1948 United States Senate election in Iowa

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.

1948 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1942 November 2, 1948 1954 →

Nominee Guy Gillette George A. Wilson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 578,226 415,778 Percentage 57.80% 41.56%

County results Gillette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Wilson:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election George A. Wilson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Guy Gillette Democratic

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%	16.10
	Republican	George A. Wilson (incumbent)	415,778	41.56%	16.32
	Progressive	Seymour Pitcher	3,387	0.34%	N/A
	Prohibition	Z. Everett Kellum	2,580	0.26%	0.05
	Socialist	Hugo Bockewitz	441	0.04%	N/A
Total votes			1,000,412	100.00%

See also

• 1948 United States Senate elections