1956 United States Senate election in North Carolina

1956 United States Senate election in North Carolina

November 6, 1956

Nominee Sam Ervin Joel A. Johnson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 731,353 367,475 Percentage 66.56% 33.44%

County results Ervin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Johnson:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%

Senator before election Sam Ervin Democratic Elected Senator Sam Ervin Democratic

The 1956 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Democratic Senator Sam Ervin was re-elected to a second term in office over Republican farmer and businessman Joel Johnson.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Sam Ervin, incumbent Senator since 1954
• Marshall C. Kurfees, Mayor of Winston Salem

17.6% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.^[1]

Results

1956 U.S. Senate election in North Carolina^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Ervin (incumbent)	360,967	84.64%
	Democratic	Marshall C. Kurfees	65,512	15.36%
Total votes			426,479	100.00%

General election

Results

1956 U.S. Senate election in North Carolina^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sam Ervin (incumbent)	731,353	66.56%	33.44
	Republican	Joel A. Johnson	367,475	33.44%	33.44
Total votes			1,098,828	100.00%

References

1. Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 28.
2. "Our Campaigns - NC US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1956". www.ourcampaigns.com.
3. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1956" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved March 2, 2021.

Works cited

• Steed, Robert; Moreland, Laurence; Baker, Tod, eds. (1980). Party Politics in the South. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0030565863.