1942 United States Senate elections

1942 United States Senate elections

← 1940 November 3, 1942[1] 1944 →
← 1941 (MS, SC, TX)
34 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Alben Barkley Charles McNary Party Democratic Republican Leader since July 22, 1937 January 3, 1941 Leader's seat Kentucky Oregon Seats before 65 29 Seats after 57 38 Seat change 8 9 Popular vote 6,497,048[2] 6,869,448[2] Percentage 46.6% 49.3% Seats up 24 9 Races won 16 18   Third party Fourth party   Party Progressive Independent Seats before 1 1 Seats after 1 0 Seat change 1 Popular vote — 236,682[2] Percentage — 1.7% Seats up 0 1 Races won 0 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election Rectangular inset (Colorado): both seats up for election
Majority Leader before election Alben Barkley Democratic Elected Majority Leader Alben Barkley Democratic

The 1942 United States Senate elections were held November 3, 1942, midway through Franklin D. Roosevelt's third term as president. The 32 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and two special elections were held to fill vacancies.

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. The Democrats nonetheless retained a significant majority, though the smallest since Roosevelt was first elected in 1932. However, for the first time since 1932, Democrats did not have a supermajority.

The New York Times ascribed the results to "voters' dissatisfaction with the conduct of the war, both at home and abroad" but not evidence of a lack of enthusiasm for the war effort. It found that a candidate's stance as isolationist or interventionist before Pearl Harbor had little impact on his success at the polls.^[3] The paper's editorial board welcomed a return to normal political alignments after the unbalanced majorities of the previous decade.^[4] The election not only changed the numbers of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, but also accomplished an ideological shift, as several longtime enthusiastic supporters of the New Deal were replaced by Republicans of the most conservative sort.^[5]

The Republicans gained enough seats to end the Democrats' supermajority control.^[6] Democrats later gained a seat in New Jersey through an appointment, bringing their seat total up to 58.

↓

57	1	38
Democratic	P	Republican

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties						Total
		Democratic	Republican	Progressive	Other
Last elections (1940)		66	28	1	1	96
Before these elections		65	29	1	1	96
Not up		41	20	1	0	62
Up		24	9	0	1	34
	Class 2 (1936→1942)	23	8	0	1	32
	Special: Class 1	1	0	—	—	1
	Special: Class 3	0	1	—	—	1
Incumbent retired		1	0	—	—	1
	Held by same party	1	0	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	0	0	—	—	0
	Result	1	0	0	0	1
Incumbent ran		22	8	—	1	31
	Won re-election[a]	13	8	—	0	21
	Lost re-election	5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican				6
	Lost renomination but held by same party	2	0	—	0	2
	Lost renomination and party lost	2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans		—	—	2
	Result	15	16	0	0	31
Appointee ran for either, but not both, special and regular election		1	1	—	0	2
	Appointee's party won both elections	0	1	—	0	1
	Appointee's party lost both elections	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican		—	0	1
	Result	0	2	0	0	2
Total elected		16	18	0	0	34
Net change		8	9		1	9
Nationwide vote		6,497,048	6,869,448	—	565,783	13,932,279
	Share	46.63%	49.31%	—	4.06%	100%
Result		57	38	1	0	96

Source:^[2]

One Republican retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term and two Democrats retired instead of seeking election to a full term.

State	Senator	Replaced by
Arkansas	Lloyd Spencer	John L. McClellan
Minnesota (special)	Joseph H. Ball	Arthur E. Nelson
West Virginia	Joseph Rosier	Chapman Revercomb

Eight Democrats and one Independent sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election. One Democrat sought election to finish the unexpired term but lost in the primary election and one Democrat sought election to finish the unexpired term but lost in the general election.

State	Senator	Replaced by
Delaware	James H. Hughes	C. Douglass Buck
Iowa	Clyde L. Herring	George A. Wilson
Michigan	Prentiss M. Brown	Homer S. Ferguson
Mississippi	Wall Doxey	James Eastland
Nebraska	George W. Norris	Kenneth S. Wherry
Nevada	Berkeley L. Bunker	James G. Scrugham
New Jersey	William H. Smathers	Albert W. Hawkes
Oklahoma	Joshua B. Lee	Edward H. Moore
South Dakota	William J. Bulow	Harlan J. Bushfield
West Virginia (special)	Joseph Rosier	Hugh Ike Shott
Wyoming	Harry Schwartz	Edward V. Robertson

State	Senator	Replaced by
New Jersey	William Warren Barbour	Arthur Walsh
Indiana	Frederick Van Nuys	Samuel D. Jackson
Oregon	Charles L. McNary	Guy Cordon
Massachusetts	Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.	Sinclair Weeks

At the beginning of 1942.

		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	D37	D36	D35	D34	D33	D32	D31	D30	D29
D39	D40	D41	D42 Ala. Ran	D43 Ark. Retired	D44 Colo. (reg) Ran	D45 Del. Ran	D46 Ga. Ran	D47 Iowa Ran	D48 Ky. Ran
Majority →									D49 La. Ran
D58 R.I. Ran	D57 Okla. Ran	D56 N.C. Ran	D55 N.M. Ran	D54 N.J. Ran	D53 Nev. (sp) Ran	D52 Mont. Ran	D51 Miss. Ran	D50 Mich. Ran
D59 S.C. Ran	D60 S.D. Ran	D61 Tenn. Ran	D62 Texas Ran	D63 Va. Ran	D64 W.Va. (sp) Ran W.Va. (reg) Retired	D65 Wyo. Ran	P1	I1 Neb. Ran	R29 Ore. Ran
R19	R20	R21 Colo. (sp) Ran	R22 Idaho Ran	R23 Ill. Ran	R24 Kan. Ran	R25 Maine Ran	R26 Mass. Ran	R27 Minn. (sp) Retired Minn. (reg) Ran	R28 N.H. Ran
R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9
		R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8

		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	D37	D36	D35	D34	D33	D32	D31	D30	D29
D39	D40	D41	D42 Ala. Re-elected	D43 Ark. Hold	D44 Colo. (reg) Re-elected	D45 Ga. Re-elected	D46 Ky. Re-elected	D47 La. Re-elected	D48 Miss. Hold
Majority →									D49 Mont. Re-elected
P1	D57 Va. Re-elected	D56 Tenn. Re-elected	D55 Texas Re-elected	D54 S.C. Re-elected	D53 R.I. Re-elected	D52 N.C. Re-elected	D51 N.M. Re-elected	D50 Nev. (sp) Hold
R38 Wyo. Gain	R37 W.Va. (sp) Gain[b] W.Va. (reg) Gain	R36 S.D. Gain	R35 Okla. Gain	R34 N.J. Gain	R33 Neb. Gain	R32 Mich. Gain	R31 Iowa Gain	R30 Del. Gain	R29 Ore. Re-elected
R19	R20	R21 Colo. (sp) Elected[c]	R22 Idaho Re-elected	R23 Ill. Re-elected	R24 Kan. Re-elected	R25 Maine Re-elected	R26 Mass. Re-elected	R27 Minn. (sp) Hold Minn. (reg) Elected[c]	R28 N.H. Re-elected
R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9
		R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8

Key:	D# Democratic P# Progressive R# Republican I# Independent

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1942 or before January 3, 1943; ordered by election date.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Colorado Class 3	Eugene Millikin	Republican	1941 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected November 3, 1942.	▌Y Eugene Millikin (Republican) 56.1% ▌James A. Marsh (Democratic) 42.1%
Minnesota Class 2	Joseph H. Ball	Republican	1940 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 3, 1942. Republican hold. Winner did not run for the next term, see below.	▌Y Arthur E. Nelson (Republican) 56.1% ▌Al Hansen (Farmer–Labor) 26.7% ▌John E. O'Rourke (Democratic) 17.2%
Nevada Class 1	Berkeley L. Bunker	Democratic	1940 (Appointed)	Appointee lost nomination to finish term. New senator elected November 3, 1942 and qualified December 7, 1942.[7][8] Democratic hold.	▌Y James G. Scrugham (Democratic) 58.7% ▌Cecil W. Creel (Republican) 41.3%
West Virginia Class 2	Joseph Rosier	Democratic	1941 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost election to finish term. New senator elected November 3, 1942 and qualified November 17, 1942.[9] Neither candidate ran in the contemporaneous election for the next term, see below. Republican gain.	▌Y Hugh Ike Shott (Republican) 52.3% ▌Joseph Rosier (Democratic) 47.7%

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1943; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Alabama	John H. Bankhead II	Democratic	1930 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John H. Bankhead II (Democratic) Unopposed
Arkansas	Lloyd Spencer	Democratic	1941 (Appointed)	Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y John L. McClellan (Democratic) Unopposed
Colorado	Edwin C. Johnson	Democratic	1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Edwin C. Johnson (Democratic) 50.2% ▌Ralph Lawrence Carr (Republican) 49.2%
Delaware	James H. Hughes	Democratic	1936	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y C. Douglass Buck (Republican) 54.2% ▌E. Ennalls Berl (Democratic) 44.9%
Georgia	Richard Russell Jr.	Democratic	1932 (special) 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Richard Russell Jr. (Democratic) Unopposed
Idaho	John Thomas	Republican	1939 (Appointed) 1940 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John Thomas (Republican) 51.5% ▌Glen H. Taylor (Democratic) 48.5%
Illinois	C. Wayland Brooks	Republican	1940 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y C. Wayland Brooks (Republican) 53.2% ▌Raymond S. McKeough (Democratic) 46.4%
Iowa	Clyde L. Herring	Democratic	1936	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y George A. Wilson (Republican) 58.0% ▌Clyde L. Herring (Democratic) 41.7%
Kansas	Arthur Capper	Republican	1918 1924 1930 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Arthur Capper (Republican) 57.1% ▌George McGill (Democratic) 40.3%
Kentucky	Happy Chandler	Democratic	1939 (Appointed) 1940 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Happy Chandler (Democratic) 55.3% ▌Richard J. Colbert (Republican) 44.7%
Louisiana	Allen J. Ellender	Democratic	1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Allen J. Ellender (Democratic) Unopposed
Maine	Wallace H. White	Republican	1930 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Wallace H. White (Republican) 66.7% ▌Fulton J. Redman (Democratic) 33.3%
Massachusetts	Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.	Republican	1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (Republican) 52.4% ▌Joseph E. Casey (Democratic) 46.6%
Michigan	Prentiss M. Brown	Democratic	1936 1936 (Appointed)	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Homer S. Ferguson (Republican) 49.6% ▌Prentiss M. Brown (Democratic) 47.2%
Minnesota	Joseph H. Ball	Republican	1940 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected. Winner did not run to finish the term, see above.	▌Y Joseph H. Ball (Republican) 47.0% ▌Elmer A. Benson (Farmer–Labor) 28.2% ▌Martin A. Nelson (Independent) 14.4% ▌Ed Murphy (Democratic) 10.4%
Mississippi	Wall Doxey	Democratic	1941 (special)	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y James Eastland (Democratic) Unopposed
Montana	James E. Murray	Democratic	1934 (special) 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y James E. Murray (Democratic) 49.1% ▌Wellington D. Rankin (Republican) 48.4%
Nebraska	George W. Norris	Independent	1913[d] 1918 1924 1930 1936	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Kenneth S. Wherry (Republican) 49.0% ▌George W. Norris (Independent) 28.6% ▌Foster May (Democratic) 22.0%
New Hampshire	Styles Bridges	Republican	1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Styles Bridges (Republican) 54.6% ▌Francis P. Murphy (Democratic) 45.4%
New Jersey	William H. Smathers	Democratic	1936	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Albert W. Hawkes (Republican) 53.1% ▌William H. Smathers (Democratic) 45.8%
New Mexico	Carl Hatch	Democratic	1933 (Appointed) 1934 (special) 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Carl Hatch (Democratic) 59.2% ▌J. Benson Newell (Republican) 40.8%
North Carolina	Josiah Bailey	Democratic	1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Josiah Bailey (Democratic) 65.9% ▌Sam J. Morris (Republican) 34.1%
Oklahoma	Joshua B. Lee	Democratic	1936	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Edward H. Moore (Republican) 54.8% ▌Joshua B. Lee (Democratic) 44.8%
Oregon	Charles L. McNary	Republican	1917 (Appointed) 1918 (Not elected) 1918 (Appointed) 1918 1924 1930 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Charles L. McNary (Republican) 77.1% ▌Walter W. Whitbeck (Democratic) 22.9%
Rhode Island	Theodore F. Green	Democratic	1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Theodore F. Green (Democratic) 58.0% ▌Ira Lloyd Letts (Republican) 42.0%
South Carolina	Burnet R. Maybank	Democratic	1941 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Burnet R. Maybank (Democratic) Unopposed
South Dakota	William J. Bulow	Democratic	1930 1936	Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Harlan J. Bushfield (Republican) 58.7% ▌Tom Berry (Democratic) 41.3%
Tennessee	Tom Stewart	Democratic	1938 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Tom Stewart (Democratic) 70.5% ▌F. Todd Meacham (Republican) 21.5%
Texas	W. Lee O'Daniel	Democratic	1941 (special)	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y W. Lee O'Daniel (Democratic) 94.9%
Virginia	Carter Glass	Democratic	1920 (Appointed) 1920 (special) 1924 1930 1936	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Carter Glass (Democratic) 91.1% ▌Lawrence S. Wilkes (Socialist) 6.5%
West Virginia	Joseph Rosier	Democratic	1941 (Appointed)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. Winner did not run to finish the term, see above.	▌Y Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 55.4% ▌Matthew M. Neely (Democratic) 44.6%
Wyoming	Harry Schwartz	Democratic	1936	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Edward V. Robertson (Republican) 54.6% ▌Harry Schwartz (Democratic) 45.4%

Eleven races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State	Party of winner	Margin
Montana	Democratic	0.7%
Colorado	Democratic	1.0%
Michigan	Republican (flip)	2.4%
Idaho	Republican	3.0%
West Virginia (special)	Republican (flip)	4.6%
Massachusetts	Republican	5.8%
Illinois	Republican	6.8%
New Jersey	Republican (flip)	7.3%
Wyoming	Republican (flip)	9.18%
New Hampshire	Republican	9.22%
Delaware	Republican (flip)	9.3%

There is no tipping point state

1942 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1946 (special) →

Nominee John H. Bankhead II Party Democratic Popular vote 69,212 Percentage 100.0%

County results Bankhead:      100%

U.S. senator before election John H. Bankhead II Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John H. Bankhead II Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Alabama^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John H. Bankhead II (Incumbent)	69,212	100.00%
	Democratic hold

1942 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Arkansas

← 1937 (special) August 11, 1942 1948 →

Nominee John L. McClellan Jack Holt Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 134,277 83,516 Percentage 61.65% 31.35%

U.S. senator before election Lloyd Spencer Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John L. McClellan Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Arkansas^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John L. McClellan	99,124	100.00%
	Democratic hold

There were 2 elections in Colorado.

1942 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Ed Johnson Ralph L. Carr Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 174,612 170,970 Percentage 50.23% 49.19%

Results by county Johnson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Carr:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Edwin C. Johnson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson Democratic

Colorado regular election (Class 2)^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edwin C. Johnson (Incumbent)	174,612	50.23%
	Republican	Ralph Lawrence Carr	170,970	49.19%
	Socialist	Carle Whithead	1,387	0.40%
	Communist	James Allander	627	0.18%
Majority			3,642	1.04%
Turnout			347,596
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate special election in Colorado

← 1938 November 3, 1942 1944 →

Nominee Eugene Millikin James A. Marsh Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 191,517 143,817 Percentage 56.12% 42.14%

Results by county Millikin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Marsh:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Eugene Millikin Republican Elected U.S. Senator Eugene Millikin Republican

Colorado special election (Class 3)^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eugene Millikin (Incumbent)	191,517	56.12%
	Democratic	James A. Marsh	143,817	42.14%
	Independent	Lewis Haley Tiley	4,262	1.25%
	Socialist	Edgar P. Sherman	1,664	0.49%
Majority			48,700	13.98%
Turnout			341,260
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in Delaware

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee C. Douglass Buck E. Ennalls Berl Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 46,210 38,322 Percentage 54.17% 44.92%

County Results Buck:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election James H. Hughes Democratic Elected U.S. Senator C. Douglass Buck Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Delaware^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	C. Douglass Buck	46,210	54.17%
	Democratic	E. Ennalls Berl	38,322	44.92%
	Prohibition	Thomas J. Sard	776	0.91%
Majority			7,888	9.25%
Turnout			85,308
	Republican gain from Democratic

1942 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Georgia

← 1936 September 9, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Richard Russell Jr. William D. Upshaw Party Democratic Democratic Electoral vote 410 0 Popular vote 232,084 55,845 Percentage 80.60% 19.40%

County results[10] Russell:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Richard Russell Jr. Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Richard Russell Jr. Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Georgia^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard Russell Jr. (Incumbent)	59,870	96.94%
	Independent	LeVert Dwyer Shivers	1,892	3.06%
Majority			57,978	93.88%
Turnout			61,762
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1940 (special) November 3, 1942 1946 (special) →

Nominee John Thomas Glen H. Taylor Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 73,353 68,989 Percentage 51.53% 48.47%

County results Thomas:      50-60%      60-70% Taylor:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election John Thomas Republican Elected U.S. Senator John Thomas Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Idaho^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Thomas (Incumbent)	73,353	51.53%
	Democratic	Glen H. Taylor	68,989	48.47%
Majority
Turnout
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1940 (special) November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Charles W. Brooks Raymond S. McKeough Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,582,887 1,380,011 Percentage 53.24% 46.41%

Results by county Brooks:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% McKeough:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Charles W. Brooks Republican Elected U.S. senator Charles W. Brooks Republican

Illinois election^[2][11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles W. Brooks (Incumbent)	1,582,887	53.24%
	Democratic	Raymond S. McKeough	1,380,011	46.41%
	Prohibition	Enoch A. Holtwick	10,331	0.35%
	Write-in	Others	32	0.00%
Majority			202,876	6.83%
Turnout			2,973,261
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee George A. Wilson Clyde Herring Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 410,383 295,194 Percentage 57.98% 41.70%

County results Wilson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Herring:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Clyde Herring Democratic Elected U.S. Senator George A. Wilson Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Iowa^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George A. Wilson	410,383	57.97%
	Democratic	Clyde L. Herring (Incumbent)	295,194	41.70%
	Prohibition	M. M. Heptonstall	1,461	0.21%
	Independent Progressive	Ernest J. Seeman	821	0.12%
	None	Scattering	4	0.00%
Majority			115,189	16.27%
Turnout			707,863
	Republican gain from Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Arthur Capper George McGill Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 284,059 200,437 Percentage 57.11% 40.30%

County results Capper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% McGill:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Arthur Capper Republican Elected U.S. Senator Arthur Capper Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Kansas^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arthur Capper (Incumbent)	284,059	57.11%
	Democratic	George McGill	200,437	40.30%
	Prohibition	C. Floyd Hester	12,863	2.59%
Majority			83,622	16.81%
Turnout			497,359
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1940 (special) November 3, 1942 1946 (special) →

Nominee Happy Chandler Richard J. Colbert Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 216,958 175,081 Percentage 55.34% 44.66%

County results Chandler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Colbert:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Happy Chandler Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Happy Chandler Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Kentucky^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Happy Chandler (Incumbent)	216,958	55.34%
	Republican	Richard J. Colbert	175,081	44.66%
Majority			41,877	10.68%
Turnout			392,023
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in Louisiana^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Allen J. Ellender (Incumbent)	85,488	100.00%
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in Maine

← 1936 September 14, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Wallace White Fulton J. Redman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 111,520 55,754 Percentage 66.67% 33.33%

County Results White:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Wallace H. White Jr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator Wallace H. White Jr. Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Maine^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Wallace H. White Jr. (Incumbent)	111,520	66.67%
	Democratic	Fulton J. Redman	55,754	33.33%
Majority			65,766	33.34%
Turnout			167,274
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1944 (special) →

Nominee Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Joseph E. Casey Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 721,239 641,042 Percentage 52.44% 46.61%

County results Municipality results Lodge:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% Casey:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Republican Elected Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Republican

General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (Incumbent)	721,239	52.44%	+3.91%
	Democratic	Joseph E. Casey	641,042	46.61%	+5.62%
	Socialist	George Lyman Paine	4,802	0.35%	−0.19%
	Socialist Labor	Horace I. Hillis	4,781	0.35%	+0.35%
	Prohibition	George L. Thompson	3,577	0.26%	+0.26%
Majority			80,197	5.83%
Turnout			1,375,441
	Republican hold		Swing

1942 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1936 November 2, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Homer S. Ferguson Prentiss M. Brown Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 589,652 561,595 Percentage 49.55% 47.20%

County results Ferguson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Brown:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Prentiss M. Brown Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Homer S. Ferguson Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Michigan^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Homer S. Ferguson	589,652	49.55%
	Democratic	Prentiss M. Brown (Incumbent)	561,595	47.19%
	Republican	Gerald L. K. Smith (sticker)	32,173	2.70%
	Prohibition	Leroy M. Powell	6,526	0.55%
	None	Scattering	20	0.00%
Majority			28,057	2.36%
Turnout			1,189,966
	Republican gain from Democratic

There were two elections to the same seat due to the August 31, 1940 death of Farmer–Laborite Ernest Lundeen. Republican Joseph H. Ball was appointed October 14, 1940 to continue the term, pending the special election. Ball was elected to the next term in the regular election, but not to finish the current term in the special election.

1942 United States Senate special election in Minnesota

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1942 →

Nominee Arthur E. Nelson Al Hansen John E. O'Rourke Party Republican Farmer–Labor Democratic Popular vote 372,240 177,008 114,086 Percentage 56.12% 26.68% 17.20%

County results Nelson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hansen:      40–50%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Joseph H. Ball Republican Elected U.S. senator Arthur E. Nelson Republican

Minnesota special election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arthur E. Nelson	372,240	56.12%
	Farmer–Labor	Al Hansen	177,008	26.68%
	Democratic	John E. O’Rourke	114,086	17.20%
Majority			195,232	29.44%
Turnout			663,334
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1942 (special) November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Joseph H. Ball Elmer A. Benson Party Republican Farmer–Labor Popular vote 356,297 213,965 Percentage 46.98% 28.21%   Nominee Martin A. Nelson Ed Murphy Party Independent Democratic Popular vote 109,226 78,959 Percentage 14.40% 10.41%

County results Ball:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Benson:      40–50%      50–60% Nelson:      30–40%      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Joseph H. Ball Republican Elected U.S. Senator Joseph H. Ball Republican

Minnesota regular election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joseph H. Ball (Incumbent)	356,297	46.98%
	Farmer–Labor	Elmer A. Benson	213,965	28.21%
	Independent	Martin A. Nelson	109,226	14.40%
	Democratic	Ed Murphy	78,959	10.41%
Majority			142,232	18.77%
Turnout			758,447
	Republican hold

1942 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Mississippi

← 1941 (special) September 15, 1942 1948 →

Nominee James Eastland Wall Doxey Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 74,747 56,748 Percentage 56.84% 43.16%

County results Eastland:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90% Doxey:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Tie:      50%

U.S. senator before election Wall Doxey Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James Eastland Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Mississippi^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James Eastland (Incumbent)	51,355	100.00%
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee James E. Murray Wellington D. Rankin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 83,673 82,461 Percentage 49.07% 48.36%

County results Murray:      40–50%      50–60% Rankin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election James E. Murray Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James E. Murray Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Montana^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James E. Murray (Incumbent)	83,673	49.07%	−5.91%
	Republican	Wellington D. Rankin	82,461	48.36%	+21.25%
	Prohibition	Charles R. Miller	2,711	1.59%
	Socialist	E. H. Helterbran	1,669	0.98%
Majority			1,212	0.71%	−27.16%
Turnout			170,514
	Democratic hold		Swing

1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Kenneth Wherry George Norris Foster May Party Republican Independent Democratic Popular vote 186,207 108,899 83,763 Percentage 48.97% 28.64% 22.03%

County results Wherry:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Norris:      30–40%      30–40% May:      30–40%

U.S. senator before election George W. Norris Independent Elected U.S. Senator Kenneth Wherry Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kenneth S. Wherry	186,207	48.97%
	Independent	George W. Norris (Incumbent)	108,899	28.64%
	Democratic	Foster May	83,768	22.03%
	Independent	Albert F. Ruthven	1,348	0.35%
Majority			77,308	20.33%
Turnout			380,222
	Republican gain from Independent

1942 United States Senate special election in Nevada

← 1940 November 3, 1942 1946 →

Nominee James G. Scrugham Cecil W. Creel Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 23,805 16,735 Percentage 58.72% 41.28%

County results Scrugham:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Creel:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Berkeley L. Bunker Democratic Elected U.S. Senator James G. Scrugham Democratic

1942 United States Senate special election in Nevada^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James G. Scrugham	23,805	58.72%
	Republican	Cecil W. Creel	16,735	41.28%
Majority			7,070	17.44%
Turnout			40,540
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Styles Bridges Francis P. Murphy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 88,601 73,656 Percentage 54.60% 45.40%

County results Bridges:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Murphy:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Styles Bridges Republican Elected U.S. Senator Styles Bridges Republican

1942 United States Senate election in New Hampshire^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Styles Bridges (Incumbent)	88,601	54.61%
	Democratic	Francis P. Murphy	73,656	45.39%
Majority			14,945	9.22%
Turnout			162,257
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Albert Hawkes William Smathers Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 648,855 559,851 Percentage 53.09% 45.81%

County results Hawkes:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Smathers:      50–60%      70–80%

Senator before election William Smathers Democratic Elected Senator Albert Hawkes Republican

1942 United States Senate election in New Jersey^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Albert W. Hawkes	648,855	53.09%
	Democratic	William H. Smathers (Incumbent)	559,851	45.81%
	Socialist	William L. Becker	6,775	0.55%
	Independent Progressive	Lorenzo Harris	3,224	0.26%
	Prohibition	Elmo L. Bateman	1,438	0.12%
	Socialist Labor	John C. Butterworth	1,310	0.11%
	Socialist Workers	George Breitman	679	0.06%
Majority			89,004	7.28%
Turnout			1,222,132
	Republican gain from Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in New Mexico

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Carl Hatch J. Benson Newell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 63,301 43,704 Percentage 59.16% 40.84%

County results Hatch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Newell:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Carl Hatch Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carl Hatch Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in New Mexico^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Carl Hatch (Incumbent)	63,301	59.16%
	Republican	J. Benson Newell	43,704	40.84%
Majority			19,597	18.32%
Turnout			107,005
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 (special) →

Nominee Josiah Bailey Sam J. Morris Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 540,762 220,307 Percentage 70.70% 28.80%

County results Bailey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100% Morris:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election Josiah Bailey Democratic Elected Senator Josiah Bailey Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in North Carolina^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Josiah Bailey (Incumbent)	230,427	65.91%
	Republican	Sam J. Morris	119,165	34.09%
Majority			111,262	31.82%
Turnout			349,592
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Edward H. Moore Joshua B. Lee Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 204,163 166,653 Percentage 54.83% 44.76%

County results Moore:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Lee:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Joshua B. Lee Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edward H. Moore Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Oklahoma^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edward H. Moore	204,163	54.83%
	Democratic	Joshua B. Lee (Incumbent)	166,653	44.76%
	Prohibition	Oliver W. Lawton	1,549	0.42%
Majority			37,510	10.07%
Turnout			372,365
	Republican gain from Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1944 (special) →

Nominee Charles L. McNary Walter W. Whitbeck Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 214,755 63,946 Percentage 77.06% 22.94%

County results McNary:      70-80%      80-90%

Senator before election Charles L. McNary Republican Elected Senator Charles L. McNary Republican

1942 United States Senate election in Oregon^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles L. McNary (Incumbent)	214,755	77.06%
	Democratic	Walter W. Whitbeck	63,946	22.94%
Majority			150,809	54.12%
Turnout			278,701
	Republican hold

1942 United States Senate election in Rhode Island^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Theodore F. Green (Incumbent)	138,247	57.97%
	Republican	Ira Lloyd Letts	100,240	42.03%
Majority			38,007	15.94%
Turnout
	Democratic hold

1942 Democratic Senate primary in South Carolina

← 1941 (special) August 25, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Burnet R. Maybank Eugene Blease Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 120,731 114,241 Percentage 51.38% 48.62%

County results Maybank:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% Blease:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Burnet R. Maybank Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Burnet R. Maybank Democratic

South Carolina general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Burnet R. Maybank (Incumbent)	22,556	>99.9%
	No party	Write-Ins	2	<0.1%
Majority			22,554	>99.9%
Turnout			22,558
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Harlan J. Bushfield Tom Berry Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 106,704 74,945 Percentage 58.74% 41.26%

County results Bushfield:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Berry:      50–60%      60–70% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election William J. Bulow Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harlan J. Bushfield Republican

1942 United States Senate election in South Dakota^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harlan J. Bushfield	106,704	58.74%
	Democratic	Tom Berry	74,945	41.26%
Majority			31,759	17.48%
Turnout			181,649
	Republican gain from Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1938 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Tom Stewart F. Todd Meacham John Randolph Neal Jr. Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 109,881 34,324 15,317 Percentage 68.88% 21.52% 9.60%

Senator before election Tom Stewart Democratic Elected Senator Tom Stewart Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Tennessee^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Stewart (Incumbent)	109,881	68.88%
	Republican	F. Todd Meacham	34,324	21.52%
	Independent	John Randolph Neal Jr.	15,317	9.60%
Majority			75,557	47.36%
Turnout			159,522
	Democratic hold

Texas election

← 1941 (special) November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Pappy O'Daniel Dudley Lawson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 260,629 12,064 Percentage 94.90% 4.39%

County results.[12] O'Daniel:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% No vote:

U.S. senator before election Pappy O'Daniel Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Pappy O'Daniel Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Texas^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	W. Lee O'Daniel (Incumbent)	260,629	94.90%
	Republican	Dudley Lawson	12,064	4.39%
	People’s Unity	Charles L. Somerville	1,934	0.70%
Majority			248,565	90.51%
Turnout			274,627
	Democratic hold

1942 United States Senate election in Virginia

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1946 (special) →

Nominee Carter Glass Lawrence S. Wilkes Party Democratic Socialist Popular vote 79,421 5,690 Percentage 91.08% 6.53%

County and independent city results Glass:      80–90%      90-100% No Data/Vote:

U.S. senator before election Carter Glass Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carter Glass Democratic

1942 United States Senate election in Virginia^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Carter Glass (Incumbent)	79,421	91.08%	+0.58%
	Socialist	Lawrence S. Wilkes	5,690	6.53%	+6.53%
	Communist	Alice Burke	2,041	2.34%	−1.00%
	Write-ins		48	<0.01%	−0.07%
Majority			73,731	84.55%	−2.40%
Turnout			87,200
	Democratic hold

There were 2 elections to the same seat due to the January 12, 1941 resignation of Democrat Matthew M. Neely who was elected Governor of West Virginia. Democrat Joseph Rosier was appointed January 13, 1941 to continue the term, pending the special election. Primaries for both races were held August 4, 1942.

1942 United States Senate special election in West Virginia

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Hugh Ike Shott Joseph Rosier Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 227,469 207,678 Percentage 52.27% 47.73%

County results Shott:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Rosier:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Joseph Rosier Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Hugh Ike Shott Republican

Interim Democrat Joseph Rosier easily won the primary,^[13] but lost the special election to finish the term that would end in January 1943 to former congressman and 1936 Senate nominee Hugh Ike Shott.

West Virginia special election, November 3, 1942^[2][14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Hugh Ike Shott	227,469	52.27%
	Democratic	Joseph Rosier (Incumbent)	207,678	47.73%
Majority			19,791	4.54%
Turnout			435,147	22.88%
	Republican gain from Democratic

1942 United States Senate special election in West Virginia

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Chapman Revercomb Matthew M. Neely Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 256,816 207,045 Percentage 55.36% 44.64%

County results Revercomb:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Neely:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Matthew M. Neely Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Chapman Revercomb Republican

Neither Shott nor Rosier were candidates in the regular election. Instead, governor (and former senator) Neely ran to reclaim his seat, having regretted leaving the Senate.

Neely won the Democratic primary^[15] but lost the regular election.

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West Virginia regular election^[2][16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chapman Revercomb	256,816	55.36%