page_title: 1958 United States Senate elections
section_title: Virginia
hierarchical_section_title: 1958 United States Senate elections / Virginia
context_page_description: The 1958 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate which occurred in the middle of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's second term. As is common in midterm elections, the party in the White House lost seats, but losses this year were more than usual, perhaps due to the high unemployment of the Recession of 1958. The Eisenhower Administration's position on right-to-work issues galvanized labor unions which supported Democrats. The launch of Sputnik may also have been a factor.
  The Democratic Party took 12 Republican seats and a special election seat, and also won both Senate seats in the new state of Alaska. This is the largest swing in the history of the Senate, and is only the second time in U.S. history that 10 or more Senate seats changed hands in a midterm election. This election featured the most incumbent Republicans defeated since senators were first popularly elected.
context_section_description: Incumbent Harry F. Byrd Sr. was re-elected after defeating Independent Louise Wensel and Social Democrat Clarke Robb.
caption: County and Independent City Results
  
  Byrd:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      90-100%
  
  
  Wensel:      40-50%      60-70%