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1918 United States Senate elections

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FieldValue
election_name1918 United States Senate elections
countryUnited States
flag_year1912
typelegislative
ongoingno
previous_election1916 United States Senate elections
previous_year1916
next_election1920 United States Senate elections
next_year1920
previous_seat_election1912 United States Senate elections
previous_seat_year1912
next_seat_election1924 United States Senate elections
next_seat_year1924
seat_classClass 2
seats_for_election38 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate
majority_seats49
election_dateNovember 5, 1918
image_size160x180px
1blankSeats up
2blankSeats won
party1Republican Party (US)
image1Henry Cabot Lodge c1916.jpg
leader1Henry Cabot Lodge
leader_since1March 4, 1919
leaders_seat1Massachusetts
seats_before144
seats_after1**49**
seat_change15
1data117
2data1**22**
party2Democratic Party (US)
image2Oscar W. Underwood.jpg
leader2Oscar Underwood
leader_since2April 27, 1920
leaders_seat2Alabama
seats_before2**52**
seats_after247
seat_change25
1data2**23**
2data218
map_image350px
map_size320px
map_caption**Results of the elections:**
titleMajority Leader
before_electionThomas S. Martin
(as Conference Chairman)
before_partyDemocratic Party (US)
after_electionHenry Cabot Lodge
(Unofficial)
after_partyRepublican Party (US)

(as Conference Chairman) (Unofficial) The 1918 United States Senate elections were held throughout 1918, the midpoint of Woodrow Wilson's second term as president. This was the first election since the ratification of the 17th Amendment that all 32 Class 2 senators were subject to direct or popular election, making them the final class under the old system of being selected by state legislatures. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies.

Republicans gained a slim 2-seat control after picking a net of 6 seats up. This came after an April 1918 special election where they flipped a seat in Wisconsin.

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Three Republicans and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election. Two Republicans retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired terms, one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to a full term and two Democrats retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired terms.

StateSenatorReplaced byKentuckyLouisiana (special)MichiganNew Hampshire (special)New HampshireNew JerseyOregon (special)South Carolina (special)West Virginia

Defeats

Eight Democrats and one Republican sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

StateSenatorReplaced byColoradoDelawareGeorgiaIllinoisKansasMassachusettsMississippiMissouriSouth Carolina (special)

Deaths

One Democrat died on October 21, 1917, and his seat remained vacant until an April 1918 election.

StateSenatorReplaced byWisconsin

Post-election changes

StateSenatorReplaced byAlabamaVirginia

Source: United States Senate Official Website

Change in composition

Before the elections

RRRRRRRR

Elections results

RRRRRRRR
RRepublican

|}

Complete list of races

Special elections during the 65th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1918 or before March 4, 1919; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidatesSenatorPartyElectoral historyWisconsin
(Class 3)Idaho
(Class 3)Louisiana
(Class 3)Missouri
(Class 3)Nevada
(Class 3)New Hampshire
(Class 3)New Jersey
(Class 2)Oregon
(Class 2)South Carolina
(Class 2)
Paul O. HustingDemocratic[1914](1914-united-states-senate-election-in-wisconsin)Incumbent died October 21, 1917.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-wisconsin) April 2, 1918.
**Republican gain.**nowrap{{Plainlist
John F. NugentDemocratic1918 (appointed)Interim appointee [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-idaho) November 5, 1918.nowrap{{Plainlist
Walter GuionDemocratic1918 (appointed)Interim appointee retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-louisiana) November 5, 1918.
Democratic hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Xenophon P. WilfleyDemocratic1918 (appointed)Interim appointee lost nomination.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-missouri) November 5, 1918.
**Republican gain.**nowrap{{PlainlistCaleb Lipscomb (Socialist) 1.16%William Wesley Cox (Socialist Labor) 0.16%
Charles HendersonDemocratic1918 (appointed)Interim appointee [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-nevada) November 5, 1918.nowrap{{Plainlist
Irving W. DrewRepublican1918 (appointed)Interim appointee retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-new-hampshire) November 5, 1918.
Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
David BairdRepublican1918 (appointed)Interim appointee [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-new-jersey) November 5, 1918.
Interim appointee was not a candidate for the next term; see below.nowrap{{Plainlist
Charles L. McNaryRepublican1917 (appointed)Interim appointee retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-oregon) November 5, 1918.
Republican hold.
Interim appointee was instead elected to the next term; see below.
Mulkey took the seat but subsequently resigned so McNary could be re-appointed ahead of the term.nowrap{{Plainlist
Christie BenetDemocratic1918 (appointed)Interim appointee lost renomination.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-special-election-in-south-carolina) November 5, 1918.
Democratic hold.
Neither the interim appointee nor the winner were elected to the next term; see below.nowrap{{Plainlist

Elections leading to the 66th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1919; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidatesSenatorPartyElectoral historyAlabamaArkansasColoradoDelawareGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMontanaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth CarolinaOklahomaOregonRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasVirginiaWest VirginiaWyoming
John H. BankheadDemocratic1907 (appointed)
[1907 (special)](1907-united-states-senate-special-elections-in-alabama)
[1911 (early)](1911-united-states-senate-election-in-alabama)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-alabama).nowrap{{Plainlist
Joseph T. RobinsonDemocratic[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-arkansas)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-arkansas).nowrap{{Plainlist
John F. ShafrothDemocratic[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-colorado)Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-colorado).
**Republican gain.**nowrap{{Plainlist
Willard Saulsbury Jr.Democratic[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-delaware)Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-delaware).
**Republican gain.**nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas W. HardwickDemocratic[1914 (special)](1914-united-states-senate-special-election-in-georgia)Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-georgia).
Democratic hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
William BorahRepublican[1907](1907-united-states-senate-election-in-idaho)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-idaho)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-idaho).nowrap{{Plainlist
J. Hamilton LewisDemocratic[1913 (Late)](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-illinois)Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-illinois).
**Republican gain.**nowrap{{Plainlist
William S. KenyonRepublican[1911 (special)](1911-united-states-senate-special-election-in-iowa)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-iowa)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-iowa).nowrap{{Plainlist
William H. ThompsonDemocratic[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-kansas)Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-kansas).
**Republican gain.**nowrap{{Plainlist
George B. MartinDemocratic1918 (appointed)Incumbent retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-kentucky).
Democratic hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Joseph E. RansdellDemocratic[1912](1912-united-states-senate-elections-in-louisiana)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-louisiana).nowrap{{Plainlist
Bert M. FernaldRepublican[1916 (special)](1916-united-states-senate-special-election-in-maine)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-maine) September 9, 1918.nowrap{{Plainlist
John W. WeeksRepublican[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-massachusetts)Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-massachusetts).
**Democratic gain.**nowrap{{Plainlist
William Alden SmithRepublican[1911](1911-united-states-senate-election-in-michigan)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-michigan)Incumbent retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-michigan).
Republican hold.nowrap{{PlainlistE. O. Foss (Socialist) 1.09%William Faull (Prohibition) 0.26%
Knute NelsonRepublican[1895](1895-united-states-senate-election-in-minnesota)
[1901](1901-united-states-senate-election-in-minnesota)
[1907](1907-united-states-senate-election-in-minnesota)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-minnesota)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-minnesota).nowrap{{Plainlist
James K. VardamanDemocratic[1912](1912-united-states-senate-election-in-mississippi)Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-mississippi).nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas J. WalshDemocratic[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-montana)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-montana).nowrap{{Plainlist
George W. NorrisRepublican[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-nebraska)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-nebraska).nowrap{{Plainlist
Henry F. HollisDemocratic[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-new-hampshire)Incumbent retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-new-hampshire).
**Republican gain.**nowrap{{Plainlist
David BairdRepublican1918 (appointed)Interim appointee retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-new-jersey).
Republican hold.
Interim appointee (Baird) was elected to finish the current term; see above.nowrap{{PlainlistGrafton Day (Prohibition) 1.62%William J. Wallace (Single Tax) 0.66%
Albert B. FallRepublican[1912 (new state)](1912-united-states-senate-elections-in-new-mexico)
[1912](1912-united-states-senate-elections-in-new-mexico) (Invalidated)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-new-mexico)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-new-mexico).nowrap{{Plainlist
F. M. SimmonsDemocratic[1901](1901-united-states-senate-election-in-north-carolina)
[1907](1907-united-states-senate-election-in-north-carolina)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-north-carolina)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-north-carolina).nowrap{{Plainlist
Robert L. OwenDemocratic[1907 (New state)](1907-united-states-senate-elections-in-oklahoma)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-oklahoma)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-oklahoma).nowrap{{Plainlist
Charles L. McNaryRepublican1917 (appointed)Interim appointee [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-oregon) to the next term but not to finish the term.
Winner appointed to begin next term early when winner of the special election (see above) resigned.nowrap{{Plainlist
LeBaron B. ColtRepublican[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-rhode-island)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-rhode-island).nowrap{{Plainlist
Christie BenetDemocratic1918 (appointed)Interim appointee retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-south-carolina).
Democratic hold.
Neither the interim appointee nor the winner were elected to finish the current term; see above.nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas SterlingRepublican[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-south-dakota)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-south-dakota).nowrap{{Plainlist
John K. ShieldsDemocratic[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-tennessee)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-tennessee).nowrap{{Plainlist
Morris SheppardDemocratic[1913 (special)](1913-united-states-senate-special-election-in-texas)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-texas).nowrap{{Plainlist
Thomas S. MartinDemocratic[1893 (early)](1893-united-states-senate-election-in-virginia)
[1899 (early)](1899-united-states-senate-elections-in-virginia)
[1906](1906-united-states-senate-election-in-virginia)
[1912](1912-united-states-senate-election-in-virginia)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-virginia).nowrap{{Plainlist
Nathan Goff Jr.Republican[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-west-virginia)Incumbent retired.
New senator [elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-west-virginia).
Republican hold.nowrap{{Plainlist
Francis E. WarrenRepublican[1890](1890-united-states-senate-elections-in-wyoming)
1893 (lost)
[1895](1895-united-states-senate-election-in-wyoming)
[1901](1901-united-states-senate-election-in-wyoming)
[1907](1907-united-states-senate-election-in-wyoming)
[1913](1913-united-states-senate-election-in-wyoming)Incumbent [re-elected](1918-united-states-senate-election-in-wyoming).nowrap{{Plainlist

Closest races

Eighteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

StateParty of winnerMarginIdaho (special)New Hampshire (special)KentuckyColoradoMichiganDelawareWisconsin (special)New MexicoNew Jersey (special)MassachusettsMontanaRhode IslandIllinoisMissouri (special)New HampshireNew JerseyWest VirginiaNebraska
Democratic1.0%
Republican1.52%
Democratic1.54%
Republican (flip)1.55%
Republican1.72%
Republican (flip)3.34%
Republican (flip)3.61%
Republican3.92%
Republican4.53%
Democratic (flip)4.6%
Democratic5.28%
Republican5.52%
Republican (flip)5.58%
Republican (flip)6.1%
Republican (flip)7.08%
Republican7.11%
Republican8.13%
Republican9.03%

Alabama

|[[File:1918 United States Senate Democratic primary election in Alabama results map by county.svg|250px]] |Democratic primary results |[[File:1942 United States Senate election in Alabama results map by county.svg|250px]] |General election results White:

Arkansas

Robinson:

Colorado

Phipps:
Shafroth:

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Colorado

Delaware

Georgia

Idaho

Idaho (regular)

Borah:
Moore:

Idaho (special)

Nugent:
Gooding:

Incumbent Democratic Senator John Frost Nugent defeated Republican nominee Frank Robert Gooding by a very narrow margin of 1.00% and by 970 votes. Upon his election, John Frost Nugent became the first Democrat ever to have been elected to the United States Senate in Idaho or from Idaho and the first non-Republican to win a United States Senate seat in Idaho or from Idaho since 1901 and the first non-Republican to win the Class 3 Senate seat in Idaho or from Idaho since 1897.

Illinois

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Illinois

McCormick:
Lewis:

Iowa

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Iowa

Kenyon:
Keyes:

Kansas

Capper:
Thompson:

Kentucky

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Stanley:
Bruner:

Louisiana

Louisiana (regular)

Ransdell:

Louisiana (special)

Gay:

Maine

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Maine

Fernald:

Newbert:

Massachusetts

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

Walsh:
Weeks:

Michigan

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Michigan

Newberry:
Ford:

Minnesota

Nelson:
Calderwood:
Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Minnesota

Mississippi

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Mississippi

Harrison:
Vardaman:
Noel:

Missouri (special)

Main article: 1918 United States Senate special election in Missouri

Spencer:
Folk:

Montana

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Montana

Walsh:
Lanstrum:
Rankin:
No Data/Vote:

Nebraska

Norris:
Morehead:

Nevada (special)

Henderson:
Roberts:

New Hampshire

New Hampshire (regular)

Reed:
Tie:

New Hampshire (special)

Jameson:
Tied:

New Jersey

New Jersey (regular)

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in New Jersey

Edge:
Monte:

New Jersey (special)

Baird:
Hennessy:

New Mexico

Fall:
Walton:

North Carolina

Simmons:
Morehead II:

Oklahoma

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

Owen:
Johnson:

Oregon

Oregon (regular)

McNary:
West:

Oregon (special)

Mulkey:

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Carolina (regular)

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in South Carolina

South Carolina (special)

Main article: 1918 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

South Dakota

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in South Dakota

Sterling:
Rinehart:
No Vote:

Tennessee

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Tennessee

Texas

Main article: 1918 United States Senate election in Texas

Sheppard:

Flanagan:

No vote:

Virginia

West Virginia

Elkins:
Watson:

Wisconsin (special)

Lenroot:
Davies:
Berger:

Wyoming

Warren:
Osborne: No Data/Vote:

Notes

References

References

  1. (1919). "The Wisconsin Blue Book. 1919". Democrat Printing Co.
  2. (2010). "Guide to U.S. Elections". [[CQ Press]].
  3. Dubin, Michael J.. (1998). "United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results". McFarland & Company.
  4. "1919 Official Directory of Wyoming and Election Returns For 1918". [[William E. Chaplin.
  5. Jordan, Frank E.. (1966). "The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962".
  6. "Our Campaigns - TN US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918".
  7. Howard, George F.. (1919). "Supplemental Biennial Report of the Secretary of State". A. C. Baldwin & Stone Printers.
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