1942 United States Senate elections

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Source:

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

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

Defeats

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.

Post election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

At the beginning of 1942.

Election results

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Race summaries

Special elections during the 77th Congress

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

Races leading to the 78th Congress

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.

Closest races

Eleven races had a margin of victory under 10%:

There is no tipping point state

Alabama

Bankhead: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Alabama

Arkansas

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Arkansas

Colorado

There were 2 elections in Colorado.

Colorado (regular)

Johnson:
Carr:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Colorado

Colorado (special)

Millikin:
Marsh:

Main article: 1942 United States Senate special election in Colorado

Delaware

Buck:

Georgia

Russell:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Georgia

Idaho

Thomas:
Taylor:

Illinois

Brooks:
McKeough: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Illinois

Iowa

Wilson:
Herring: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Iowa

Kansas

Capper:
McGill:

Kentucky

Chandler:
Colbert:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

White:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Maine

Massachusetts

|[[File:1942 United States Senate election in Massachusetts results map by county.svg|300px]] |County results |[[File:1942 United States Senate Election in Massachusetts by Municipality.svg|300px|]] |Municipality results Casey:

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

Michigan

Ferguson:
Brown: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Michigan

Minnesota

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.

Minnesota (special)

Nelson:
Hansen:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate special election in Minnesota

Minnesota (regular)

Ball:
Benson:
Nelson:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Minnesota

Mississippi

Eastland:
Doxey:
Tie:

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Mississippi

Montana

Murray:
Rankin:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Montana

Nebraska

Wherry:
Norris:
May: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska

Nevada (special)

Scrugham:
Creel:

New Hampshire

Bridges:
Murphy: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

New Jersey

Hawkes:
Smathers:
Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in New Jersey

New Mexico

Hatch:
Newell:

North Carolina

Bailey:
Morris:

Oklahoma

Moore:
Lee:

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

Oregon

McNary:

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Maybank:
Blease:

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in South Carolina

South Dakota

Bushfield:
Berry:
No Vote:

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in South Dakota

Tennessee

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Tennessee

Texas

O'Daniel:

No vote: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Texas

Virginia

Glass:
No Data/Vote: Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Virginia

West Virginia

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.

West Virginia (special)

Shott:
Rosier:
Interim Democrat Joseph Rosier easily won the primary, 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 (regular)

Revercomb:
Neely:

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 but lost the regular election.

At the end of the term, Revercomb would lose re-election to Neely in 1948. He then won a special election to the other seat in 1956.

Wyoming

Robertson:
Schwartz:

Main article: 1942 United States Senate election in Wyoming

Notes

References

References

1. There was a regular election September 14, 1942 in [[1942 United States Senate election in Maine. Maine]].
2. (November 5, 1942). "Margin is Narrow". The New York Times.
3. (November 5, 2017). "The New Congress". The New York Times.
4. (2000). "From Obstruction to Moderation: The Transformation of Senate Conservatism, 1938-1952". Susquehanna University Press.
5. Murphy, Paul. (1974). "Political Parties In American History, Volume 3, 1890-present". [[G. P. Putnam's Sons]].
6. [[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives]]. (1943-01-30). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1942". [[U.S. Government Printing Office]].
7. (1942-11-05). "Senators Elected". Nevada State Journal.
8. (1942-12-05). "Scrugham Takes Oath on Monday". Reno Gazette-Journal.
9. (June 19, 2004). "WV US Senate - Special". Our Campaigns.
10. (1950). "Southern Primaries and Elections 1920-1949". University of Alabama Press.
11. (February 2021). "OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, November 3, 1942 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, 1941-1942 PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, April 14, 1942". Illinois State Board of Elections }}{{Dead link.
12. Heard, Alexander. (1950). "Southern Primaries and Elections 1920-1949". University of Alabama Press.
13. "WV US Senate - Special D Primary Race - Aug 04, 1942".
14. "WV US Senate - D Primary Race - Aug 04, 1942".