On July 7, John Foster Dulles was appointed by Governor Thomas Dewey to fill the vacancy temporarily.

The American Labor Party made no nominations and urged its members not to vote for any candidate.

[2] Longtime incumbent Senator Robert F. Wagner resigned effective June 29, 1949, citing ill health.

[3] Dulles accused Lehman of working with communists while leading the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and for accepting the support of the American Labor Party in previous elections.

[5] The number of votes Lehman received on the Liberal line was greater than his margin of victory.