Misplaced Pages

1944 United States Senate elections

← 1942 November 7, 1944 1946 →
35 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Alben Barkley Wallace White Party Democratic Republican Leader since July 22, 1937 February 25, 1944 Leader's seat Kentucky Maine Seats before 58 37 Seats after 57 38 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 19,360,257 18,557,087 Percentage 49.4% 47.3% Seats up 22 13 Races won 21 14   Third party   Party Progressive Seats before 1 Seats after 1 Seat change Popular vote 73,089 Percentage 0.2% Seats up 0 Races won 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Oregon): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Alben Barkley Democratic Elected Majority Leader Alben Barkley Democratic

The 1944 United States Senate elections coincided with the re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt to his fourth term as president. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, and three special elections were held to fill vacancies.

The Democrats retained their large majority, although they lost a net of one seat to the Republicans. Republicans won open seats in Indiana, New Jersey, and Missouri, and defeated an incumbent in Iowa. However, Democrats defeated incumbents in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota. The Democratic majority was further reduced to 56-39-1 throughout mid-term appointments.

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties						Total
		Democratic	Republican	Progressive	Other
Last elections (1942)		57	38	1	0	96
Before these elections		58	37	1	0	96
Not up		36	24	1	—	61
Up		22	13	0	—	35
	Class 3 (1938→1944)	21	11	0	—	32
	Special: Class 1	1	0	—	—	1
	Special: Class 2	0	2	—	—	2
Incumbent retired		4	1	—	—	5
	Held by same party	2	1	—	—	3
	Replaced by other party	2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans		—	—	2
	Result	2	3	0	0	5
Incumbent ran		18	12	—	—	30
	Won re-election	13	8	—	—	21
	Lost re-election	3 Republicans replaced by 3 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	4
	Lost renomination but held by same party	3	1	—	—	4
	Lost renomination and party lost	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	—	1
	Result	19	11	0	0	30
Total elected		21	14	0	0	35
Net change		1	1			1
Nationwide vote		19,360,257	18,557,087	73,089	1,211,148	39,201,581
	Share	49.39%	47.34%	0.19%	3.09%	100%
Result		57	38	1	0	96

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

One Republican retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term, one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term, one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term and election to a full term and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

Four Republicans and five Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Post election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

At the beginning of 1944.

Election results

Race summaries

Special elections during the 78th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1944 or before January 3, 1945; ordered by election date.

Races leading to the 79th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1945; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

Closest races

Fourteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Utah was the tipping point state with a margin of 19.8%.

Alabama

1944 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee J. Lister Hill John A. Posey Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 202,604 41,983 Percentage 81.78% 16.95%

County results Hill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% Posey:      60-70%

U.S. senator before election J. Lister Hill Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. Lister Hill Democratic

Arizona

1944 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Carl Hayden Fred Wildon Fickett Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 90,335 39,891 Percentage 69.37% 30.63%

County results Hayden:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

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

Three-term Democrat Carl T. Hayden was easily re-elected.

Hayden would be re-elected three more times before retiring in 1962.

Arkansas

1944 U.S. Senate election in Arkansas

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee J. William Fulbright Victor Wade Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 182,499 31,942 Percentage 85.10% 14.90%

County results Fulbright:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Hattie Caraway Democratic Elected U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright Democratic

California

1944 United States Senate election in California

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Sheridan Downey Frederick F. Houser Party Democratic Republican Alliance Prohibition Popular vote 1,728,155 1,576,553 Percentage 52.29% 47.71%

Downey:      50–60%      60–70% Houser:      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      50%

U.S. senator before election Sheridan Downey Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Sheridan Downey Democratic

Colorado

1944 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1942 (special) November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Eugene Millikin Barney L. Whatley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 277,410 214,335 Percentage 56.06% 43.31%

Results by county Millikin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Whatley:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Eugene Millikin Republican Elected U.S. Senator Eugene Millikin Republican

Connecticut

1944 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Brien McMahon John A. Danaher Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 430,716 391,748 Percentage 51.99% 47.28%

County results Municipality resultsMcMahon:      50–60%      60-70% Danaher:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

U.S. senator before election John A. Danaher Republican Elected U.S. Senator Brien McMahon Democratic

Florida

1944 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Claude Pepper Miles H. Draper Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 335,685 135,258 Percentage 71.28% 28.72%

County results Pepper:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Senator before election Claude Pepper Democratic Elected Senator Claude Pepper Democratic

Georgia

Idaho

1944 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Glen H. Taylor C. A. Bottolfsen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 107,096 102,373 Percentage 51.13% 48.87%

County results Taylor:      50–60%      60–70% Bottolfsen:      50-60%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election D. Worth Clark Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Glen H. Taylor Democratic

Illinois

1944 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Scott W. Lucas Richard J. Lyons Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,059,023 1,841,793 Percentage 52.61% 47.06%

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

Senator before election Scott W. Lucas Democratic Elected Senator Scott W. Lucas Democratic

Indiana

There were 2 elections in Indiana, due to the January 25, 1944, death of Democrat Frederick Van Nuys.

Democrat Samuel D. Jackson was appointed to continue the term, pending a special election. Republican William E. Jenner won the special election to finish the term, and Republican Homer E. Capehart won the general election to the next term.

Indiana (special)

1944 United States Senate election in Indiana

November 7, 1944

Nominee William E. Jenner Cornelius O’Brien Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 857,250 775,417 Percentage 52.11% 47.14%

County results Jenner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% O' Brien:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Samuel D. Jackson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator William E. Jenner Republican

Indiana (regular)

1944 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Homer Capehart Henry F. Schricker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 829,489 807,766 Percentage 50.23% 48.91%

County results Capehart:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Schricker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Samuel D. Jackson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Homer Capehart Republican

Iowa

1944 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Bourke B. Hickenlooper Guy M. Gillette Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 523,963 494,229 Percentage 51.28% 48.37%

Hickenlooper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Gillette:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Guy M. Gillette Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Bourke B. Hickenlooper Republican

Kansas

1944 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Clyde M. Reed Thurman Hill Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 387,090 272,053 Percentage 57.84% 40.65%

County results Reed:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hill:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Clyde M. Reed Republican Elected U.S. Senator Clyde M. Reed Republican

Kentucky

1944 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Alben W. Barkley James Park Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 464,053 380,425 Percentage 54.81% 44.93%

County results Barkley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Park:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Alben W. Barkley Democratic Elected U.S. senator Alben W. Barkley Democratic

Louisiana

1944 Democratic Senate primary election in Louisiana

← 1938 September 12, 1944 1948 (special) →

Nominee John H. Overton E. A. Stephens Griffin Hawkins Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Popular vote 151,886 68,408 19,067 Percentage 61.64% 27.76% 7.74%

Parish results Overton:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Stephens:      40–50%      50-60%      70–80% Hawkins:      40-50%      60-70%

U.S. senator before election John H. Overton Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John H. Overton Democratic

Maryland

1944 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Millard Tydings Blanchard Randall Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 344,725 213,705 Percentage 61.73% 38.27%

County results Randall:      50–60%      60–70% Tydings:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Millard Tydings Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Millard Tydings Democratic

Massachusetts (special)

1944 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts

← 1942 November 7, 1944 1948 →

Nominee Leverett Saltonstall John H. Corcoran Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,228,754 667,086 Percentage 64.29% 34.90%

County Results Municipality Results Saltonstall   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100% Corcoran   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%

U.S. senator before election Sinclair Weeks Republican Elected U.S. Senator Leverett Saltonstall Republican

Republican Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. resigned February 3, 1944, to return to active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II. Republican Sinclair Weeks was appointed February 8 to continue the term until an election was held. A special election was held on November 7 with Republican Massachusetts Governor Leverett Saltonstall defeating his challengers. He didn't take office until January 4, 1945, when his term as Governor ended.

Missouri

1944 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Forrest C. Donnell Roy McKittrick Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 778,778 776,790 Percentage 49.95% 49.82%

County results Donnell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% McKittrick:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Bennett Champ Clark Democratic Elected U.S. senator Forrest C. Donnell Republican

Nevada

1944 United States Senate election in Nevada

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Pat McCarran George W. Malone Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 30,595 21,816 Percentage 58.38% 41.62%

County results McCarran:      50–60%      60–70% Malone:      50–60%

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

New Hampshire

1944 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Charles W. Tobey Joseph J. Betley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 110,549 106,508 Percentage 50.93% 49.07%

County results Tobey:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Betley:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Charles W. Tobey Republican Elected Senator Charles W. Tobey Republican

New Jersey (special)

1944 United States Senate special election in New Jersey

← 1940 November 7, 1944 1946 →

Nominee H. Alexander Smith Elmer H. Wene Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 939,987 910,096 Percentage 50.44% 48.84%

County results Smith:      50–60%      60–70% Wene:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Arthur Walsh Democratic Elected Senator H. Alexander Smith Republican

New York

1944 United States Senate election in New York

← 1938 November 8, 1944 1949 (special) →

Nominee Robert F. Wagner Thomas J. Curran Party Democratic Republican Alliance Parties American Labor Liberal Popular vote 3,294,576 2,899,497 Percentage 53.06% 46.70%

County Results Wagner:      50–60%      60–70% Curran:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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

The Socialist Labor state convention met on April 2 at the Cornish Arms Hotel, the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street, in New York City. They nominated Eric Hass for the U.S. Senate. At that time, the party used the name "Industrial Government Party" on the ballot, but was also referred to as the "Industrial Labor Party".

The Liberal Party was organized by a state convention with about 1,100 delegates who met on May 19 and 20 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. They endorsed the incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Robert F. Wagner for re-election. The party filed a petition to nominate candidates which was allowed by Secretary of State Curran on August 25.

The Republican State Committee met on August 8 at Albany, New York. They nominated Secretary of State Thomas J. Curran for the U.S. Senate.

The Democratic State Committee met on August 8 at the National Democratic Club at 233, Madison Avenue in New York City. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Robert F. Wagner.

The American Labor state convention met on August 10. They endorsed the Democratic nominee Wagner.

The Democratic/American Labor/Liberal ticket was elected and incumbent Wagner was re-elected.

North Carolina

1944 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Clyde R. Hoey A.I. Ferree Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 533,813 226,037 Percentage 70.25% 29.75%

County results Hoey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100% Ferree:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Senator before election Robert Rice Reynolds Democratic Elected Senator Clyde R. Hoey Democratic

North Dakota

1944 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1946 (special) →

Nominee John Moses Gerald Nye Lynn Stambaugh Party Democratic Republican Independent Republican Popular vote 95,102 69,530 44,596 Percentage 45.20% 33.04% 21.19%

County results Moses:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Nye:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% Stambaugh:      30–40%

U.S. senator before election Gerald Nye Republican Elected U.S. Senator John Moses Democratic

Ohio

1944 United States Senate election in Ohio

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Robert A. Taft William Pickrel Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,500,609 1,482,610 Percentage 50.30% 49.70%

County results Taft:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Pickrel:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Robert A. Taft Republican Elected U.S. Senator Robert A. Taft Republican

Oklahoma

1944 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Elmer Thomas William J. Otjen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 390,851 309,222 Percentage 55.65% 44.02%

County results Thomas:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Otjen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Elmer Thomas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Elmer Thomas Democratic

Oregon

Oregon (special)

1944 United States Senate special election in Oregon

← 1942 November 7, 1944 1948 →

Nominee Guy Cordon Willis Mahoney Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 260,631 192,305 Percentage 57.54% 42.46%

County results Cordon:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Mahoney:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Guy Cordon Republican Elected U.S. Senator Guy Cordon Republican

Oregon (regular)

1944 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Wayne Morse Edgar W. Smith Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 269,095 174,140 Percentage 60.71% 39.29%

County results Morse:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Rufus C. Holman Republican Elected U.S. Senator Wayne Morse Republican

Incumbent Republican Rufus C. Holman ran for re-election, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Wayne Morse.

Pennsylvania

1944 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Francis J. Myers James J. Davis Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,864,622 1,840,938 Percentage 49.99% 49.35%

County results Myers:      50–60%      60–70% Davis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election James J. Davis Republican Elected U.S. Senator Francis J. Myers Democratic

South Carolina

1944 Democratic Senate primary election in South Carolina

← 1938 July 25, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Olin D. Johnston Ellison D. Smith Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 138,440 88,085 Percentage 55.20% 35.12%

County results Johnston:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Smith:      30–40%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Ellison D. Smith Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Olin D. Johnston Democratic

South Dakota

1944 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Chan Gurney George M. Bradshaw Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 145,248 82,199 Percentage 63.86% 36.14%

County results Gurney:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Bradshaw:      50–60%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Chan Gurney Republican Elected U.S. Senator Chan Gurney Republican

Utah

1944 United States Senate election in Utah

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Elbert D. Thomas Adam S. Bennion Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 148,748 99,532 Percentage 59.91% 40.09%

County results Thomas:      50–60%      60–70% Bennion:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Elbert D. Thomas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Elbert D. Thomas Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Senator Elbert D. Thomas won a third term. As of 2024, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected to Utah's class 3 Senate seat.

Vermont

1944 United States Senate election in Vermont

← 1940 (special) November 7, 1944 (1944-11-07) 1950 →

Nominee George Aiken Harry Witters Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 81,094 42,136 Percentage 65.81% 34.19%

County results Municipality results Aiken:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      90-100% Witters:      50-60%      60-70%      80-90%

U.S. senator before election George Aiken Republican Elected U.S. Senator George Aiken Republican

Washington

1944 United States Senate election in Washington

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Warren Magnuson Harry P. Cain Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 397,719 342,464 Percentage 55.13% 44.44%

Results by county Magnuson:      50–60%      60–70% Cain:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Homer Bone Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson Democratic

Wisconsin

1944 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1950 →

Nominee Alexander Wiley Howard J. McMurray Harry Sauthoff Party Republican Democratic Progressive Popular vote 634,513 537,144 73,089 Percentage 50.50% 42.75% 5.82%

County results Wiley:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% McMurray:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Alexander Wiley Republican Elected U.S. Senator Alexander Wiley Republican

See also

• 1944 United States elections
  • 1944 United States presidential election
  • 1944 United States gubernatorial elections
  • 1944 United States House of Representatives elections
• 78th United States Congress
• 79th United States Congress

Notes

1. ^ National vote totals for the Democratic Party do not include a combined 808,841 votes for the American Labor Party and the Liberal Party of New York, which endorsed and voted for the Democratic candidate, Robert F. Wagner.
2. Appointee elected
3. Bone resigned from office on April 1 to take his commission as a federal judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

References

1. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (March 1, 1945). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1944" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 16–17, 25–26, 36, 54.
2. Kalb, Deborah, ed. (2010). Guide to U.S. Elections. Washington, DC: CQ Press. p. 1436. ISBN 978-1-60426-536-1.
3. "2 CANDIDATES NAMED BY SOCIALIST LABOR". The New York Times. April 3, 1944.
4. "NEW PARTY FIXES 400,000-VOTE GOAL FOR ROOSEVELT". The New York Times. May 21, 1944.
5. "LIBERAL PARTY WINS; Curran Overrules Objections by O'Connor to Petitions". The New York Times. August 26, 1944.
6. "CURRAN IS NAMED". The New York Times. August 9, 1944.
7. "DEMOCRATS NAME WAGNER AND DYE". The New York Times. August 9, 1944.
8. "ROOSEVELT NAMED AT ALP CONVENTION; Wagner, Also Renominated". The New York Times. August 11, 1944.
9. "General Election Results - U.S. Senator - 1914-2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2015.