1951 Virginia Senate election

1951 Virginia Senate election
November 6, 1951
All 40 seats in the Virginia Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Morton G. Goode
(retired)		 —
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 11, 1950
Leader's seat 8th
Last election 38 seats, 76.98% 2 seats, 21.47%
Seats before 38 2
Seats won 37 3
Popular vote 221,613 61,809
Percentage 79.00% 14.11%
  Third party
 
Party Independent
Last election 0 seats, 1.52%
Seats won 0
Popular vote 19,943
Percentage 6.63%

     Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold

Democratic:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%
Republican:      50–60%      90–100%

President pro tempore before election

Morton G. Goode
Democratic

 Elected President pro tempore

Robert C. Vaden
Democratic

Elections to the Virginia Senate were held on November 6, 1951, to elect 40 candidates to the Senate to serve a four-year term. Partisan primaries were held on August 7 to determine nominees for the Democratic Party. The Democrats retained their supermajority in the chamber, winning 37 seats to the Republican Party's three, a gain of one for the Republicans compared to the 1947 general election. One seat, District 16 in southwestern Virginia, changed hands in 1951, electing Republican delegate J. Marion Smith to the Senate over deceased incumbent Democrat Lloyd M. Robinette, who committed suicide just days before the general election and whose name remained on the ballot.[1] Senator Robert C. Vaden of the 13th district was elected President pro tempore of the Senate at the following session.[2]

Summary

District Seats Localities represented[3] Incumbent Status Elected
Senator Party Senator Party
1st 1 Accomack Co.
Northampton Co.
Princess Anne Co.		 Ben T. Gunter Jr. Democratic Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.		 V. Alfred Etheridge Democratic
2nd 2 Norfolk City Robert F. Baldwin Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Robert F. Baldwin Jr. Democratic
Edward L. Breeden Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Edward L. Breeden Jr. Democratic
3rd 1 Norfolk City
Portsmouth City
South Norfolk City		 Major M. Hillard Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Major M. Hillard Democratic
4th 1 Amherst Co.
Bedford Co.
Nelson Co.		 I. Paul Wailes Democratic Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.		 Walter H. Carter Democratic
5th 1 Isle of Wight Co.
Nansemond Co.
Southampton Co.
Suffolk City		 A. S. E. Stephens Democratic Incumbent re-elected. A. S. E. Stephens Democratic
6th 1 Greensville Co.
Hopewell City
Prince George Co.
Surry Co.
Sussex Co.		 Garland Gray Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Garland Gray Democratic
7th 1 Brunswick Co.
Mecklenburg Co.		 A. S. Harrison Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. A. S. Harrison Jr. Democratic
8th 1 Dinwiddie Co.
Petersburg City		 Morton G. Goode Democratic Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.		 Benjamin L. Campbell Democratic
9th 1 Amelia Co.
Lunenburg Co.
Nottoway Co.
Powhatan Co.
Prince Edward Co.		 George W. Palmer[a] Democratic Incumbent re-elected. George W. Palmer Democratic
10th 1 Halifax Co. James D. Hagood Democratic Incumbent re-elected. James D. Hagood Democratic
11th 1 Appomattox Co.
Buckingham Co.
Charlotte Co.
Cumberland Co.		 Charles T. Moses Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Charles T. Moses Democratic
12th 1 Campbell Co.
Lynchburg City		 Mosby G. Perrow Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Mosby G. Perrow Jr. Democratic
13th 2 Danville City
Henry Co.
Martinsville City
Patrick Co.
Pittsylvania Co.		 Robert C. Vaden Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Robert C. Vaden Democratic
Frank P. Burton[b] Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Frank P. Burton Democratic
14th 1 Carroll Co.
Floyd Co.
Grayson Co.		 S. Floyd Landreth Republican Incumbent re-elected. S. Floyd Landreth Republican
15th 1 Bristol City
Smyth Co.
Washington Co.		 George M. Warren Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. George M. Warren Jr. Democratic
16th 1 Lee Co.
Scott Co.		 Lloyd M. Robinette Democratic Incumbent died November 2, 1951, but remained on ballot.
Republican gain.		 J. Marion Smith Republican
17th 1 Dickenson Co.
Wise Co.		 M. M. Long Democratic Incumbent re-elected. M. M. Long Democratic
18th 1 Buchanan Co.
Russell Co.
Tazewell Co.		 Harry C. Stuart Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Harry C. Stuart Democratic
19th 1 Bland Co.
Giles Co.
Pulaski Co.
Wythe Co.		 C. W. Caudill Democratic Incumbent re-elected. C. W. Caudill Democratic
20th 1 Alleghany Co.
Bath Co.
Botetourt Co.
Buena Vista City
Clifton Forge City
Craig Co.
Rockbridge Co.		 J. C. Carpenter Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. J. C. Carpenter Jr. Democratic
21st 1 Franklin Co.
Montgomery Co.
Radford City
Roanoke Co.		 Ted Dalton Republican Incumbent re-elected. Ted Dalton Republican
22nd 1 Arlington Co. Charles R. Fenwick Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Charles R. Fenwick Democratic
23rd 1 Augusta Co.
Highland Co.
Staunton City
Waynesboro City		 Curry Carter Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Curry Carter Democratic
24th 1 Harrisonburg City
Page Co.
Rappahannock Co.
Rockingham Co.
Warren Co.		 Raymond R. Guest Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Raymond R. Guest Jr. Democratic
25th 1 Clarke Co.
Frederick Co.
Shenandoah Co.
Winchester City		 Harry F. Byrd Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Harry F. Byrd Jr. Democratic
26th 1 Albemarle Co.
Charlottesville City
Fluvanna Co.
Greene Co.
Madison Co.		 Edward O. McCue Jr.[c] Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Edward O. McCue Jr. Democratic
27th 1 Fredericksburg City
Louisa Co.
Orange Co.
Spotsylvania Co.
Stafford Co.		 Benjamin T. Pitts Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Benjamin T. Pitts Democratic
28th 1 Culpeper Co.
Fauquier Co.
Loudoun Co.		 Robert Y. Button Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Robert Y. Button Democratic
29th 1 Alexandria City
Fairfax Co.
Falls Church City
Prince William Co.		 Andrew W. Clarke Democratic Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic hold.		 John A. K. Donovan Democratic
30th 1 King George Co.
Lancaster Co.
Northumberland Co.
Richmond Co.
Westmoreland Co.		 Robert O. Norris Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Robert O. Norris Jr. Democratic
31st 1 Caroline Co.
Goochland Co.
Hanover Co.
King William Co.		 Thomas H. Blanton Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Thomas H. Blanton Democratic
32nd 1 Essex Co.
Gloucester Co.
King and Queen Co.
Mathews Co.
Middlesex Co.
York Co.		 William M. Minter Democratic Incumbent re-elected. William M. Minter Democratic
33rd 1 Elizabeth City Co.
Hampton City
Newport News City
Warwick Co.		 L. U. Noland Democratic Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.		 Victor P. Wilson Democratic
34th 1 Charles City Co.
Chesterfield Co.
Colonial Heights City
Henrico Co.
James City Co.
New Kent Co.
Williamsburg City		 Lloyd C. Bird Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Lloyd C. Bird Democratic
35th 3 Richmond City Frank S. Richeson Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Frank S. Richeson Democratic
Charles W. Crowder Democratic Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic hold.		 G. Edmond Massie Democratic
James E. Gardner Democratic Incumbent lost renomination.
Democratic hold.		 Edward E. Willey Democratic
36th 1 Roanoke Co. Earl A. Fitzpatrick Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Earl A. Fitzpatrick Democratic
  1. ↑ Succeeded Democrat W. Dennis Kendig in a 1949 special election[4]
  2. ↑ Succeeded Democrat Maitland H. Bustard in a 1948 special election[5]
  3. ↑ Succeeded Democrat John S. Battle in a 1949 special election[4]

List of districts

District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36

District 1

District 1 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic V. Alfred Etheridge Nominated
Democratic W. Russell Hatchett
Total votes 100.00%
District 1 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic V. Alfred Etheridge 5,727 93.56%
Write-in W. Russell Hatchett 394 6.44%
Total votes 6,121 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 2

District 2 election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert F. Baldwin Jr. (incumbent) 6,279 40.42%
Democratic Edward L. Breeden Jr. (incumbent) 5,432 34.97%
Independent Grover C. Outland 3,823 24.61%
Total votes 15,534 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 3

District 3 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Major M. Hillard (incumbent) Nominated
Democratic Earle A. Cadmus
Total votes 100.00%
District 3 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Major M. Hillard (incumbent) 4,633 99.98%
Write-in 1 0.02%
Total votes 4,634 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 4

District 4 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter H. Carter Nominated
Democratic R. Bolling Lambeth
Total votes 100.00%
District 4 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walter H. Carter 3,903 99.90%
Write-in 4 0.10%
Total votes 3,907 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 5

District 5 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. S. E. Stephens (incumbent) 2,681 90.06%
Write-in Willis E. Cohoon 293 9.84%
Write-in 3 0.10%
Total votes 2,977 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 6

District 6 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Garland Gray (incumbent) 3,342 100.00%
Total votes 3,342 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 7

District 7 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic A. S. Harrison Jr. (incumbent) 1,344 100.00%
Total votes 1,344 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 8

District 8 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Benjamin L. Campbell 1,828 100.00%
Total votes 1,828 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 9

District 9 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George W. Palmer (incumbent) 1,689 100.00%
Total votes 1,689 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 10

District 10 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James D. Hagood (incumbent) 1,364 100.00%
Total votes 1,364 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 11

District 11 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles T. Moses (incumbent) 1,518 100.00%
Total votes 1,518 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 12

District 12 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mosby G. Perrow Jr. (incumbent) Nominated
Democratic Robert Boyer
Total votes 100.00%
District 12 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mosby G. Perrow Jr. (incumbent) 2,682 100.00%
Total votes 2,682 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 13

District 13 election[3]
2 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank P. Burton (incumbent) 6,233 51.44%
Democratic Robert C. Vaden (incumbent) 5,885 48.56%
Total votes 12,118 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 14

District 14 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican S. Floyd Landreth (incumbent) 10,718 99.94%
Write-in 6 0.06%
Total votes 10,724 100.00%
Republican hold

District 15

District 15 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George M. Warren Jr. (incumbent) 9,422 99.99%
Write-in 1 0.01%
Total votes 9,423 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 16

District 16 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican J. Marion Smith 10,383 51.95%
Democratic Lloyd M. Robinette† (incumbent) 9,605 48.05%
Total votes 9,423 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 17

District 17 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic M. M. Long (incumbent) 9,595 99.67%
Write-in 32 0.33%
Total votes 9,627 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 18

District 18 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harry C. Stuart (incumbent) 9,839 55.59%
Independent John W. Fletcher 7,861 44.41%
Total votes 17,700 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 19

District 19 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic C. W. Caudill (incumbent) 9,044 99.93%
Write-in 6 0.07%
Total votes 9,050 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 20

District 20 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. C. Carpenter Jr. (incumbent) Nominated
Democratic Eldon K. Crowder
Total votes 100.00%
District 20 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic J. C. Carpenter Jr. (incumbent) 9,810 99.91%
Write-in 9 0.09%
Total votes 9,819 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 21

District 21 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred L. Hoback Nominated
Democratic John B. Spiers
Total votes 100.00%
District 21 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ted Dalton (incumbent) 9,184 59.43%
Democratic Fred L. Hoback 6,269 40.57%
Total votes 15,453 100.00%
Republican hold

District 22

District 22 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles R. Fenwick (incumbent) 8,902 57.38%
Republican Oren R. Lewis 6,613 42.62%
Total votes 15,515 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 23

District 23 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Curry Carter (incumbent) 2,529 99.96%
Write-in 1 0.04%
Total votes 2,530 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 24

District 24 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raymond R. Guest Jr. (incumbent) 10,503 80.56%
Independent Eugene N. Beard 2,531 19.41%
Write-in 3 0.02%
Total votes 13,037 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 25

District 25 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harry F. Byrd Jr. (incumbent) 6,102 100.00%
Total votes 6,102 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 26

District 26 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward O. McCue Jr. (incumbent) Nominated
Democratic Joseph T. Henley
Total votes 100.00%
District 26 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward O. McCue Jr. (incumbent) 3,149 99.72%
Write-in 9 0.28%
Total votes 3,158 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 27

District 27 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Benjamin T. Pitts (incumbent) 4,892 99.96%
Write-in 2 0.04%
Total votes 4,894 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 28

District 28 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Y. Button (incumbent) 3,300 100.00%
Total votes 3,300 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 29

District 29 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John K. A. Donovan Nominated
Democratic Andrew W. Clarke (incumbent)
Total votes 100.00%
District 29 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John K. A. Donovan 10,237 65.00%
Republican Nathan J. Paulson 5,511 34.99%
Write-in 1 0.01%
Total votes 15,749 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 30

District 30 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert O. Norris Jr. (incumbent) 3,802 100.00%
Total votes 3,802 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 31

District 31 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas H. Blanton (incumbent) 1,995 100.00%
Total votes 1,995 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 32

District 32 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William M. Minter (incumbent) 3,513 100.00%
Total votes 3,513 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 33

District 33 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Victor P. Wilson Nominated
Democratic G. Alvin Massenburg
Total votes 100.00%
District 33 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Victor P. Wilson 3,679 100.00%
Total votes 3,679 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 34

District 34 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lloyd C. Bird (incumbent) Nominated
Democratic C. Virgil Featherson
Total votes 100.00%
District 34 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lloyd C. Bird (incumbent) 3,206 100.00%
Total votes 3,206 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 35

District 35 Democratic primary[6]
3 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank S. Richeson (incumbent) Nominated
Democratic G. Edmond Massie Nominated
Democratic Edward E. Willey Nominated
Democratic Charles W. Crowder (incumbent)
Democratic James E. Gardner (incumbent)
Democratic Alvin V. Leake
Democratic Beeacher E. Stallard
Total votes 100.00%
District 35 election[3]
3 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic G. Edmond Massie 17,786 30.57%
Democratic Frank S. Richeson (incumbent) 17,502 30.09%
Democratic Edward E. Willey 17,154 29.49%
Independent Howard H. Carwile 5,728 9.85%
Write-in 4 0.01%
Total votes 58,174 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 36

District 36 Democratic primary[6]
1 to be nominated
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl A. Fitzpatrick (incumbent) Nominated
Democratic Arnold Schlossberg
Total votes 100.00%
Democratic hold
District 36 election[3]
1 to be elected
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl A. Fitzpatrick (incumbent) 1,122 99.29%
Write-in 8 0.71%
Total votes 1,130 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

  • 1951 Virginia House of Delegates election

References

  1. ↑ Ferguson, Gary (8 November 1951). "J. E. Proffit, Floyd Delegate, May Lead House Republicans". The Richmond News Leader. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Robert C. Vaden Is Elected Senate President Pro-Tem". Danville Register and Bee. 9 January 1952. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 "1951 Nov 06 - General Election". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Winning Candidates In State Elections Listed". The Daily Review. UP. 9 February 1949. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "General Assembly Meets in Colonial Capital". The Bee. Associated Press. 7 February 1948. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Final Results In Primary". The Roanoke Times. Associated Press. 9 August 1951. Retrieved 10 June 2026.

1951 Senate Virginia Senate Category:November 1951 in the United States

This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.