United States Senate elections, 1920 and 1921
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32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 49 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results including special elections Democratic gains Republican gains Democratic holds Republican holds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The United States Senate elections of 1920 and 1921 were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with the election of Warren G. Harding as President. There was also a special election in 1921. Democrat Woodrow Wilson's unpopularity allowed Republicans to win races across the country, winning ten seats from the Democrats, providing them with an overwhelming 59 to 37 majority. The Republican landslide was so vast that the Democrats failed to win a single race outside the South.
Seat changes
Republicans won two seats that were open from retiring Democrats, one seat from a Democrat who had lost renomination, and they defeated seven Democratic incumbents.
Open seats
- Colorado: Charles S. Thomas (D) retired and was replaced by Samuel D. Nicholson (R).
- Illinois: Lawrence Y. Sherman (D) retired and was replaced by William B. McKinley (R).
Incumbents defeated
- Arizona: Marcus A. Smith (D) lost re-election to Ralph H. Cameron (R).
- California: James D. Phelan (D) lost re-election to Samuel M. Shortridge (R).
- Idaho: John F. Nugent (D) lost re-election to Frank R. Gooding (R).
- Kentucky: John C. W. Beckham (D) lost re-election to Richard P. Ernst (R).
- Maryland: John W. Smith (D) lost re-election to Ovington E. Weller (R).
- Nevada: Charles B. Henderson (D) lost re-election to Tasker L. Oddie (R).
- Oklahoma: Thomas Gore (D) lost renomination to Scott Ferris (D), who then lost the general election to John W. Harreld (R).
- Oregon: George E. Chamberlain (D) lost re-election to Robert N. Stanfield (R).
Change in Senate composition
Before the elections
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
D38 Ran |
D37 Ran |
D36 Ran |
D35 Ran |
D34 Ran |
D33 Ran |
D32 Ran |
D31 Ran |
D30 | D29 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D39 Ran |
D40 Ran |
D41 Ran |
D42 Ran |
D43 Ran |
D44 Ran |
D45 Retired |
D46 Retired |
D47 Retired |
R49 Retired |
Majority → | |||||||||
R39 Ran |
R40 Ran |
R41 Ran |
R42 Ran |
R43 Ran |
R44 Ran |
R44 Ran |
R46 Ran |
R47 Ran |
R48 Retired |
R38 Ran |
R37 Ran |
R36 Ran |
R35 Ran |
R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
After the general elections
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
R59 Gain |
D37 Hold |
D36 Hold |
D35 Hold |
D34 Re-elected |
D33 Re-elected |
D32 Re-elected |
D31 Re-elected |
D30 | D29 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R58 Gain |
R57 Gain |
R56 Gain |
R55 Gain |
R54 Gain |
R53 Gain |
R52 Gain |
R51 Gain |
R50 Gain |
R49 Hold |
Majority → | |||||||||
R39 Re-elected |
R40 Re-elected |
R41 Re-elected |
R42 Re-elected |
R43 Re-elected |
R44 Re-elected |
R44 Re-elected |
R46 Re-elected |
R47 Hold |
R48 Hold |
R38 Re-elected |
R37 Re-elected |
R36 Re-elected |
R35 Re-elected |
R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
After the special elections
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
R59 | D37 | D36 | D35 | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 Hold |
D29 Appointee elected |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R58 | R57 | R56 | R55 | R54 | R53 | R52 | R51 | R50 | R49 |
Majority → | |||||||||
R39 | R40 | R41 | R42 | R43 | R44 | R45 | R46 | R47 | R48 |
R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
Key: |
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Race summary
Special elections during the 66th Congress
In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1920 or before March 4, 1921; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama (Class 2) |
Braxton B. Comer | Democratic | 1920 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 2, 1920. Democratic hold. |
√ J. Thomas Heflin (Democratic), 69.3% C. P. Lunsford (Republican), 29.5% W. H. Chichester(Socialist), 1.2% |
Virginia (Class 2) |
Carter Glass | Democratic | 1920 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 2, 1920. | √ Carter Glass (Democratic), 91.3% J. R. Pollard (Republican), 8.7% |
Elections leading to the 67th Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1921; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | Oscar W. Underwood | Democratic | 1914 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Oscar W. Underwood (Democratic), 66.% L. H. Reynolds (Republican), 33.1% A. M. Forsman(Socialist), 0.8% |
Arizona | Marcus A. Smith | Democratic | 1912 1914 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Ralph H. Cameron (Republican), 55.2% Marcus A. Smith (Democratic), 44.8% |
Arkansas | William F. Kirby | Democratic | 1916 (Special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. |
√ Thaddeus H. Caraway (Democratic), 65.9% Charles F. Cole (Republican), 34.1% |
California | James D. Phelan | Democratic | 1914 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Samuel M. Shortridge (Republican), 49.0% James D. Phelan (Democratic), 40.7% James S. Edwards (Prohibition), 6.3% Elvina S. Beals(Socialist), 4.0% |
Colorado | Charles S. Thomas | Democratic | 1913 (Special) 1914 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Samuel D. Nicholson (Republican), 54.5% Tully Scot (Democratic), 39.3% G. F. Stevens (Farmer–Labor), 3.1% Charles S. Thomas (National), 3.0% |
Connecticut | Frank B. Brandegee | Republican | 1905 (Special) 1909 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Frank B. Brandegee (Republican), 59.3% Augustine Lonergan (Democratic), 36.1% Martin F. Plunkett (Socialist), 2.8% Emil L. G. Hohenthal (Prohibition Party), 0.8% Josephine B. Bennett (Farmer–Labor), 0.6% Charles J. Backofen (Socialist-labor), 0.4% |
Florida | Duncan U. Fletcher | Democratic | 1909 (Appointed) 1909 (Special) 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Duncan U. Fletcher (Democratic), 69.5% John M. Cheney (Republican), 26.0% M.J. Martin(Socialist), 2.5% G. A. Klock (Republican-White), 2.0% |
Georgia | Hoke Smith | Democratic | 1911 (Special) 1914 |
Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. |
√ Thomas E. Watson (Democratic), 94.9% Harvey S. Edwards (Independent), 5.1% |
Idaho | John F. Nugent | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Frank R. Gooding (Republican), 54.1% John F. Nugent (Democratic), 45.9% |
Illinois | Lawrence Y. Sherman | Republican | 1913 (Special) 1914 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
√ William B. McKinley (Republican), 66.8% Peter A. Waller (Democratic), 26.8% Gustave T Fraenckel (Socialist), 3.2% John Fitzpatrick (Farmer–Labor), 2.4% Frank B Vennum (Prohibition), 0.5% Joseph B Moody(Socialist-labor), 0.15% |
Indiana | James E. Watson | Republican | 1916 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected. | √ James E. Watson (Republican), 54.6% Thomas Taggart (Democratic), 41.1% Francis M Wampler (Socialist), 1.9% Francis J Dillon (Farmer–Labor), 1.3% Oulla Bayhinger (Prohibition), 1.1% |
Iowa | Albert B. Cummins | Republican | 1908 (Special) 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Albert B. Cummins (Republican), 61.4% Claude R. Porter (Democratic), 37.4% H. W. Cowles (Farmer–Labor), 1.0% Arthur S. Dowler (Socialist-labor), 0.1% |
Kansas | Charles Curtis | Republican | 1907 (Special) 1907 1913 (Lost) 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Charles Curtis (Republican), 64.0% George H. Hodges (Democratic), 33.4% Dan Beedy(Socialist), 2.6% |
Kentucky | John C. W. Beckham | Democratic | 1914 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Richard P. Ernst (Republican), 50.3% John C. W. Beckham (Democratic), 49.7% |
Louisiana | Edward J. Gay | Democratic | 1918 (Special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. |
√ Edwin S. Broussard (Democratic), unopposed |
Maryland | John W. Smith | Democratic | 1908 (Special) 1908 1914 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Ovington E. Weller (Republican), 47.3% John W. Smith (Democratic), 43.3% G. D. Iverson Jr. (Independent), 5.4% William A. Toole (Socialist), 1.7% William A. Hawkins (Independent), 1.7% Frank N. H. Lang (Labor), 0.6% |
Missouri | Selden P. Spencer | Republican | 1918 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Selden P. Spencer (Republican), 53.7% Breckenridge Long (Democratic), 44.5% |
Nevada | Charles B. Henderson | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) 1918 (Special) |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Tasker L. Oddie (Republican), 42.1% Charles B. Henderson (Democratic), 37.9% Anne Martin (Independent), 18.2% |
New Hampshire | George H. Moses | Republican | 1918 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected. | √ George H. Moses (Republican), 57.7% Raymond B. Stevens (Democratic), 41.6% William H. Wilkins(Socialist), 0.6% |
New York | James W. Wadsworth, Jr. | Republican | 1914 | Incumbent re-elected. | √ James W. Wadsworth, Jr. (Republican) 52.4% (1,431,347) Harry C. Walker (Democratic) 32.9% (885,061) Ella A. Boole (Prohibition) 7.8% (159,477) Jacob Panken (Socialist) 5.8% (151,246) Rose Schneiderman (Farmer–Labor) 15,086 Harry Carlson (Socialist Labor) 6,522[1] |
North Carolina | Lee S. Overman | Democratic | 1903 1909 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Lee S. Overman (Democratic), 57.5% A. E. Holton (Republican), 42.5% |
North Dakota | Asle J. Gronna | Republican | 1911 (Special) 1914 |
Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
√ Edwin F. Ladd (Republican), 59.8% H. H. Perry (Democratic), 40.2% |
Ohio | Warren G. Harding | Republican | 1914 | Incumbent retired to run for U.S. President. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
√ Frank B. Willis (Republican), 59.1% William Alexander Julian (Democratic), 40.8% |
Oklahoma | Thomas P. Gore | Democratic | 1907 (New state) 1909 1914 |
Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ John W. Harreld (Republican), 50.6% Scott Ferris (Democratic), 44.5% A. A. Bagwell (Socialist), 4.8% |
Oregon | George E. Chamberlain | Democratic | 1909 1914 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Robert N. Stanfield (Republican), 50.7% George E. Chamberlain (Democratic), 43.5% |
Pennsylvania | Boies Penrose | Republican | 1897 1903 1909 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Boies Penrose (Republican), 59.9% John A. Farrell (Democratic), 27.2% Leah C. Marion (Prohibition), 7.4% |
South Carolina | Ellison D. Smith | Democratic | 1909 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Ellison D. Smith (Democratic), unopposed |
South Dakota | Edwin S. Johnson | Democratic | 1909 1914 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
√ Peter Norbeck (Republican), 50.1% Tom Ayres (Independent), 24.1% U. S. G. Cherry (Democratic), 20.0% Richard Olsen Richards (Independent), 5.5% |
Utah | Reed Smoot | Republican | 1903 1909 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Reed Smoot (Republican), 56.6% Milton H. Welling (Democratic), 38.5% J. Alex Beven (Socialist Farmer Labor), 4.9% |
Vermont | William P. Dillingham | Republican | 1900 (Special) 1902 1908 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ William P. Dillingham (Republican), 78.0% Howard E. Shaw (Democratic), 21.9% |
Washington | Wesley L. Jones | Republican | 1909 1914 |
Incumbent re-elected. | √ Wesley L. Jones (Republican), 56.4% C. L. France (Farmer–Labor), 25.4% George F. Cotterill (Democratic), 17.8% |
Wisconsin | Irvine L. Lenroot | Republican | 1918 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected. | √ Irvine L. Lenroot (Republican), 41.6% James Thompson (Independent), 34.7% Paul S. Reinsch (Democratic), 13.2% Frank J. Weber (Socialist), 9.8% Clyde D. Mead (Prohibition), 0.8% |
Elections during the 67th Congress
In this election, the winner was elected in 1921 after March 4.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
New Mexico (Class 2) |
Holm O. Bursum | Republican | 1921 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected September 20, 1921.[2] | √ Holm O. Bursum (Republican) [Data unknown/missing. You can help!] |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Johnson, Willis Fletcher; Brown, Roscoe Conkling Ensign; Spooner, Walter Whipple; Holly, Willis (1922). History of the State of New York, Political and Governmental. The Syracuse Press. pp. 347–348, 350.
- ↑ Byrd, p. 345.
References
- Byrd, Robert C. (October 1, 1993). Wolff, Wendy, ed. The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992. United States Senate Historical Office (volume 4 Bicentennial ed.). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.