In 1952 McKellar stood for a seventh term (the first Senator to do so), despite being 83.
He was opposed for renomination by Middle Tennessee Congressman Albert Gore.
McKellar's reelection slogan was "Thinking Feller?
Vote McKellar", which Gore countered with "Think Some More – Vote for Gore."
Gore defeated McKellar for the Democratic nomination in August in what was widely regarded as something of an upset.
At this point in Tennessee history, the Democratic nomination for statewide office was still "tantamount to election."
Most African Americans had been disenfranchised by discriminatory laws and practices, resulting in the Republican Party being active chiefly in East Tennessee.
This had been the case since the Civil War.
Gore served three full terms in the Senate.

McKellar's defeat was part of a statewide trend of change in 1952.
That year incumbent governor of Tennessee Gordon Browning was defeated by Frank G. Clement.
Browning, who had served a total of three terms as governor, the last two successive, had also at one point been a close ally of Crump's but had since broken ranks with him.
As Clement and Gore were both considerably younger and regarded as more progressive than their predecessors, some historians cite the 1952 elections as an indication that Tennessee entered into the "New South" era of Southern politics earlier than most of the other Southern states.
In 1952 McKellar stood for a seventh term (the first Senator to do so), despite being 83. He was opposed for renomination by Middle Tennessee Congressman Albert Gore. McKellar's reelection slogan was "Thinking Feller? Vote McKellar", which Gore countered with "Think Some More – Vote for Gore." Gore defeated McKellar for the Democratic nomination in August in what was widely regarded as something of an upset. At this point in Tennessee history, the Democratic nomination for statewide office was still "tantamount to election." Most African Americans had been disenfranchised by discriminatory laws and practices, resulting in the Republican Party being active chiefly in East Tennessee. This had been the case since the Civil War. Gore served three full terms in the Senate.
McKellar's defeat was part of a statewide trend of change in 1952. That year incumbent governor of Tennessee Gordon Browning was defeated by Frank G. Clement. Browning, who had served a total of three terms as governor, the last two successive, had also at one point been a close ally of Crump's but had since broken ranks with him. As Clement and Gore were both considerably younger and regarded as more progressive than their predecessors, some historians cite the 1952 elections as an indication that Tennessee entered into the "New South" era of Southern politics earlier than most of the other Southern states.
Kenneth McKellar (politician)