Wilson’s Election Set Stage for Dual Races

California voters will fill both of the state’s U. S. Senate seats in the Nov. 3 general election for the first time since California became a state in 1850. The unique twin election was triggered by the resignation of Republican Pete Wilson in January, 1991, from the U. S. Senate to take the oath of office as governor. Wilson appointed Republican John Seymour to fill the Senate vacancy through the next general election.

Also up this year, in its regular election cycle, is the seat held by Democrat Alan Cranston, who won the seat in 1968 and is retiring after serving four full terms. The six-year seat will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot after President, and will be followed by candidates for the two-year seat.

Since the end of World War II, California has been represented by 12 members of the Senate. Seven were Republicans and five were Democrats. The last time both seats were held by two members of the same party was in 1976, when Democrats John V. Tunney and Cranston served together. The last two Republicans to sit at the same time were George Murphy and Thomas Kuchel in 1968.

Wilson was the first senator to win reelection (in 1988) to that seat since William F. Knowland in 1952. Clair Engle died in office and Pierre Salinger, George Murphy, John Tunney and S. I. Hayakawa all were defeated after serving one term or part of a term.

Richard Nixon resigned in 1953 to take office as vice president. In 1958, William Knowland ran for governor and lost.

California’s first two senators were Free Soiler John C. Fremont (Seat A) and Democrat William M. Gwin (Seat B), chosen by the Legislature in December, 1849. They had to wait until statehood was approved by Congress on Sept. 9, 1850, to take their seats. By lot, Fremont, the explorer and hero of the Bear Flag revolt, drew a short two-year seat and was soundly defeated in his bid for a full term.

Fremont became the Republican Party’s first presidential candidate in 1856. Although Abraham Lincoln made 50 speeches in his behalf, Fremont lost to Democrat James Buchanan.

Other nationally known California senators included George Hearst, Hiram W. Johnson, Leland Stanford and William Gibbs McAdoo.