1962 United States Senate election in Connecticut

1962 United States Senate election in Connecticut
	Ribicoff: 50–60% 60-70% ; Brown: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90%
U.S. senator before election; Prescott Bush; Republican	Elected U.S. Senator ; Abraham Ribicoff; Democratic

The 1962 United States Senate election in Connecticut was held on November 6, 1962.

Incumbent Senator Prescott Bush retired instead of seeking a second full term in office. Former Governor of Connecticut and United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff was elected his successor over Congressman Horace Seely-Brown Jr. Ribicoff had previously sought election to this seat in 1952 but lost to Bush.

Republican nomination

Candidates

Declared

Horace Seely-Brown Jr., U.S. Representative from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district

Withdrew

John Davis Lodge, former Governor of Connecticut and United States Ambassador to Spain (following loss at convention)^[1]^[2]
Antoni Sadlak, U.S. Representative from Connecticut's at-large congressional district (to manage the Seely-Brown campaign)^[3]

Results

Congressman Horace Seely-Brown Jr. won an upset victory over former Governor John Davis Lodge at the Republican state convention. After two weeks of deliberation, Lodge opted not to seek a primary challenge and Seely-Brown was unopposed for the Republican nomination on the primary ballot.

1962 Connecticut Republican Convention^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Horace Seely-Brown	476	76.16%
	Republican	John Davis Lodge	149	23.84%
Total votes			625	100.00%

Democratic convention

Candidates

Declared

Abraham Ribicoff, United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and former Governor of Connecticut

Eliminated at convention

Frank Kowalski, U.S. Representative for Connecticut's at-large congressional district

Convention results

Kowalski fell short of the 190 delegates needed to be eligible for a primary election. Ribicoff was unopposed on the primary ballot.

1962 Connecticut Democratic Convention^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Abraham Ribicoff	786	82.82%
	Democratic	Frank Kowalski	163	17.18%
Total votes			949	100.00%

General election

Results

General election results^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Abraham Ribicoff	527,522	51.26%	8.21
	Republican	Horace Seely-Brown Jr.	501,694	48.74%	6.10
Total votes			1,029,216	100.00%

References

^ Walsh, William J. (May 18, 1962). "Lodge in Race, Gets Pledges of Delegates". The Bridgeport Post. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
^ "Lodge Decides Against Primary Fight". The Daily Gate City. June 13, 1962. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
^ Walsh, William J. (June 7, 1962). "Lodge Upset By Delegates in Primary Bid". The Bridgeport Post. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
^ "Seely-Brown Man of Hour". Beatrice Daily Sun. June 7, 1962. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
^ Walsh, William J. (July 13, 1962). "Ribicoff Wins Without Primary". Bridgeport Sunday Post. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
^ "CT US Senate Race". OurCampaigns. Retrieved August 12, 2019.