The 1940 United States Senate elections coincided with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt to his third term as president. The 32 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies.

Quick Facts 34 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1940 United States Senate elections

← 1938 November 5, 1940 1942 →
1941 (MS, SC, TX) →
34 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Alben Barkley Warren Austin (acting) Party Democratic Republican Leader since July 22, 1937 January 3, 1940 Leader's seat Kentucky Vermont Seats before 69 24 Seats after 66 28 Seat change 3 4 Popular vote 19,715,831 19,831,926 Percentage 47.5% 47.8% Seats up 25 9 Races won 22 13   Third party Fourth party   Party Farmer–Labor Progressive Seats before 1 1 Seats won 0 1 Seat change 1 Popular vote 310,875[1] 605,609 Percentage 2.57%[1] 1.5% Seats up 1 1 Races won 0 1   Fifth party   Party Independent Seats before 1 Seats after 1 Seat change Seats up 0 Races won 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Progressive hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Alben Barkley Democratic Elected Majority Leader Alben Barkley Democratic

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Although Roosevelt was re-elected, support for his administration had dropped somewhat after eight years, and the Republican opposition gained three seats from the Democrats. However, the New Deal Democrats regained firm control of both the House and Senate because Progressives dominated the election.^[2] The Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party also disappeared from the Senate, as Henrik Shipstead joined the Republican party and Ernest Lundeen had died during the preceding term. Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri was elected to his final term in the Senate in 1940. Truman resigned in 1945 to serve as President Roosevelt's third Vice President.

Republicans later gained an additional seat through an appointment in Colorado.

Thirteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

There is no tipping point state.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1940 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1934 November 5, 1940 1946 →

Nominee Harry S. Truman Manvel H. Davis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 930,775 886,376 Percentage 51.17% 48.73%

County results Truman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Davis:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Harry S. Truman Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harry S. Truman Democratic

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One-term Democrat Harry S. Truman was narrowly re-elected. He would only serve until resigning January 17, 1945, to become U.S. Vice President.

Pittman suffered a severe heart attack just before the election on November 5, and two doctors told his aides before the election that death was imminent. To avoid affecting the election, the party told the press that the senator was hospitalized for exhaustion and that his condition was not serious.^[5] Pittman died on November 10 at the Washoe General Hospital in Reno, Nevada.^[6] Governor Edward Carville would go on to appoint Berkeley L. Bunker as his replacement.

In later years, a myth spread that Pittman had in fact died before the election, and his body had been kept on ice in the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah so that Carville could appoint his replacement.^[5]

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1940 United States Senate election in New York

← 1938 (special) November 5, 1940 1946 →

Nominee James M. Mead Bruce Barton Party Democratic Republican Alliance American Labor Popular vote 3,274,766 2,868,852 Percentage 53.26% 46.66%

County Results Mead:      50–60%      60–70% Barton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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

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The whole ticket nominated by Democrats and American Laborites was elected.