1958 United States Senate election in Minnesota

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.

1958 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1952 November 4, 1958 1964 →

Nominee Eugene J. McCarthy Edward John Thye Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 608,847 535,629 Percentage 52.95% 46.58%

County results McCarthy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Thye:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Edward John Thye Republican Elected U.S. Senator Eugene J. McCarthy Democratic (DFL)

Democratic–Farmer-Labor primary

• 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)

Results by county:

  McCarthy

•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

  Petersen

•   40–50%
•   50–60%

Democratic primary election results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Eugene J. McCarthy	279,796	75.65%
	Democratic (DFL)	Hjalmar Petersen	76,340	20.64%
	Democratic (DFL)	Hans R. Miller	13,736	3.71%
Total votes			369,872	100.00%

Republican primary

• Mrs. Peder P. Schmidt
• Edward C. Slettedahl
• Edward John Thye, Incumbent U.S. Senator since 1947

Republican primary election results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edward John Thye (incumbent)	224,833	91.81%
	Republican	Edward C. Slettedahl	13,734	5.61%
	Republican	Mrs. Peder P. Schmidt	6,332	2.58%
Total votes			244,899	100.00%

General election

General election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Eugene J. McCarthy	608,847	52.95%
	Republican	Edward John Thye (incumbent)	535,629	46.58%
	Socialist Workers	William M. Curran	5,407	0.47%
Total votes			1,149,883	100.00%
	Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican

See also

• 1958 United States Senate elections