1956 United States Senate election in Georgia

1956 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Georgia

← 1950 September 12, 1956 1962 →

Nominee Herman Talmadge Melvin E. Thompson Party Democratic Democratic Electoral vote 410 0 Popular vote 498,327 122,152 Percentage 80.31% 19.69%

U.S. senator before election Walter F. George Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Herman Talmadge Democratic

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v t e

The 1956 United States Senate election in Georgia took place on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Walter F. George did not run for re-election.^[1][2]

The open race for George's seat was the final chapter in the political rivalry between former Georgia Governor Herman Talmadge and Melvin Thompson which had begun a decade earlier with the three governors controversy. Talmadge soundly won the primary, ending Thompson's political career.

At this time, Georgia was a one-party state. Talmadge's victory in the September 12 primary was tantamount to election, and he was unopposed in the general election.