Misplaced Pages

1936 United States Senate elections

← 1934 November 3, 1936 1938 →
1937 (AR) →
32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Joseph Robinson Charles McNary Party Democratic Republican Leader since December 3, 1923 March 4, 1933 Leader's seat Arkansas Oregon Seats before 70 22 Seats after 75 17 Seat change 5 5 Seats up 19 11 Races won 24 6   Third party Fourth party   Party Farmer–Labor Progressive Seats before 2 1 Seats after 2 1 Seat change Seats up 1 0 Races won 1 0   Fifth party   Party Independent Seats before 0 Seats after 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 0 Races won 1
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Farmer–Labor hold      Independent gain      No election
Majority Leader before election Joseph Robinson Democratic Elected Majority Leader Joseph Robinson Democratic

The 1936 United States Senate elections coincided with the reelection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The 32 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Great Depression continued and voters backed progressive candidates favoring Roosevelt's New Deal in races across the country. The Democrats gained 5 net seats during the election, and in combination with Democratic and Farmer–Labor interim appointments and the defection of George W. Norris from the Republican Party to become independent, the Republicans were reduced to 16 seats. Democrats gained a further two seats due to mid-term vacancies. The Democrats' 77 seats and their 62-seat majority remain their largest in history.

This was the last of four consecutive election cycles where Republicans suffered losses due to the ongoing effects of the Great Depression. This was also the last Senate election cycle until 2012 in which a Democratic candidate who won two terms also made net gains in the Senate on both occasions (although Roosevelt won a third term and fourth term, he lost Senate seats on both occasions). Additionally, this is the last time any party held three-fourths of all Senate seats.

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

One Republican, one Farmer-Labor, and five Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

Six Republicans and one Democrat sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Death

One Democrat died on July 16, 1936, and his seat remained vacant until the election.

Independent gain

One Republican won re-election as an Independent.

Post-election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the April 1936 special election.

Result of the elections

Beginning of the next Congress

Race summaries

Elections during the 74th Congress

In these special elections the winners were seated once they qualified; ordered by election date.

Elections leading to the 75th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1937; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Closest races

Eleven races had a margin of victory under 10%:

There is no tipping point state.

Alabama

1936 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1930 November 2, 1936 1942 →

Nominee John H. Bankhead II H. E. Berkstresser Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 239,632 33,698 Percentage 87.03% 12.24%

County results Bankhead:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Berkstresser:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election John H. Bankhead II Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John H. Bankhead II Democratic

Arkansas

1936 United States Senate election in Arkansas

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1937 (special) →

Nominee Joe T. Robinson G.C. Ledbetter Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 170,336 27,746 Percentage 84.08% 15.06%

County results Robinson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Ledbetter:      50–60% Williams:      50–60% Tie:      40-50%

U.S. senator before election Joseph T. Robinson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Joseph T. Robinson Democratic

Colorado

1936 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Ed Johnson Ray Sauter Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 299,376 166,308 Percentage 63.45% 35.25%

Results by county Johnson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Sauter:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Edward P. Costigan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson Democratic

Delaware

Florida (special)

There were two special elections in Florida, due to the May 8, 1936, death of four-term Democrat Park Trammell and the June 17, 1936, death of five-term Democrat Duncan U. Fletcher.

Florida (special, class 1)

1936 Florida U.S. Senate special election

← 1934 November 3, 1936 1940 →

Nominee Charles O. Andrews Howard C. Babcock Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 241,528 57,016 Percentage 80.90% 19.10%

Results by county Andrews:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Scott Marion Loftin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Charles O. Andrews Democratic

Democrat Scott M. Loftin was appointed May 26, 1936, to continue the term, pending a special election. Primaries were held August 11, 1936.

Andrews would be re-elected once and serve until his death September 18, 1946.

Florida (special, class 3)

Democrat William Luther Hill was appointed July 1, 1936, to continue the term, pending a special election. Democrat Claude Pepper, who had lost to Trammell in 1934 won this election.

Pepper would be re-elected twice and serve until he lost renomination in 1950. He would later be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and serve there for 26 years.

Georgia

Idaho

1936 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1940 (special) →

Nominee William Borah C. Ben Ross Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 128,723 74,444 Percentage 63.36% 36.64%

County results Borah:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Ross:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election William Borah Republican Elected U.S. Senator William Borah Republican

Illinois

1936 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1940 (special) →

Nominee J. Hamilton Lewis Otis F. Glenn Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,142,887 1,545,170 Percentage 56.47% 40.72%

Results by county Lewis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Glenn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic Elected U.S. senator J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic

Iowa

Iowa (regular)

1936 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Clyde Herring L. J. Dickinson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 539,554 504,535 Percentage 50.26% 47.34%

County Results Herring:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Dickinson:     40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Lester J. Dickinson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Clyde Herring Democratic

Iowa (special)

1936 United States Senate Special Election

← 1932 Tuesday, November 3, 1936 1938 →

Majority party Minority party   Candidate Guy M. Gillette Berry F. Halden Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 536,075 478,521 Percentage 51.91% 46.43%

County Results Gillette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Halden:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Vacant Elected U.S. Senator Guy M. Gillette Democratic

Kansas

1936 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Arthur Capper Omar B. Ketchum Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 417,873 386,685 Percentage 51.63% 47.78%

County results Capper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Ketchum:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Arthur Capper Republican Elected U.S. Senator Arthur Capper Republican

Kentucky

1936 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1940 (special) →

Nominee M. M. Logan Robert H. Lucas Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 539,968 365,850 Percentage 58.80% 39.84%

County results Logan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Lucas:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election M. M. Logan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator M. M. Logan Democratic

Louisiana

Louisiana (regular)

Louisiana (special)

Democrat Rose McConnell Long was elected April 21, 1936, to finish the term to which she was appointed on January 31, 1936. She was not a candidate, however, to the next term on November 3, 1936, see above.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2020)

1936 United States Senate special election in Louisiana

← 1930 April 21, 1936 1936 →

Nominee Rose McConnell Long Party Democratic Popular vote 131,930 Percentage 100.00%

Parish results Long      90–100%

U.S. senator before election Rose McConnell Long Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Rose McConnell Long Democratic

Maine

Maine election

← 1936 September 14, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Wallace White Fulton J. Redman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 158,068 153,420 Percentage 50.75% 49.25%

County Results White:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Wallace H. White Jr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator Wallace H. White Jr. Republican

Massachusetts

1936 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. James Michael Curley Thomas C. O'Brien Party Republican Democratic Union Popular vote 875,160 739,751 134,245 Percentage 48.53% 41.02% 7.44%

County results Municipality resultsLodge:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% Curley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Marcus A. Coolidge Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Republican

Michigan

1936 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Prentiss M. Brown Wilber M. Brucker Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 910,937 714,602 Percentage 53.29% 41.80%

County results Brown:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Brucker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election James J. Couzens Republican Elected U.S. Senator Prentiss M. Brown Democratic

Minnesota

There were 2 elections to the same seat on the same day due to the December 22, 1935, death of two-term Republican Thomas D. Schall.

Minnesota (special)

Minnesota special election

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 (special) →

Nominee Guy V. Howard N. J. Holmberg Party Republican Independent Popular vote 317,457 210,364 Percentage 42.89% 28.42%   Nominee Andrew Olaf Devold John G. Alexander Party Independent Independent Popular vote 147,858 64,493 Percentage 19.98% 8.71%

County Results: Howard:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Holmberg:      30-40% Devold:      30-40% Tie:      Howard/Holmberg 30-40%

U.S. senator before election Elmer A. Benson Farmer–Labor Elected U.S. Senator Guy V. Howard Republican

The election was held to fill the vacancy in the seat formerly held by Thomas D. Schall for the final two months of Schall's unexpired term. Governor Floyd B. Olson had appointed Elmer Benson to fill the seat in 1935, but this appointment was temporary and subject to a special election held in the next general election year thereafter—1936. Benson opted to run for governor instead of running for election to continue for the remainder of the term. No special primaries were held for the special election, and, among Minnesota's three major parties, only the Republican Party of Minnesota officially fielded a candidate—Guy V. Howard. Regardless of the absence of Farmer-Labor and Democratic nominees, Howard nevertheless faced a great degree of competition from independent candidates Nathaniel J. Holmberg, Andrew Olaf Devold, and John G. Alexander.

The candidates were:

• John G. Alexander (I), Attorney and real estate manager
• Andrew Olaf Devold (I), Attorney, State Senator since 1919, former State Representative (1915–1919); a member of the Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota and formerly a member of the Socialist Party of Minnesota
• N. J. Holmberg (I), Former State Senator (1915–1919) and State Representative (1907–1915); a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota
• Guy V. Howard (R), Businessman and Republican elector in the 1916 presidential election

Howard was not a candidate for the next term, and served only until January 1937.

Minnesota (regular)

1936 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1936 (special) November 3, 1936 1942 (special) →

Nominee Ernest Lundeen Theodore Christianson Party Farmer–Labor Republican Popular vote 663,363 402,404 Percentage 62.24% 37.76%

County results Lundeen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Christianson:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Elmer A. Benson Farmer–Labor Elected U.S. Senator Ernest Lundeen Farmer–Labor

The election to the next term was won by Farmer–Labor congressman Ernest Lundeen.

Mississippi

1936 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Mississippi

← 1930 August 25, 1936 1941 (special) →

Nominee Pat Harrison Martin S. Conner Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 128,729 65,296 Percentage 65.51% 33.23%

County results Harrison:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Conner:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election Pat Harrison Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Pat Harrison Democratic

Montana

1936 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1934 (special) November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee James E. Murray Thomas Larson Joseph P. Monaghan Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 121,769 60,038 39,655 Percentage 54.98% 27.11% 17.91%

County results Murray:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Monaghan:      40–50% No Data/Vote:       Tie:      40-50

U.S. senator before election James E. Murray Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James E. Murray Democratic

Nebraska

1936 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee George Norris Robert Simmons Terry Carpenter Party Independent Republican Democratic Popular vote 258,700 223,276 108,391 Percentage 43.82% 37.82% 18.36%

Results by county Norris   30-40%   40-50%   50-60%   60-70% Simmons   30-40%   40-50%   50-60% Carpenter   30-40%   40-50%   50-60%   60-70%

U.S. senator before election George W. Norris Independent Elected U.S. Senator George W. Norris Independent

New Hampshire

1936 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Styles Bridges William N. Rogers Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 107,923 99,195 Percentage 51.86% 47.67%

County results Bridges:      50–60%      60–70% Rogers:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Henry W. Keyes Republican Elected U.S. Senator Styles Bridges Republican

New Jersey

New Jersey election

← 1932 (special)1942 →

Nominee William H. Smathers William Warren Barbour Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 916,414 740,088 Percentage 54.90% 44.34%

County Results Smathers:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Barbour:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election William Warren Barbour Republican Elected U.S. Senator William H. Smathers Democratic

New Mexico

There were 2 elections, due to the May 6, 1935, death of two-term Republican Bronson M. Cutting.

New Mexico (special)

1936 United States Senate election in New Mexico

← 1934 November 3, 1936 1940 →

Nominee Dennis Chávez M. A. Otero Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 94,585 75,029 Percentage 55.74% 44.22%

County results Chávez:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Otero:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Dennis Chávez Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Dennis Chávez Democratic

Democratic former-Congressman Dennis Chavez had been Cutting's opponent in 1934. On May 11, 1935, after Cutting's death, Chavez was then appointed to continue Cutting's term, pending a special election which he then won.

Chavez would be re-elected four more times and serve until his death in 1962.

New Mexico (regular)

1936 United States Senate election in New Mexico

← 1934 (special) November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Carl Hatch Ernest W. Everly Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 104,550 64,817 Percentage 61.70% 38.25%

County results Hatch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Everly:      50–60%

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

First-term Democrat Carl Hatch was easily re-elected.

Hatch would be re-elected once and serve until his 1948 retirement.

North Carolina

1936 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Josiah Bailey Frank C. Patton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 563,968 233,009 Percentage 70.76% 29.24%

County results Bailey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100% Patton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election Josiah Bailey Democratic Elected Senator Josiah Bailey Democratic

Oklahoma

1936 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Joshua B. Lee Herbert K. Hyde Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 493,407 229,004 Percentage 67.97% 31.55%

County results Lee:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hyde:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Thomas Gore Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Joshua B. Lee Democratic

Oregon

1936 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Charles L. McNary Willis Mahoney Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 199,332 193,822 Percentage 49.69% 48.32%

County results McNary:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Mahoney:      40-50%      50-60%

Senator before election Charles L. McNary Republican Elected Senator Charles L. McNary Republican

Rhode Island

South Carolina

1936 Democratic Senate primary in South Carolina

← 1930 September 6, 1936 1941 (special) →

Nominee James F. Byrnes Thomas P. Stoney Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 257,247 25,627 Percentage 87.08% 8.67%

Results by county Byrnes:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election James F. Byrnes Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James F. Byrnes Democratic

South Dakota

1936 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee William J. Bulow Chan Gurney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 141,509 135,461 Percentage 48.83% 46.75%

County results Bulow:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Gurney:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election William J. Bulow Democratic Elected U.S. Senator William J. Bulow Democratic

Tennessee

1936 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1934 November 3, 1936 1938 →

Nominee Nathan L. Bachman Dwayne D. Maddox Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 273,298 69,753 Percentage 75.88% 19.37%

Senator before election Nathan L. Bachman Democratic Elected Senator Nathan L. Bachman Democratic

Texas

Texas election

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1941 (special) →

Nominee Morris Sheppard Carlos Watson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 774,975 59,491 Percentage 92.56% 7.11%

County Results Sheppard:      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Watson:      40–50%      50–60% No vote:

U.S. senator before election Morris Sheppard Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Morris Sheppard Democratic

1936 United States Senate election in Texas

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Morris Sheppard (incumbent)	774,975	92.56%	5.65
	Republican	Carlos G. Watson	59,491	7.11%	5.62
	Union	Gertrude Wilson	1,836	0.22%	N/A
	Socialist	William Burr Starr	958	0.11%	0.15
Total votes			837,260	100.00%
	Democratic hold

Virginia

United States Senate election in Virginia, 1936

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Carter Glass Party Democratic Popular vote 244,518 Percentage 91.66%

County and independent city results Glass:      80–90%      90-100%

U.S. senator before election Carter Glass Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carter Glass Democratic

West Virginia

1936 United States Senate election in West Virginia

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Matthew M. Neely Hugh Ike Shott Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 488,720 338,363 Percentage 58.95% 40.81%

County results Neely:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Shott:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Matthew M. Neely Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Matthew M. Neely Democratic

Wyoming

1936 United States Senate election in Wyoming

← 1930 (special) November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Harry Schwartz Robert D. Carey Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 53,919 45,483 Percentage 53.83% 45.40%

County results Schwartz:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Carey:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Robert D. Carey Republican Elected U.S. Senator Harry Schwartz Democratic

See also

• 1936 United States elections
  • 1936 United States presidential election
  • 1936 United States House of Representatives elections
• 74th United States Congress
• 75th United States Congress

Notes

1. ^ Appointee elected
2. ^ The Republican candidate was elected to finish the term, but the Farmer-Labor candidate was elected to the next term.
3. A South Dakota Republican, who was not up for election, died December 20, 1936, and a Democrat was appointed December 29, 1936, to continue the term pending a 1938 special election.

References

1. "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page". www.ourcampaigns.com.
2. "Our Campaigns - MI US Senate - R Primary Race - Sep 15, 1936". www.ourcampaigns.com.
3. "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page". www.ourcampaigns.com.
4. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1936" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
5. "Our Campaigns - FL US Senate - Special D Primary Race - Aug 11, 1936". www.ourcampaigns.com.
6. "Our Campaigns - FL US Senate - Special Race - Nov 03, 1936". www.ourcampaigns.com.
7. "Our Campaigns - FL US Senate - Special Race - Nov 03, 1936". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
8. "GA US Senate, 1936 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
9. "TALMADGE BEATEN IN GEORGIA RACE". Atlanta. the Associated Press. September 10, 1936. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via Chronicling America. Russell 165,111 popular votes; 344 unit votes. Talmadge 86,203 popular votes, 66 unit votes.
10. "OFFICIAL VOTE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CAST AT THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOV. 3, 1936 PRIMARY ELECTIONS GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL 14, 1936 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE, APRIL 14, 19356" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
11. "General Election Returns for Minnesota / Tuesday, November Third 1936" (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Manual 1937.
12. Heard, Alexander; Strong, Donald (1950). Southern Primaries and Elections 1920-1949. University of Alabama Press. pp. 174–177. ISBN 9780836955248.
13. "Our Campaigns – TX US Senate Race – Nov 03, 1936". www.ourcampaigns.com.