United States Senate elections, 1934

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      Republican holds      Republican pickups      Democratic holds      Democratic pickups      Simultaneous hold      Farmer-Labor hold      Progressive hold
     Republican holds      Republican pickups      Democratic holds      Democratic pickups      Simultaneous hold      Farmer-Labor hold      Progressive hold

The United States Senate elections, 1934 were elections for the United States Senate which occurred in the middle of Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first term. In the middle of the Great Depression, voters strongly backed Roosevelt's New Deal and his allies in the Senate.

The Democrats took nine Republican seats, including an open seat in Maryland and the seats of eight incumbents:

  • Frederic C. Walcott (R-CT)
  • Arthur R. Robinson (R-IN)
  • Roscoe C. Patterson (R-MO)
  • Hamilton F. Kean (R-NJ)
  • Simeon D. Fess (R-OH)
  • David A. Reed (R-PA)
  • Felix Hebert (R-RI)
  • Henry D. Hatfield (R-WV)

Further, Robert M. La Follette, Jr. (R-WI) left the Republican Party to join the Progressive Party.

[edit] Senate contests in 1934

State Incumbent Party Status Opposing Candidates
Arizona Henry F. Ashurst Democrat Re-elected, 72.0 - 25.6 J. E. Thompson (Republican)
California Hiram W. Johnson Republican Re-elected, 94.5 - 5.3 George R. Kirkpatrick (Socialist)
Connecticut Frederic C. Walcott Republican Defeated, 51.8 - 48.3 Francis T. Maloney (Democrat)
Delaware John G. Townsend, Jr. Republican Re-elected, 53.3 - 46.2 Wilbur L. Adams (Democrat)
Florida Park Trammell Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Indiana Arthur R. Robinson Republican Defeated, 51.5 - 47.5 Sherman Minton (Democrat)
Maine Frederick Hale Republican Re-elected, 50.1 - 49.7 F. Harold Dubord (Democrat)
Maryland Phillips Lee Goldsborough Republican Retired: Democratic victory, 56.1 - 42.0 George L. P. Radcliffe (Democrat)
Joseph I. France (Republican)
Massachusetts David I. Walsh Democrat Re-elected, 59.4 - 37.4 Robert M. Washburn (Republican)
Michigan Arthur H. Vandenberg Republican Re-elected, 51.3 - 47.0 Frank A. Picard (Democrat)
Minnesota Henrik Shipstead Farmer-Labor Re-elected, 49.9 - 29.2 - 19.8 Einar Holdale (Democrat)
N. J. Holmberg (Republican)
Mississippi Hubert D. Stephens Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, unopposed Theodore G. Bilbo (Democrat)
Missouri Roscoe C. Patterson Republican Defeated, 59.5 - 39.7 Harry S. Truman (Democrat)
Montana Burton K. Wheeler Democrat Re-elected, 70.1 - 28.7 George M. Bourquin (Republican)
Montana1 John E. Erickson Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, 59.6 - 39.5 James E. Murray (Democrat)
Scott Leavitt (Republican)
Nebraska Richard C. Hunter Democrat Retired: Democratic victory, 55.3 - 42.9 Edward R. Burke (Democrat)
Robert G. Simmons (Republican)
Nevada Key Pittman Democrat Re-elected, 64.5 - 33.4 George W. Malone (Republican)
New Jersey Hamilton F. Kean Republican Defeated, 57.9 - 40.9 A. Harry Moore (Democrat)
New Mexico Bronson M. Cutting Republican Re-elected, 50.2 - 49.4 Dennis Chavez (Democrat)
New Mexico2 Carl A. Hatch Democrat Re-elected, 54.5 - 45.0 Richard C. Dillon (Republican)
New York Royal S. Copeland Democrat Re-elected, 55.3 - 36.9 - 5.3 E. Harold Cluett (Republican)
Norman Thomas (Socialist)
North Dakota Lynn J. Frazier Republican Re-elected, 58.2 - 40.2 Henry Holt (Democrat)
Ohio Simeon D. Fess Republican Defeated, 60.0 - 39.4 Vic Donahey (Democrat)
Pennsylvania David A. Reed Republican Defeated, 50.8 - 46.5 Joseph F. Guffey (Democrat)
Rhode Island Felix Hebert Republican Defeated, 57.1 - 42.9 Peter G. Gerry (Democrat)
Tennessee Kenneth D. McKellar Democrat Re-elected, 63.4 - 35.8 Ben W. Hooper (Republican)
Tennessee3 Nathan L. Bachman Democrat Re-elected, 80.1 - 19.9 John R. Neal (Independent)
Texas Tom Connally Democrat Re-elected, 96.7
Utah William H. King Democrat Re-elected, 53.1 - 45.4 Don B. Colton (Republican)
Vermont Warren R. Austin Republican Re-elected, 51.0 - 48.4 Fred C. Martin (Democrat)
Vermont4 Ernest W. Gibson Republican Re-elected, 58.2 - 41.8 Harry W. Witters (Democrat)
Virginia Harry F. Byrd Democrat Re-elected, 76.0 - 20.9 Lawrence C. Page (Republican)
Washington Clarence C. Dill Democrat Retired: Democratic victory, 60.9 - 34.0 Lewis B. Schwellenbach (Democrat)
Reno Odlin (Republican)
West Virginia Henry D. Hatfield Republican Defeated, 55.1 - 44.4 Rush D. Holt (Democrat)
Wisconsin Robert M. La Follette, Jr. Progressive Re-elected, 47.8 - 24.2 - 22.8 John M. Callahan (Democrat)
John B. Chapple (Republican)
Wyoming Joseph C. O'Mahoney Democrat Re-elected, 56.6 - 43.0 Vincent Carter (Republican)

1 special election held due to death of Thomas J. Walsh (D-MT)

2 special election held due to resignation of Sam G. Bratton (D-NM)

3 special election held due to resignation of Cordell Hull (D-TN), who was appointed Secretary of State

4 special election held due to death of Porter H. Dale (R-VT)

[edit] Senate composition before and after elections

73rd Congress Senate Composition   74th Congress Senate Composition
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
Color Key: Democrats Republicans Progressives Farmer-Labor

[edit] See also