United States Senate elections, 1944

United States Senate elections, 1944
1942 ←
 November 7, 1944
 → 1946
37 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate
49 seats were needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Alben Barkley Wallace White
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat Kentucky Maine
Last election 58 seats 37 seats
Seats won 57 38
Seat change -1 +1
  Republican holds
  Republican pickups
  Democratic holds
  Democratic pickups
Majority Leader before election

Alben Barkley
Democratic

 Elected Majority Leader

Alben Barkley
Democratic

The United States Senate elections of 1944 coincided with the re-election of Franklin Roosevelt to his fourth term as President. The Democratic party suffered a net loss of one seat to the Republicans, but still kept a large majority in the Senate.

Democrats defeated three Republican incumbents: John A. Danaher (R-CT), Gerald P. Nye (R-ND), and James J. Davis (R-PA). Republicans took open seats in Indiana, Missouri, and New Jersey (where a Democrat had been appointed to a Republican vacancy), and defeated Guy M. Gillette (D-IA).

Senate contests in 1944

State Incumbent Party Status Opposing Candidates
Alabama Lister Hill Democrat Re-elected, 81.8 - 17.0 John A. Posey (Republican)
Arizona Carl Hayden Democrat Re-elected, 69.4 - 30.6 Fred W. Fickett (Republican)
Arkansas Hattie W. Caraway Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, 85.1 - 14.9 J. William Fulbright (Democrat)
Victor M. Wade (Republican)
California Sheridan Downey Democrat Re-elected, 52.3 - 47.7 Frederick F. Houser (Republican)
Colorado Eugene D. Millikin Republican Re-elected, 56.1 - 43.0 Barney L. Whatley (Democrat)
Connecticut John A. Danaher Republican Defeated, 51.7 - 47.3 Brien McMahon (Democrat)
Florida Claude Pepper Democrat Re-elected, 71.3 - 28.7 Miles H. Draper (Republican)
Georgia Walter F. George Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Idaho D. Worth Clark Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, 51.1 - 48.9 Glen H. Taylor (Democrat)
C. A. Bottolfsen (Republican)
Illinois Scott W. Lucas Democrat Re-elected, 52.6 - 47.1 Richard J. Lyons (Republican)
Indiana Samuel D. Jackson Democrat Retired: Republican victory, 50.2 - 48.9 Homer E. Capehart (Republican)
Henry F. Schricker (Democrat)
Iowa Guy M. Gillette Democrat Defeated, 51.3 - 48.4 Bourke B. Hickenlooper (Republican)
Kansas Clyde M. Reed Republican Re-elected, 57.8 - 40.7 Thurman Hill (Democrat)
Kentucky Alben W. Barkley Democrat Re-elected, 54.8 - 44.9 James Park (Republican)
Louisiana John H. Overton Democrat Re-elected, unopposed
Maryland Millard E. Tydings Democrat Re-elected, 61.7 - 38.3 Blanchard Randall, Jr. (Republican)
Massachusetts1 Sinclair Weeks Republican Retired: Republican victory, 64.3 - 34.9 Leverett Saltonstall (Republican)
John H. Corcoran (Democrat)
Missouri Bennett Champ Clark Democrat Defeated in primary: Republican victory, 50.0 - 49.9 Forrest C. Donnell (Republican)
Roy McKittrick (Democrat)
Nevada Patrick A. McCarran Democrat Re-elected, 58.4 - 41.6 George W. Malone (Republican)
New Hampshire Charles W. Tobey Republican Re-elected, 50.9 - 49.1 Joseph J. Betley (Democrat)
New Jersey2 Arthur Walsh Democrat Retired: Republican victory, 50.4 - 48.8 H. Alexander Smith (Republican)
Elmer H. Wene (Democrat)
New York Robert F. Wagner Democrat Re-elected, 53.1 - 46.7 Thomas J. Curran (Republican)
North Carolina Robert R. Reynolds Democrat Retired: Democratic victory, 70.3 - 29.8 Clyde R. Hoey (Democrat)
A. I. Ferree (Republican)
North Dakota Gerald P. Nye Republican Defeated, 45.2 - 33.0 - 21.2 John Moses (Democrat)
Lynn U. Stambaugh (Independent)
Ohio Robert A. Taft Republican Re-elected, 50.3 - 49.7 William J. Pickrel (Democrat)
Oklahoma Elmer Thomas Democrat Re-elected, 55.7 - 44.0 William J. Otjen (Republican)
Oregon3 Guy Cordon Republican Re-elected, 57.5 - 42.5 Willis Mahoney (Democrat)
Oregon Rufus C. Holman Republican Defeated in primary: Republican victory, 60.7 - 39.3 Wayne Morse (Republican)
Edgar W. Smith (Democrat)
Pennsylvania James J. Davis Republican Defeated, 50.0 - 49.4 Francis J. Myers (Democrat)
South Carolina Ellison D. Smith Democrat Defeated in primary: Democratic victory, unopposed Olin B. Johnston (Democrat)
South Dakota Chandler Gurney Republican Re-elected, 63.9 - 36.1 George M. Bradshaw (Democrat)
Utah Elbert D. Thomas Democrat Re-elected, 59.9 - 40.1 Adam S. Bennion (Republican)
Vermont George D. Aiken Republican Re-elected, 65.8 - 34.2 Harry W. Witters (Democrat)
Washington Homer T. Bone Democrat Retired: Democratic victory, 55.1 - 44.4 - 0.2 - 0.2 Warren G. Magnuson (Democrat)
Harry P. Cain (Republican)
Ray C. Roberts (Socialist)
Josephine B. Sulston (Prohibition)
Wisconsin Alexander Wiley Republican Re-elected, 50.5 - 42.8 - 5.8 Howard J. McMurray (Democrat)
Harry Sauthoff (Progressive)

1 special election held due to resignation Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (R-MA) to go on active duty in the United States Army

2 special election held due to death of W. Warren Barbour (R-NJ)

3 special election held due to death of Charles L. McNary (R-OR)

Senate composition before and after elections

78th Congress Senate Composition   79th Congress Senate Composition
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 
Color Key:   = Republican   = Democratic   = Progressive

See also

Pre-17th Amendment
Post-17th Amendment