United States Senate elections, 1930 and 1931

United States Senate elections, 1930 and 1931

November 4, 1930[1]
32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader James Watson Joseph Robinson Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat Indiana Arkansas Seats before 56 39 Seats after 50 45 Seat change 6 6 Seats up 19 13 Races won 13 19   Third party   Party Farmer–Labor Last election 1 seat Seats before 1 Seats won 1 Seat change Seats up 0 Races won 0
Results including special elections      Democratic gain      Republican gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold
Majority Leader before election James Watson Republican Elected Majority Leader James Watson Republican

The United States Senate elections of 1930 and 1931^[1] occurred in the middle of Republican President Herbert Hoover's term. With the Great Depression beginning to take hold, Republican incumbents became unpopular,^[2] and Democrats picked up a net of eight seats, erasing the Republican gains from the previous election cycle. Republicans retained control of the chamber since Vice President Charles Curtis cast the tie-breaking vote.

This was the first of four consecutive Senate elections in the Depression in which Democrats made enormous gains, achieving a cumulative pick-up of 34 seats.

In Louisiana, Democratic Senator-elect Huey Long chose not to take his Senate seat until January 25, 1932 so he could remain as Governor of Louisiana. The Republicans therefore retained the plurality of seats at the beginning of the next Congress. With Vice President Charles Curtis (R) able to cast tie-breaking votes, the Republicans would have majority control with their 48 of the 96 seats. That slim control was further weakened in the last months of the next Congress with several mid-term seat changes.

In Minnesota, Henrik Shipstead was not up for election in 1930. He was a former Republican who became a Farmer–Laborite in 1922. Although the Farmer–Laborites would later merge with the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (in 1944), Shipstead and his contemporaries were not aligned with either major party. He would later rejoin the party in 1940.

Gains and losses

The Republicans only gained one seat by defeating incumbent Daniel F. Steck (D-IA). The Democrats took open seats in Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, and West Virginia, and defeated five incumbents:

• Henry J. Allen (R-KS)
• John M. Robsion (R-KY)
• Roscoe C. McCulloch (R-OH)
• William B. Pine (R-OK)
• William H. McMaster (R-SD)

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

At the beginning of 1930.

After the general elections

After the special elections

Race summary

Special elections during the 71st Congress

In these special elections, the winner were seated during 1930; ordered by election date (then by state).

Elections leading to the 72nd Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1931; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Elections during the 72nd Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated after March 4, 1931.

Complete list of races

Massachusetts

Montana

Pennsylvania (Special)

South Carolina

Vermont (Special)

Virginia

See also

• United States elections, 1930
  • United States House of Representatives elections, 1930
• 71st United States Congress
• 72nd United States Congress

Notes