United States Senate elections, 1964

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate elections, 1964
country = United States
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate elections, 1962
previous_year = 1962
next_election = United States Senate elections, 1966
next_year = 1966
seats_for_election = 35 seats in the United States Senate
election_date = November 3, 1964

leader1 = Mike Mansfield
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Montana
last_election1 = 66 seats
seats1 = 68
seat_change1 = +2
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Everett Dirksen
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = Illinois
last_election2 = 34 seats
seats2 = 32
seat_change2 = -2
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

map_size = 300px
map_caption = legend|#f99|Republican holds

title = Majority Leader
before_election = Mike Mansfield
before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
after_election = Mike Mansfield
after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

The U.S. Senate election, 1964 was an election for the United States Senate which coincided with the election of President Lyndon B. Johnson by an overwhelming majority. His Democratic Party picked up a net two seats from the Republicans. As of 2006, this is the last time either party has had a two-thirds majority in the Senate, although with a Democratic president the ability to override a veto or impeach a President was not particularly relevant. However, since invoking cloture still required a two-thirds majority, the Democratic majority was able to overcome any filibuster, providing that party loyalty held. (As it did not in the case of civil rights bills.)

Democrats defeated Republican incumbents Edwin L. Mechem (R-NM), Kenneth B. Keating (R-NY), and James Glenn Beall (R-MD), while Republicans defeated incumbent Pierre Salinger (D-CA).

Notable freshmen included future Vice President and presidential candidate Walter Mondale (D-MN), appointed to the seat left vacant by newly elected Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and future presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY), former attorney general and brother of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

One notable race was in Nevada, where Democratic incumbent Howard Cannon won reelected over Republican Governor Paul Laxalt by fewer than 100 votes.

In 1966, Republican Robert P. Griffin was appointed to the vacancy left by the death of Patrick V. McNamara (D-MI). This is not reflected in the party balances below.

enate contests in 1964

See also

*United States presidential election, 1964
*United States House elections, 1964