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.

Quick Facts 35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1938 United States Senate elections

← 1936 November 8, 1938 1940 →
← 1937 (AR)
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

Close

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]

Thirteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

There is no tipping point state.

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.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1938 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1932 November 3, 1938 1944 →

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

County results Hayden:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

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

Close

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.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1938 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1932 November 8, 1938 1944 →

Nominee Scott W. Lucas Richard J. Lyons Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,638,162 1,542,574 Percentage 51.32% 48.33%

County results Lucas:      50–60%      60–70% Lyons:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election William H. Dieterich Democratic Elected U.S. senator Scott W. Lucas Democratic

Close

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

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

New York (regular)

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1938 United States Senate election in New York

← 1932 November 8, 1938 1944 →

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%

County Results Wagner:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% O'Brian:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election Robert F. Wagner Democratic Elected Senator Robert F. Wagner Democratic

Close

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]

More information Party, Candidate ...

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%

Close

New York (special)

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1938 United States Senate special election in New York

← 1934 November 8, 1938 1940 →

Nominee James M. Mead Edward F. Corsi Party Democratic Republican Alliance American Labor Party Ind. Progressive Popular vote 2,438,904 2,083,666 Percentage 53.93% 46.08%

Mead:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Corsi:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Vacant Elected U.S. Senator James M. Mead Democratic

Close

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]

More information Democratic ticket, Republican ticket ...

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

Close

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.