THE TIGHTEST SENATE RACES

Up for contest this year are 35 seats in the U.S. Senate --three more than the usual 32 because of death and resignation. With Dwight Eisenhower's blessing, Republicans last week launched an all-out fight to tip the present Democratic Senate majority (49-47) back to the G.O.P. side of the aisle. The tightest races:

California. Republican Senator Tom Kuchel (rhymes with treacle), 46, backed by Nixon, Knowland and Knight forces, is battling for a second term against fast-rising State Senator Richard Richards, 40, a Los Angeles lawyer. Richards may run strong in Democratic Los Angeles County, but Kuchel's popularity in the rest of the state should carry the day. A good Republican bet.

Colorado. Former Governor (1951-54) Dan Thornton, intimate friend and longtime supporter of President Eisenhower, has set the Republican chances several notches higher by taking up the G.O.P. baton from ailing, retiring Senator Eugene Millikin (TIME, Aug. 6). Thornton's opponent: the Democratic winner of the Sept. 11 primary, probably Harry Truman's former Agriculture Secretary (1948-1953) Charles Brannan. Thornton's prospects: fair.

Connecticut. Republican Prescott Bush has worked hard and effectively in Washington, holds a slight edge over Congressman Thomas J. Dodd. Bush has a pending problem: Massachusetts' Senator John Kennedy will try out his newly won popularity--as the Democrats' also-ran vice-presidential candidate--campaigning on Dodd's behalf.

Idaho. For the Democratic nomination, Boise Attorney Frank Church, 32, barely nosed out ("by 200 votes) his primary opponent, guitar-strumming Glen Taylor, 52, 1948 Progressive Party vice-presidential nominee. Church is popular, has excellent political connections, may give trouble to Old Guard Incumbent Herman Welker.

Illinois. Honey-throated Ev Dirksen is better known than the Democrats' Richard Stengel, 41, onetime state legislator. Dirksen is clinging dearly to Eisenhower's coattails, hitting hard on civil rights, a vital issue to Illinois' 900,000 Negroes. The Hodge embezzlement scandal (TIME, July 23 et seq.) might have hurt G.O.P. chances, but Democrats have hesitated to exploit the affair until they find out how deeply some of their own people might be involved. Dirksen still leads, but Stengel is coming up.

Indiana. Republican Senator Homer Capehart still holds the fort against former Secretary of Agriculture (1940-45) Claude R. Wickard, very likely will keep his seat.

Kentucky. On the President's urging, John Sherman Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to India and two-term (1946-48, 1952-54) Senator, jumped back into Kentucky politics (TIME, July 16), is a slight favorite to win the late Alben Barkley's seat and the four-year term that goes with it. His Democratic opponent: former Governor Lawrence Wetherby. Cooper's name on the G.O.P. ticket has strengthened the chances of ex-Assistant Secretary of State Thruston Morton to win Kentucky's second seat away from Democrat Earle Clements, but Clements is the favorite.

Maryland. Now that Democrat Millard Tydings has dropped out of the field (TIME, Aug. 27), lackluster Republican Senator John Marshall Butler has the right of way. Last week Baltimore's Mayor Tommy D'Alesandro, Maryland's Democratic kingpin, sifted through the roster for a glad Tydings substitute, listed as one contender none other than Millard Tydings's wife, Society Matron Eleanor Davies Tydings, 52.

Nevada. The state's one Congressman, hard-fighting Republican Clifton Young, 33, has been pitched into the Senate battle against the winner of next week's four-way Democratic primary, probably the incumbent Senator, Alan Bible. Young's bright prospects have been dimmed because Nevada's multitude of miners, ranchers and sportsmen have been reminded that Young favored a U.S. Navy project to close off 2,245,000 acres of good hunting and fishing land for gunnery ranges.

New York. Two-term Democratic Senator Herbert Lehman, 78, decided last week that he would not run for reelection, gave his endorsement to New York City's popular Mayor Robert Wagner, who, at week's end, had no real opposition. On the Republican side, the leading contender is G.O.P. Attorney General Jacob Javits, 52, the only Republican to win a statewide office in 1954. New York's November outlook: nip, tuck, and rough.

Ohio. Senator George Bender has chucked his noisy, boisterous ways, is campaigning hard against the great popularity of five-term Governor Frank Lausche. Bender's campaign chairman is Treasury Secretary George Humphrey. Bender aides say that the candidate may get personal help from Dwight D. Eisenhower himself. But all three of them will have trouble beating Frank Lausche.

Oregon. Ike's ex-Secretary of Interior Douglas McKay, onetime (1949-53) governor of Oregon, was drafted by Eisenhower in an attempt to unseat Wayne Morse, who was elected as a Republican, is now a Democrat. McKay has made real headway, will get an extra boost when Ike campaigns in Oregon. Morse is in trouble.

Pennsylvania. G.O.P. Senator Jim Duff's stiff opposition is Philadelphia's able ex-Mayor Joe Clark. The frangible Pennsylvania Republican Party will have to give Duff solid support to put him across.

Washington. Capable Governor Arthur Langlie (see cover), has to outrun a proven vote-getter in Senator Warren Magnuson. An uphill race, with Maggie a step ahead.

Wisconsin. Despite lack of Administration support, 72-year-old Alexander Wiley is a good bet in a bitter Sept.11 primary against Organization Candidate Glenn Davis, should win over the victor of the Democratic primary (Henry Maier v. Elliot Walstead).

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