The 1948 United States Senate election in Iowa took place on November 2, 1948. Incumbent Republican Senator George A. Wilson ran for re-election to a second term but was defeated by Democratic former Senator Guy Gillette.

Republican primary

Candidates

  • John N. Calhoun, former State Senator from Keosauqua (1933–35) and National Guard Lieutenant Colonel in World War II[1]
  • George A. Wilson, incumbent Senator since 1943

Results

1948 Republican U.S. Senate primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George A. Wilson (incumbent) 185,215 68.44%
Republican John N. Calhoun 85,402 31.56%
Total votes 270,617 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Guy Gillette, former U.S. Senator (1936–45)
  • Ernest J. Seemann, perennial candidate

Results

1948 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Guy Gillette 51,576 79.04%
Democratic Ernest Seemann 13,680 20.96%
Total votes 65,256 100.00%

General election

Results

1948 U.S. Senate election in Iowa[4][5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Guy Gillette 578,226 57.80% Increase16.10
Republican George A. Wilson (incumbent) 415,778 41.56% Decrease16.32
Progressive Seymour Pitcher 3,387 0.34% N/A
Prohibition Z. Everett Kellum 2,580 0.26% Increase0.05
Socialist Hugo Bockewitz 441 0.04% N/A
Total votes 1,000,412 100.00%

See also

References