1958 United States Senate election in Maine

For related races, see 1958 United States Senate elections.

1958 United States Senate election in Maine

September 8, 1958

Nominee Edmund Muskie Frederick G. Payne Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 172,704 111,522 Percentage 60.76% 39.24%

County Results Muskie:      50–60%      60–70% Payne:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Frederick G. Payne Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie Democratic

The 1958 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 8, 1958 to elect a United States senator. Incumbent Republican Senator Frederick G. Payne lost re-election to a second term.

Senator Frederick Payne was defeated in his bid for a second term by a wide margin. This was one of a record 15 seats Democrats gained from the Republican Party. This was the first time Democrats won a Senate race in Maine since the 1910 election for this seat, thus this was the first time a Democrat was popularly elected to the Senate from Maine.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Frederick G. Payne, incumbent Senator
• Herman D. Sahagian, former member of the Maine Republican Committee

Results

1958 Republican U.S. Senate primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frederick G. Payne (incumbent)	82,448	83.64%
	Republican	Herman D. Sahagian	16,133	16.37%
Total votes			98,581	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Edmund Muskie, Governor of Maine

Results

Governor Muskie was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

1958 Democratic U.S. Senate primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edmund Muskie	39,202	100.00%
Total votes			39,202	100.00%

General election

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edmund Muskie	172,704	60.76%	25.90
	Republican	Frederick G. Payne (incumbent)	111,522	39.24%	19.46
Total votes			284,226	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1958 United States Senate elections