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At a glance

Overview

The 1958 state‑senate elections left the Democratic Party in control of 34 of the 48 chambers contested, a net gain of one chamber, while the Farmer‑Labor Party retained 14 chambers, slipping by one. The balance of power therefore tilted very slightly toward the Democrats, who now command a modest majority of state‑senate chambers nationwide.

What Flipped

Nine chambers changed hands. The Democrats captured three former Farmer‑Labor chambers—Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Kansas—and also reclaimed Nebraska and South Dakota, bringing the total Democratic net gain to +1. The Farmer‑Labor Party flipped three Democratic chambers—New Jersey, Florida, and Mississippi—and seized Missouri, accounting for its net loss of ‑1. These nine flips are highlighted on the map, where the red‑to‑blue arrows (FLP → DEM) and blue‑to‑red arrows (DEM → FLP) illustrate the exact locations of the partisan turnover.

The National Picture

Across all state‑senate seats, Democrats hold 1 022 seats, Farmer‑Labor 871, Conservatives 24 and the Minor Communist‑Populist Unionist (MCPUS) 8. The Democratic advantage of 151 seats over Farmer‑Labor translates into a comfortable, though not overwhelming, national majority. The small Conservative and MCPUS blocs remain marginal, together comprising only 32 of the 1 925 total seats.

The aggregate picture shows that while the Democrats dominate the national seat count, the Farmer‑Labor Party remains a potent regional force, retaining control of 14 chambers and holding a substantial 871 seats. The nine flipped chambers illustrate a highly competitive environment: the Democrats’ gains were largely in the Midwest (IN, KS, NE, SD) and the industrial Northeast (PA), whereas the Farmer‑Labor Party’s advances were concentrated in the South‑East (FL, MS) and the Midwest (MO) and a key Northeastern swing state (NJ).

Because the map is rendered in gain‑loss mode, the visual contrast between the deep blue Democratic holds and the bright red Farmer‑Labor holds underscores the stability of most chambers—most states show “hold” status—while the nine “gain” markers punctuate the overall picture of modest but meaningful movement. The net shift of only one chamber masks the underlying volatility: nine chambers changed party, indicating that the 1958 cycle was a pivotal moment for regional power balances even as the national aggregate remained firmly Democratic.

Chamber control by state