United States Senate elections, 1942

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      Republican holds      Republican pickups      Democratic holds      Democratic pickups      Simultaneous hold
     Republican holds      Republican pickups      Democratic holds      Democratic pickups      Simultaneous hold

The United States Senate elections of 1942 occurred midway through Franklin Roosevelt's third term as President. Although this election took place during World War II, the opposition Republican party made major gains, taking eight seats from the Democrats and one from an Independent. Various commentators have ascribed this to anger with the administration over Pearl Harbor, general irritation with the conditions of wartime, or the defeat of weak Democratic incumbents from the 1936 election. The Democrats nonetheless retained a significant majority.

Republicans captured open seats in Delaware, South Dakota, and West Virginia, and defeated six incumbents:

[edit] Senate contests in 1942

State Incumbent Party Status Opposing Candidates
Alabama John H. Bankhead II Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Arkansas George L. Spencer Democrat Retired: Democratic victory, unopposed John L. McClellan (Democrat)
Colorado Edwin C. Johnson Democrat Re-elected, 50.2 - 49.2 Ralph L. Carr (Republican)
Colorado1 Eugene D. Millikin Republican Re-elected, 56.1 - 42.1 James A. Marsh (Democrat)
Delaware James H. Hughes Democrat Defeated in primary: Republican victory, 54.2 - 44.9 Clayton D. Buck (Republican)
E. Ennals Berl (Democrat)
Georgia Richard Russell, Jr. Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Idaho John Thomas Republican Re-elected, 51.5 - 48.5 Glen H. Taylor (Democrat)
Illinois C. Wayland Brooks Republican Re-elected, 53.2 - 46.4 Raymond S. McKeough (Democrat)
Iowa Clyde L. Herring Democrat Defeated, 58.0 - 41.7 George A. Wilson (Republican)
Kansas Arthur Capper Republican Re-elected, 57.1 - 40.3 George McGill (Democrat)
Kentucky A. B. "Happy" Chandler I Democrat Re-elected, 55.3 - 44.7 Richard J. Colbert (Republican)
Louisiana Allen J. Ellender Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Maine Wallace H. White, Jr. Republican Re-elected, 66.7 - 33.3 Fulton J. Redman (Democrat)
Massachusetts Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Republican Re-elected, 52.4 - 46.6 Joseph E. Casey (Democrat)
Michigan Prentiss M. Brown Democrat Defeated, 49.6 - 47.2 Homer Ferguson (Republican)
Minnesota Arthur E. Nelson Republican Retired: Republican victory, 47.0 - 28.2 - 14.4 - 10.4 Joseph H. Ball (Republican)
Elmer Austin Benson (Farmer-Labor)
Martin A. Nelson (Independent)
Ed Murphy (Democrat)
Mississippi Wall Doxey Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, unopposed James O. Eastland (Democrat)
Montana James E. Murray Democrat Re-elected, 49.1 - 48.4 Wellington D. Rankin (Republican)
Nebraska George W. Norris Independent Defeated, 49.0 - 28.6 - 22.0 Kenneth S. Wherry (Republican)
Foster May (Democrat)
Nevada2 Berkeley L. Bunker Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, 58.7 - 41.3 James G. Scrugham (Democrat)
Cecil W. Creel (Republican)
New Hampshire Styles Bridges Republican Re-elected, 54.6 - 45.4 Francis P. Murphy (Democrat)
New Jersey William H. Smathers Democrat Defeated, 53.1 - 45.8 Albert W. Hawkes (Republican)
New Mexico Carl A. Hatch Democrat Re-elected, 59.2 - 40.8 J. Benson Newell (Republican)
North Carolina Josiah W. Bailey Democrat Re-elected, 65.9 - 34.1 Sam J. Morris (Republican)
Oklahoma Josh Lee Democrat Defeated, 54.8 - 44.8 Edward H. Moore (Republican)
Oregon Charles L. McNary Republican Re-elected, 77.1 - 22.9 Walter W. Whitbeck (Democrat)
Rhode Island Theodore F. Green Democrat Re-elected, 58.0 - 42.0 Ira L. Letts (Republican)
South Carolina Burnet R. Maybank Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
South Dakota William J. Bulow Democrat Defeated in primary: Republican victory, 58.7 - 41.3 Harlan J. Bushfield (Republican)
Tom Berry (Democrat)
Tennessee A. Tom Stewart Democrat Re-elected, 70.5 - 21.5 F. Todd Meacham (Republican)
Texas W. Lee O'Daniel Democrat Re-elected, 94.9
Virginia Carter Glass Democrat Re-elected, 91.1 - 6.5 Lawrence S. Wilkes (Socialist)
West Virginia Joseph Rosier Democrat Retired: Republican victory, 55.4 - 44.6 Chapman Revercomb (Republican)
Matthew M. Neely (Democrat)
Wyoming Henry H. Schwartz Democrat Defeated, 54.6 - 45.4 Edward V. Robertson (Republican)

1 special election held due to death of Alva B. Adams (D-CO)

2 special election held due to death of Key Pittman (D-NV)

[edit] Senate composition before and after elections

77th Congress Senate Composition   78th Congress Senate Composition
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
Color Key: Democrats Republicans Independent Progressives

[edit] See also