The 1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Republican Senator Peter Norbeck died in office on December 20, 1936. Herbert E. Hitchcock was appointed by Governor Tom Berry as Norbeck's replacement. Two elections for the same Senate seat were held on the same day; one as a special election to fill the remainder of Norbeck's six-year term, and another to select a Senator to serve the next six-year term.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota

← 1932 November 8, 1938 1944 →

Nominee Chan Gurney Tom Berry Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 146,813 133,064 Percentage 52.46% 47.54%

County results Gurney:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Berry:      50–60%      60–70% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election Herbert E. Hitchcock Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Chan Gurney Republican

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In the regularly scheduled election, Hitchcock ran for election for a full term, but was overwhelmingly defeated in the Democratic primary by former Governor Berry. In the Republican primary, businessman Chan Gurney won a slim plurality in a crowded primary. Gurney narrowly defeated Berry to win his first of two terms in the Senate. In the special election for the final few months of Norbeck's term, former Secretary of State Gladys Pyle won the Republican nomination unopposed, and Thomas W. Crawford won the Democratic nomination unopposed. However, following Crawford's death, the state Democratic Party named John T. McCullen as its replacement nominee. Pyle defeated McCullen in a landslide, becoming the first woman to represent South Dakota in the United States Senate.