1944 United States Senate elections

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

One Republican retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term, one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term, one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term and election to a full term and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

Four Republicans and five Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Post election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

At the beginning of 1944.

Election results

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Race summaries

Special elections during the 78th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1944 or before January 3, 1945; ordered by election date.

Races leading to the 79th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1945; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

Closest races

Fourteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Utah was the tipping point state with a margin of 19.8%.

Alabama

Hill:
Posey: Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Alabama

Arizona

Hayden:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Arizona

Three-term Democrat Carl T. Hayden was easily re-elected.

Hayden would be re-elected three more times before retiring in 1962.

Arkansas

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Arkansas

Fulbright:

California

Houser:
Tie: Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in California

Colorado

Millikin:
Whatley:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Colorado

Connecticut

|County results |220px |Municipality results}} Danaher:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Connecticut

Florida

Pepper:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Taylor:
Bottolfsen:

Illinois

Lucas:
Lyons:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Illinois

Indiana

There were 2 elections in Indiana, due to the January 25, 1944, death of Democrat Frederick Van Nuys.

Democrat Samuel D. Jackson was appointed to continue the term, pending a special election. Republican William E. Jenner won the special election to finish the term, and Republican Homer E. Capehart won the general election to the next term.

Indiana (special)

Jenner:
O' Brien:

Main article: 1944 United States Senate special election in Indiana

Indiana (regular)

Capehart:
Schricker:

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Indiana

Iowa

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Iowa

Gillette:

Kansas

Reed:
Hill:

Kentucky

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Barkley:
Park:

Louisiana

Overton:
Stephens:
Hawkins:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Louisiana

Maryland

Randall:
Tydings:

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Maryland

Massachusetts (special)

|[[File:1944 United States Senate election in Massachusetts results map by county.svg|250px]] |County Results |[[File:1944 United States Senate Election in Massachusetts by Municipality.svg|250px|]] |Municipality Results Saltonstall Corcoran

Main article: 1944 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts

Republican Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. resigned February 3, 1944, to return to active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II. Republican Sinclair Weeks was appointed February 8 to continue the term until an election was held. A special election was held on November 7 with Republican Massachusetts Governor Leverett Saltonstall defeating his challengers. He didn't take office until January 4, 1945, when his term as Governor ended.

Missouri

Donnell:
McKittrick:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Missouri

Nevada

McCarran:
Malone:

New Hampshire

Tobey:
Betley:

New Jersey (special)

Smith:
Wene:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate special election in New Jersey

New York

| American Labor | Liberal Wagner:
Curran:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in New York

The Socialist Labor state convention met on April 2 at the Cornish Arms Hotel, the corner of Eighth Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street, in New York City. They nominated Eric Hass for the U.S. Senate. At that time, the party used the name "Industrial Government Party" on the ballot, but was also referred to as the "Industrial Labor Party".

The Liberal Party was organized by a state convention with about 1,100 delegates who met on May 19 and 20 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. They endorsed the incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Robert F. Wagner for re-election. The party filed a petition to nominate candidates which was allowed by Secretary of State Curran on August 25.

The Republican State Committee met on August 8 at Albany, New York. They nominated Secretary of State Thomas J. Curran for the U.S. Senate.

The Democratic State Committee met on August 8 at the National Democratic Club at 233, Madison Avenue in New York City. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Robert F. Wagner.

The American Labor state convention met on August 10. They endorsed the Democratic nominee Wagner.

The Democratic/American Labor/Liberal ticket was elected and incumbent Wagner was re-elected.

North Carolina

Hoey:
Ferree:

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in North Carolina

North Dakota

Moses:
Nye:
Stambaugh:

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in North Dakota

Ohio

Taft:
Pickrel:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Ohio

Oklahoma

Thomas:
Otjen:

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

Oregon

Oregon (special)

Cordon:
Mahoney:

Oregon (regular)

Morse:
Incumbent Republican Rufus C. Holman ran for re-election, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Wayne Morse.

Pennsylvania

Myers:
Davis:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Johnston:
Smith:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in South Carolina

South Dakota

Gurney:
Bradshaw:

Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in South Dakota

Utah

Thomas:
Bennion:
Incumbent Democratic Senator Elbert D. Thomas won a third term. As of 2022, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected to Utah's class 3 Senate seat.{{Election box begin no change

Vermont

|x220px |County results |x220px |Municipality results}} Aiken:
Witters:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Vermont

Washington

Magnuson:
Cain:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Washington

Wisconsin

Wiley:
McMurray:
Main article: 1944 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

Notes

References

References

1. [[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives]]. (1945-03-01). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1944". [[U.S. Government Printing Office]].
2. (2010). "Guide to U.S. Elections". [[CQ Press]].
3. (April 3, 1944). "2 CANDIDATES NAMED BY SOCIALIST LABOR". [[The New York Times]].
4. (May 21, 1944). "NEW PARTY FIXES 400,000-VOTE GOAL FOR ROOSEVELT". [[The New York Times]].
5. (August 26, 1944). "LIBERAL PARTY WINS; Curran Overrules Objections by O'Connor to Petitions". [[The New York Times]].
6. (August 9, 1944). "CURRAN IS NAMED". [[The New York Times]].
7. (August 9, 1944). "DEMOCRATS NAME WAGNER AND DYE". [[The New York Times]].
8. (August 11, 1944). "ROOSEVELT NAMED AT ALP CONVENTION; Wagner, Also Renominated". [[The New York Times]].
9. "General Election Results - U.S. Senator - 1914-2014". Office of the Vermont Secretary of State.