha attorney, 1952 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate John P. Overgaard, Lincoln real estate broker
Results
Special election Candidates Hazel Abel, vice chairman of the State Republican Central Committee Joseph Alexis, University of Nebraska–Lincoln modern languages professor N. W. Anderson, Lincoln insurance salesman Mac Baldrige, former U.S. representative from Chris C. Beck, Lincoln businessman Hugh Carson, state senator Richard R. Dempster, North Platte furniture store owner Max A. Denny, Fairbury attorney E. W. Gustafson, Scottsbluff accountant H. P. Heiliger, former state senator John R. Jirdon, Morrill businessman William Keeshan, former Boone County attorney Gerald Merritt, Lincoln building materials business owner John S. Samson, Omaha attorney Myles Standish, Omaha businessman S. E. Torgeson, Kimball attorney
Results
General election Regular election
Special election
References