The 1946 United States Senate elections were held November 5, 1946, in the middle of Democratic President Harry S. Truman's first term after Roosevelt's death. The 32 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and four special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Republicans took control of the Senate by picking up twelve seats, mostly from the Democrats. This was the first time since 1932 that the Republicans had held the Senate, recovering from a low of 16 seats following the 1936 elections. Events of the election The vote was largely seen as a referendum on Truman, whose approval rating had sunk to 32%Leuchtenburg, William E. (November 2006). "New Faces of 1946: An unpopular president. A war-weary people. In the midterm elections of 60 years ago, voters took aim at incumbents". Smithsonian (magazine). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. p. 2 of 5. Retrieved May 12, 2009. "On October 14, scarcely more than three weeks before midterm elections, Truman bit the bullet. Even when his approval rating dropped to 32 percent, he had told reporters that controls were indispensable. On this night, however, speaking to the largest radio audience since the end of the war, Truman lashed out at "the few men in Congress who, in the service of selfish interests, have been determined for some time to wreck price controls no matter what the cost might be to our people." Then he stunned the nation by announcing that he was lifting controls on meat. With the lid off, prices skyrocketed. The New York Daily News headlined: PRICES SOAR, BUYERS SORE/STEERS JUMP OVER THE MOON. Brickbats flew at the president. "Brother," said Ohio's Clarence J. Brown, chair of the Republican Congressional Committee, "the tide is sweepin' our way."" over the president's controversial handling of the United States strike wave of 1945–1946, such as a nationwide railroad strike in May, at a time when Americans depended on train service for both commuter and long-distance travel. Just as damaging was Truman's back-and-forth over whether to end unpopular wartime price controls to handle shortages, particularly in foodstuffs. For example, price controls on beef had led to a "hamburger famine," but when Truman, in a surprise move, lifted the controls on October 14—just weeks before the election—meat prices shot up to record levels.

This is only one of two occasions in U.S. history that 10 or more Senate seats changed hands in a midterm election (the other being in 1958), and also one of five occasions where 10 or more Senate seats changed hands in any election, with the other occasions being in 1920, 1932, 1958, and 1980.

Truman's lack of popular support is widely seen as the reason for the Democrats' congressional defeat, the largest since they were trounced in the 1928 pro-Republican wave that brought Herbert Hoover to power. For the first time since before the Great Depression, Republicans were seen as the party that could best handle the American economy.

However, the Republicans also benefited from a good map, as the majority of the one-third of Senate seats up for election that year were held by Democrats. Besides the Republicans being able to hold onto all of their seats, this was the party's largest Senate gain since 1920.

Results summary + ↓ 45 51 Democratic Republican

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row. Parties Total Democratic Republican Other Last elections (1944) 57 38 1 96 Before these elections 56 39 1 96 Not up 32 28 0 60 Up 24 11 1 36 21 10 1 32 3 1 — 4 Incumbent retired 4 4 — 8 3 4 — 7 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican — 1 3 5 0 8 Incumbent ran 20 7 1 28 9 6 0 16 7 Democrats replaced by 7 Republicans — 7 1 1 — 2 3 Democrats replaced by 3 Republicans1 Progressive replaced by 1 Republican 4 10 18 0 28 Total elected 13 23 0 36 Net change 11 12 1 12 Nationwide vote 12,062,433 15,489,926 1,142,765 28,695,124 Share 42.04% 53.98% 3.98% 100% Result 45 51 0 96

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

Gains, losses, and holds Retirements Three Republicans and five Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

StateSenatorReplaced by Alabama (special) Connecticut Indiana Kentucky (special) New York Ohio Rhode Island Virginia (special)

Defeats One Republican, one Progressive, and ten Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

StateSenatorReplaced by Delaware Idaho (special) Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri Montana Nevada Pennsylvania Utah Washington Wisconsin

Post election changes StateSenatorReplaced by Louisiana South Dakota Mississippi

Change in composition Before the elections   D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Majority → D R P D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Election results

  D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R Majority → R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Key D Democratic P Progressive R Republican

Race summaries

Special elections during the 79th Congress In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1946, ordered by election date, then state.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history North Dakota(Class 3) Republican 1945 Interim appointee elected June 25, 1946. Alabama(Class 2) Democratic 1946 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 5, 1946.Democratic hold. California(Class 1) Republican 1945 Interim appointee elected November 5, 1946.Winner also elected to next term; see below. Connecticut(Class 1) Republican 1945 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 5, 1946.Republican hold.Winner also elected to next term; see below. Idaho(Class 2) Democratic 1945 Interim appointee lost nomination.New senator elected November 5, 1946.Republican gain. Kentucky(Class 2) Republican 1945 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 5, 1946.Republican hold. Ohio(Class 1) Democratic 1945 Interim appointee declined to run in the special election.New senator elected November 5, 1946.Republican gain.Winner was not elected to the next term; see below. Virginia(Class 2) Democratic 1946 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected November 5, 1946.Democratic hold.

Races leading to the 80th Congress In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1947; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Arizona Democratic 1940 Incumbent re-elected. California Republican 1945 Interim appointee elected.Winner also elected to finish term; see above. Connecticut Republican 1945 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected.Republican hold.Winner also elected to finish term; see above. Delaware Democratic 1940 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Florida Democratic 1946 Interim appointee elected. Indiana Republican 1940 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Republican hold. Maine Republican 1940 Incumbent re-elected. Maryland Democratic 19341940 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Democratic hold. Massachusetts Democratic 19181924 1926 192819341940 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Michigan Republican 1928 192819341940 Incumbent re-elected. Minnesota Republican 1922192819341940 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Republican hold. Mississippi Democratic 19341940 Incumbent re-elected. Missouri Democratic 1945 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Montana Democratic 1922192819341940 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Republican gain. Nebraska Republican 1940 Incumbent re-elected. Nevada Democratic 1945 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Republican gain. New Jersey Republican 1944 Incumbent re-elected. New Mexico Democratic 1935 1936 1940 Incumbent re-elected. New York Democratic 1940 Incumbent retired to run for New York Governor.New senator elected.Republican gain. North Dakota Republican 1940 Incumbent re-elected. Ohio Democratic 1945 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected.Republican gain.Winner was not elected to finish the term; see above. Pennsylvania Democratic 19341940 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Rhode Island Democratic 19341940 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Democratic hold. Tennessee Democratic 19161922192819341940 Incumbent re-elected. Texas Democratic 192819341940 Incumbent re-elected. Utah Democratic 1940 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Vermont Republican 1946 Interim appointee elected. Virginia Democratic 1933 1933 19341940 Incumbent re-elected. Washington Democratic 1945 Interim appointee lost election.New senator elected.Republican gain.Incumbent resigned December 25, 1946.Winner appointed December 26, 1946, to finish term. West Virginia Democratic 1940 Incumbent re-elected. Wisconsin Progressive 1925 192819341940 Incumbent lost renomination as a Republican.New senator elected.Republican gain. Wyoming Democratic 1933 19341940 Incumbent re-elected.

Closest races Ten races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State Party of winner Margin Maryland Democratic 0.4% West Virginia Democratic 0.6% Utah Republican (flip) 2.4% New Mexico Democratic 3.0% New York Republican (flip) 5.0% Missouri Republican (flip) 5.6% Kentucky Republican 6.8% Montana Republican (flip) 8.1% Washington Republican (flip) 9.1% California Republican 9.9%

Alabama (special)

Arizona

Incumbent Democrat Ernest McFarland ran for re-election to a second term, easily defeating Republican Ward S. Powers in the general election.

California

California (special)

Results

California (regular)

Connecticut

There were 2 elections for the same seat due to the January 16, 1945, death of Democrat Francis T. Maloney. Republican Thomas C. Hart was appointed February 15, 1945, to continue the term, pending a special election. Republican Governor of Connecticut Raymond E. Baldwin won both elections, but resigned only three years after the election to become a state judge.

Connecticut (regular)

Connecticut (special)

Delaware

Florida

Idaho (special)

Indiana

Kentucky (special)

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Republican Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. defeated incumbent David I. Walsh.

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

The New York state election was held on November 5, 1946.

The Socialist Labor state convention met on April 7 and nominated Eric Hass for the U.S.Senate. The party filed a petition to nominate candidates under the name "Industrial Government Party."

The Liberal Party gathered 51,015 signatures and filed a petition to nominate candidates with the Secretary of State on September 2.

The Republican state convention met on September 4 at Saratoga Springs, New York. They nominated Assembly Majority Leader Irving M. Ives.

The Democratic state convention met on September 4 at Albany, New York, and nominated Ex-Governor Herbert H. Lehman (in office 1933–1942) for the U.S. Senate.

The American Labor state convention met on September 3 and endorsed Lehman. Fielding, Chapman and Abt were withdrawn from the ticket on September 5, and Democrats Corning, Young and Epstein substituted on the ticket.

The Socialist Workers Party filed a petition to nominate candidates headed by Farrell Dobbs for Governor.

The Industrial Government, Socialist and Socialist Workers tickets were not allowed on the ballot because of "defective nominating petitions." The Court of Appeals upheld the decisions of the lower courts.

The whole Republican ticket was elected in a landslide.

Obs.: "Blank, void and scattering" votes: 178,694

North Dakota