Election Name: | 1954 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
Country: | Oklahoma |
Flag Image: | Flag of Oklahoma (1941–1988).svg |
Type: | presidential |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1948 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
Previous Year: | 1948 |
Next Election: | 1960 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
Next Year: | 1960 |
Election Date: | November 2, 1954 |
Image1: | File:Robert S. Kerr (OK).png |
Nominee1: | Robert S. Kerr |
Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Popular Vote1: | 335,127 |
Percentage1: | 55.84% |
Nominee2: | Fred M. Mock |
Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
Popular Vote2: | 262,013 |
Percentage2: | 43.66% |
U.S. Senator | |
Before Election: | Robert S. Kerr |
Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
After Election: | Robert S. Kerr |
After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1954 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Democratic Senator Robert S. Kerr ran for re-election to a second term. He faced strong competition in the Democratic primary from former Governor Roy J. Turner, and though he won a sizable victory over Turner in the primary, he fell shy of an outright majority. Turner, however, withdrew from the race before a runoff election could be held. On the Republican side, U.S. Attorney Fred Mock won the nomination following a runoff against newspaper publisher Raymond Fields. In the general election, Kerr ended up easily defeating Mock, but with a significantly reduced victory from 1948.
Following the Democratic primary, Kerr had a sizable lead over Turner, but fell just short of a majority, thereby triggering a runoff election. However, several weeks after the primary, Turner withdrew from the runoff, announcing that he would not be able to adequately finance his campaign.[1] After Turner's withdrawal, David C. Shapard, who placed a distant third in the primary, announced that he would attempt to force a runoff with Kerr.[2] The State Election Board denied Kerr's request, and he appealed to the state Supreme Court,[3] which quickly denied his appeal, concluding that his claim had no "apparent merit."[4]