1950 United States Senate election in Missouri

The 1950 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 7, 1950 in Missouri. Incumbent Republican Senator Forrest C. Donnell ran for a second term in office but was defeated by Democratic nominee Thomas C. Hennings Jr.

1950 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1944 1956 →

Nominee Thomas C. Hennings Jr. Forrest C. Donnell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 685,732 592,922 Percentage 53.60% 46.34%

County results Hennings:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Donnell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Forrest C. Donnell Republican Elected U.S. senator Thomas C. Hennings Jr. Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Emery Allison, former State Senator from Maries County^[1]
• Thomas C. Hennings Jr., lawyer and former U.S. Representative from St. Louis^[2]
• Marjorie Bell Hinrichs, cosmetics manufacturer^[3]
• James W. Hopkins, accountant^[3]
• Ben M. Johnson, contractor^[3]

Results

Democratic primary August 1, 1950^[4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas C. Hennings Jr.	182,333	45.03
	Democratic	Emery Allison	178,201	44.01
	Democratic	James W. Hopkins	15,859	3.92
	Democratic	Ben M. Johnson	15,559	3.84
	Democratic	Marjorie Bell Hinrichs	12,986	3.21
Total votes			404,938	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Gordon R. Coates, building materials dealer^[6]
• Forrest C. Donnell, incumbent Senator since 1945
• William McKinley Thomas, furniture warehouse employee^[7]

Results

Republican primary August 1, 1950^[4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Forrest C. Donnell (incumbent)	200,792	84.85
	Republican	William McKinley Thomas	17,407	7.36
	Republican	Gordon R. Coates	10,919	4.61
	Republican	Hiram Grosby	7,527	3.18
Total votes			236,645	100

General election

Candidates

• Forrest C. Donnell, incumbent Senator since 1945 (Republican)
• Henry W. Genck (Socialist Labor)
• John W. Hamilton (Christian Nationalist)^[8]
• Thomas C. Hennings Jr., lawyer and former U.S. Representative from St. Louis^[2] (Democratic)

Results

1950 United States Senate election in Missouri^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas C. Hennings Jr.	685,732	53.60	+3.78
	Republican	Forrest C. Donnell (incumbent)	592,922	46.34	−3.61
	Christian Nationalist	John W. Hamilton	610	0.05	+0.05
	Socialist Labor	Henry W. Genck	150	0.01	+0.00
Majority			92,810	7.26
Turnout			1,279,414
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. "Missouri Legislators A". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
2. Long, Edward (November 1961). "TOM HENNINGS-THE MAN FROM MISSOURI". Missouri Law Review. 29 (4): 396–397. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
3. "5 Democrats in Race to Oppose GOP Sen. Donnell". Macon Chronicle-Herald. Macon, Missouri. April 19, 1950. p. 5. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via State Historical Society of Missouri.
4. Official Manual of the State of Missouri 1951 - 1952. Missouri Secretary of State's Office. 1952. p. 1021. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
5. "PRIMARY ELECTION NEXT TUESDAY". Wheaton Journal. Wheaton, Missouri. July 27, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via State Historical Society of Missouri.
6. "SENATE CANDIDATE COATES CAMPAIGNS FROM HEARSE". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. April 27, 1950. p. 20A. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via State Historical Society of Missouri.
7. "4 in G.O.P. Senatorial Contest, Winner to Meet Hennings Who Is Unopposed for Renomination". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. August 5, 1956. p. 1E. Retrieved September 30, 2022 – via State Historical Society of Missouri.
8. "Declaration of candidates of Christian Nationalist Party sufficient because evidence of existence of such party is sufficient" (PDF). Attorney General of Missouri. May 19, 1950. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
9. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (January 11, 1951). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1950" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 18.