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 elections. As a result, despite the Republican gains, the Democrats retained a commanding lead over them with more than two-thirds of the legislative chamber. However, there were around twenty unreliable Democratic votes for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which allowed the conservatives to block some of his policies. Events of the election

A contemporary account cited a number of reasons for the losses suffered by the Democrats. The Recession of 1937–1938 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. More broadly, Roosevelt had faced opposition from the conservative Democrats and the Republicans in Congress since the beginning of his presidency, with Vice President John Nance Garner making a push for Roosevelt to support more conservative policies.

There were, in addition, strains between the more liberal New Deal supporters and the conservative wing of the Democratic party centered in the Southern United States, which were exacerbated by an effort led by 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.

The National Progressives of America emerged out of the Wisconsin Progressive Party as a national party on April 18, 1938.

Gains, losses, and holds Retirements One Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election, one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term and one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term and election to a full term.

StateSenatorReplaced by Illinois Oregon (special) Oregon South Dakota (special)

Defeats Seven Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election. One Democrat sought election to a full term but lost in the primary election and one Democrat sought election to finish the unexpired term but lost in the primary election.

StateSenatorReplaced by California Connecticut Idaho Kansas New Hampshire Ohio South Dakota Tennessee Wisconsin

Death One Democrat died on June 17, 1938, and his seat remained vacant until the election.

StateSenatorReplaced by New York (special)

Post-election changes

StateSenatorReplaced by Idaho Illinois Kentucky Vermont

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 D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D FL D D D D D D D D D FL I P R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Result of 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 D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R P I FL FL D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R Key: D Democratic FL Farmer–Labor I Independent P Progressive R Republican

Race summaries

Special elections during the 75th Congress In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1938 or before January 3, 1939; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Alabama(Class 3) J. Lister Hill Democratic 1938 Interim appointee elected April 26, 1938. New Jersey(Class 1) John Milton Democratic 1938 Interim appointee retired.Winner elected November 8, 1938.Republican gain. New York(Class 1) Royal S. Copeland Democratic 192219281934 Incumbent died June 17, 1938.Winner elected November 8, 1938.Democratic hold. Oregon(Class 3) Alfred E. Reames Democratic 1938 Interim appointee retired.Winner elected November 8, 1938.Republican gain.Winner did not run for the next term, however; see below. South Dakota(Class 3) Herbert E. Hitchcock Democratic 1936 Interim appointee retired.Winner elected November 8, 1938.Republican gain.Winner did not run for the next term, however; see below. Tennessee(Class 2) George L. Berry Democratic 1937 Interim appointee lost nomination to finish the term.Winner elected November 8, 1938.Democratic hold.Winner delayed his term until January 16, 1939, to finish his term as district attorney.

Races leading to the 76th Congress In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1939; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Alabama J. Lister Hill Democratic 1938 1938 Incumbent re-elected. Arizona Carl Hayden Democratic 19261932 Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas Hattie Caraway Democratic 1931 1932 Incumbent re-elected. California William Gibbs McAdoo Democratic 1932 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Democratic hold.Incumbent then resigned and Thomas M. Storke (D) was appointed to finish the term. Colorado Alva B. Adams Democratic 1923 1924 1932 Incumbent re-elected. Connecticut Augustine Lonergan Democratic 1932 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Florida Claude Pepper Democratic 1936 Incumbent re-elected. Georgia Walter F. George Democratic 1922 19261932 Incumbent re-elected. Idaho James P. Pope Democratic 1932 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected.Democratic hold. Illinois William H. Dieterich Democratic 1932 Incumbent retired.New senator elected.Democratic hold. Indiana Frederick Van Nuys Democratic 1932 Incumbent re-elected. Iowa Guy Gillette Democratic 1936 Incumbent re-elected. Kansas George McGill Democratic 1930 1932 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Kentucky Alben W. Barkley Democratic 19261932 Incumbent re-elected. Louisiana John H. Overton Democratic 1932 Incumbent re-elected. Maryland Millard Tydings Democratic 19261932 Incumbent re-elected. Missouri Bennett Champ Clark Democratic 19321933 Incumbent re-elected. Nevada Pat McCarran Democratic 1932 Incumbent re-elected. New Hampshire Fred H. Brown Democratic 1932 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. New York Robert F. Wagner Democratic 19261932 Incumbent re-elected. North Carolina Robert R. Reynolds Democratic 1932 1932 Incumbent re-elected. North Dakota Gerald Nye Republican 1925 1926 1932 Incumbent re-elected. Ohio Robert J. Bulkley Democratic 1930 1932 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain. Oklahoma Elmer Thomas Democratic 19261932 Incumbent re-elected. Oregon Alfred E. Reames Democratic 1938 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected.Republican gain. Pennsylvania James J. Davis Republican 1930 1932 Incumbent re-elected. South Carolina Ellison D. Smith Democratic 19091914192019261932 Incumbent re-elected. South Dakota Herbert E. Hitchcock Democratic 1936 Interim appointee lost nomination to next term.New senator elected.Republican gain. Utah Elbert D. Thomas Democratic 1932 Incumbent re-elected. Vermont Ernest W. Gibson Republican 1933 1934 Incumbent re-elected. Washington Homer Bone Democratic 1932 Incumbent re-elected. Wisconsin F. Ryan Duffy Democratic 1932 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected.Republican gain.

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

State Party of winner Margin Indiana Democratic 0.3% Iowa Democratic 0.3% Connecticut Republican (flip) 2.9% Illinois Democratic 3.0% South Dakota Republican (flip) 5.0% Ohio Republican (flip) 7.2% New Jersey Republican (flip) 7.3% North Dakota Democratic 7.5% New Hampshire Republican (flip) 8.4% New York Democratic 9.5% California Democratic 9.7% Idaho Democratic 9.8% Oregon Republican (flip) 9.8%

There is no tipping point state.

Alabama

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.

Alabama (special)

After congressman J. Lister Hill won the January 4, 1938, Democratic primary, Graves resigned and Hill was appointed to continue the term until the April 26, 1938, special election, which he won unopposed.

Hill was then easily re-elected in November to the next term.

Alabama (regular)

Arizona

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

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

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

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

This is the last time that a Senator from Kansas lost re-election. Republicans have not lost a Senate election in the state since.

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Missouri

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 Republicans nominated John Lord O'Brian for the U.S. Senate. Democrats re-nominated the incumbent Wagner. The American Labor Party endorsed Wagner.

New York (special)

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

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

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)

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

Oregon (regular)

Pennsylvania

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)

South Dakota (regular)

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

Tennessee (special)

Utah

Vermont

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