1938 United States Senate elections

November 8, 1938
35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Alben Barkley Charles McNary Party Democratic Republican Leader since July 22, 1937 March 4, 1933 Leader's seat Kentucky Oregon Seats before 77 15 Seats after 69 23 Seat change 8 8 Seats up 32 3 Races won 24 11   Third party Fourth party   Party Farmer–Labor Progressive Seats before 2 1 Seats after 2 1 Seat change Seats up 0 0 Races won 0 0   Fifth party   Party Independent Seats before 1 Seats after 1 Seat change Seats up 0 Races won 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Alben Barkley Democratic Elected Majority Leader Alben Barkley Democratic

The 1938 United States Senate elections occurred in the middle of Franklin D. Roosevelt's second term. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Republicans gained eight seats from the Democrats, though this occurred after multiple Democratic gains since the 1932 election, leading to the Democrats retaining a commanding lead over the Republicans with more than two-thirds of the legislative chamber.

A contemporary account^[1] cited a number of reasons for the losses suffered by the Democrats. The Recession of 1937 had continued into the first half of 1938, and had arguably weakened public confidence in the administration's New Deal economic policies, along with controversy over the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937 (Roosevelt's "court-packing" plan).

There were, in addition, strains between the more liberal New Deal supporters and the conservative wing of the Democratic party centered in the Southern states, which were exacerbated by an effort led by President Roosevelt to target certain conservative senators for defeat in Democratic primaries, including Walter George of Georgia, Millard Tydings of Maryland, Robert Rice Reynolds of North Carolina, and Ellison Smith of South Carolina. While a number of New Deal supporters won primary elections, such as Alben Barkley in Kentucky, who defeated Governor Happy Chandler, James P. Pope of Idaho, a prominent New Deal supporter, lost his bid for re-nomination, as did California's William McAdoo — though McAdoo's Democratic opponent, Sheridan Downey, had campaigned as a liberal New Dealer on many issues who would also do more to improve pension plans.^[2]

President Franklin D. Roosevelt had faced opposition from conservative Democrats and the Republicans in Congress since the beginning of his presidency. Josiah Bailey, Edward R. Burke, Harry F. Byrd, James F. Byrnes, Walter F. George, Peter G. Gerry, Carter Glass, Pat Harrison, Rush Holt Sr., Kenneth McKellar, and Ellison D. Smith were the conservative Democratic senators that opposed Roosevelt's policies although Harrison, Burke, Byrnes, and McKellar had initially supported the First New Deal. Vice President John Nance Garner pushed for Roosevelt to support more conservative policies. The Republicans gained eight seats in the Senate while the Democrats maintained their majority. However, there were around twenty unreliable Democratic votes for Roosevelt which allowed conservatives to block some of his policies.^[3]

Gains, losses, and holds

Change in composition

Race summaries

Closest races

Thirteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

There is no tipping point state.

Alabama

Senator J. Lister Hill

There were 2 elections due to the August 19, 1937, resignation of two-term Democrat Hugo Black. Democrat Dixie Bibb Graves was appointed August 20, 1937 (by her husband, the governor) to finish Black's term.

Arizona

Arizona election

Nominee Carl Hayden Burt H. Clingan Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 82,714 25,378 Percentage 76.52% 23.48%

U.S. senator before election Carl Hayden Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carl Hayden Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Carl Hayden was re-elected to a third term, defeating Republican nominee Burt H. Clingan, chairman of the Arizona Industrial Commission, in the general election.

In contrast to previous elections, Hayden was easily reelected, receiving only token opposition from a relatively unknown Republican challenger.

Arkansas

California

California election

Nominee Sheridan Downey Philip Bancroft Party Democratic Republican Alliance Progressive Townsend Popular vote 1,372,314 1,126,240 Percentage 54.43% 44.67%

U.S. senator before election William Gibbs McAdoo Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Sheridan Downey Democratic

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Incumbent Democrat William H. Dieterich retired, making this an open-seat.

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Kentucky election

Nominee Alben W. Barkley John P. Haswell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 346,735 212,266 Percentage 62.03% 37.97%

County results Barkley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Haswell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Alben W. Barkley Democratic Elected U.S. senator Alben W. Barkley Democratic

Louisiana

Maryland

Missouri

Missouri election

Nominee Bennett Champ Clark Henry S. Caulfield Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 757,587 488,687 Percentage 60.69% 39.15%

County results Clark:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Caulfield:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Bennett Champ Clark Democratic Elected U.S. senator Bennett Champ Clark Democratic

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey (special)

New York

There were 2 elections due to the June 17, 1938, death of three-term Democrat Royal S. Copeland.

New York (regular)

New York regular election

November 8, 1938

Nominee Robert F. Wagner John Lord O'Brian Party Democratic Republican Alliance American Labor Independent Progressive Popular vote 2,497,029 2,058,615 Percentage 54.48% 44.92%

U.S. senator before election Robert F. Wagner Democratic Elected U.S. senator Robert F. Wagner Democratic

Main article: 1938 United States Senate election in New York

New York Republicans nominated John Lord O'Brian for the U.S. Senate.^[10] Democrats re-nominated the incumbent Wagner.^[11] The American Labor party endorsed Wagner.^[12]

1938 United States Senate election in New York^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert F. Wagner (Incumbent)	2,098,919	45.80%
	American Labor	Robert F. Wagner (Incumbent)	398,410	8.69%
	Total	Robert F. Wagner (Incumbent)	2,497,029	54.48%
	Republican	John Lord O'Brian	2,046,794	44.66%
	Independent Progressive	John Lord O'Brian	11,821	0.26%
	'Total'	John Lord O'Brian	2,058,615	44.92%
	Socialist	Herman J. Hahn[lower-alpha 3]	23,553	0.51%
	Socialist Labor	O. Martin Olson[lower-alpha 4]	3,851	0.08%
Total votes			4,583,048	100.00%

New York (special)

Senator James M. Mead

Main article: 1938 United States Senate special election in New York

New York Republicans nominated Edward Corsi for the short term to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Royal S. Copeland.^[10] Democrats nominated James M. Mead.^[11] The American Labor party endorsed Mead.^[12]

Democratic ticket		Republican ticket		American Labor ticket		Socialist ticket
James M. Mead	2,060,876	Edward F. Corsi	2,083,666	James M. Mead	378,028	Harry W. Laidler	27,161

North Carolina

1938 United States Senate election in North Carolina

November 7, 1938

Nominee Robert R. Reynolds Charles A. Jonas Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 316,685 179,461 Percentage 63.83% 36.17%

Results by county Reynolds:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Jonas:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Robert Rice Reynolds Democratic Elected Senator Robert Rice Reynolds Democratic

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

There were 2 elections for the same seat, due to the January 31, 1938, resignation of two-term Republican Frederick Steiwer. Democratic businessman Alfred E. Reames was appointed February 1, 1938, to continue the term, pending a special election, but he did not run in either the special or the general elections.

Oregon (special)

Senator Alexander G. Barry

Republican Alexander G. Barry was elected to finish the term, but was not a candidate for the next term.

Oregon special election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Alexander G. Barry	180,815	54.20%
	Democratic	Robert A. Miller	152,773	45.80%
	None	Scattering	3	0.00%
Majority			28,042	8.40%
Turnout			333,591
	Republican gain from Democratic

Oregon (regular)

Senator Rufus C. Holman

Oregon general election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rufus C. Holman	203,120	54.86%
	Democratic	Willis Mahoney	167,135	45.14%
	None	Scattering	6	0.00%
Majority			35,985	9.72%
Turnout			370,261
	Republican gain from Democratic

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania election

November 8, 1938

Nominee James J. Davis George Howard Earle III Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,086,931 1,694,367 Percentage 54.7% 44.4%

U.S. senator before election James J. Davis Republican Elected U.S. Senator James J. Davis Republican

South Carolina

South Dakota

There were 2 elections for the same seat due to the December 20, 1936, death of three-term Republican Peter Norbeck. Democrat Herbert Hitchcock was appointed December 29, 1936, to continue the term, pending a special election.

South Dakota (special)

Senator Gladys Pyle

Main article: 1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota

South Dakota election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gladys Pyle	155,292	58.06%
	Democratic	John T. McCullen	112,177	41.94%
Majority			43,115	16.12%
Turnout			267,469
	Republican gain from Democratic

South Dakota (regular)

Senator John Chandler Gurney

Main article: 1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota

Hitchcock lost the Democratic May 3, 1938, primary for the next term to Governor of South Dakota Tom Berry.^[14]

South Dakota general election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Chandler Gurney[15]	146,813	52.46%
	Democratic	Tom Berry	133,064	47.54%
Majority			13,749	4.92%
Turnout			279,877
	Republican gain from Democratic

Tennessee (special)

Utah

Vermont

Vermont election

November 8, 1938 (1938-11-08)

Nominee Ernest W. Gibson Sr. John McGrath Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 73,990 38,673 Percentage 65.7% 34.3%

U.S. senator before election Ernest W. Gibson Sr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator Ernest W. Gibson Sr. Republican

Washington

Wisconsin

Further reading

• Dunn, Susan. Roosevelt's Purge: How FDR Fought to Change the Democratic Party (2010) excerpt and text search
• Hixson, Walter L. "The 1938 Kentucky Senate Election: Alben W. Barkley, "Happy" Chandler, and The New Deal." Register of the Kentucky Historical Society (1982): 309-329. in JSTOR
• Plesur, Milton. "The Republican Congressional Comeback of 1938", Review of Politics Vol. 24, No. 4 (October 1962), pp. 525–562 in JSTOR
• Official New York result: LEHMAN PLURALITY OFFICIALLY 64,394; State Board Puts His Vote Finally at 2,391,286, With 2,326,892 for Dewey LABOR'S POLL AT 419,979 Blank, Void and Scattered Ballots Totaled 75,047; Poletti Won by 229,361 in NYT on December 8, 1938 (subscription required)

See also

• 1938 United States elections
  • 1938 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 1938 United States House of Representatives elections
• 75th United States Congress
• 76th United States Congress

Notes

References