1940 United States Senate elections


The United States Senate elections of 1940 coincided with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt to his third term as President.
Although Roosevelt was re-elected, support for his administration had dropped somewhat after eight years, and the Republican opposition gained three seats from the Democrats. However, the New Deal Democrats regained firm control of both the House and Senate because Progressives dominated the election. The Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party also disappeared from the Senate, as Henrik Shipstead joined the Republican party and Ernest Lundeen had died during the preceding term. Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri was elected to his final term in the Senate in 1940. Truman resigned in 1945 to serve as President Roosevelt's third Vice President.

Gains and losses

Republicans had a net gain of three seats in the general election, plus one more in a November special election.
Three came from wins over Democrats:
  1. Indiana: First-term Democrat Sherman Minton narrowly lost to Republican Raymond E. Willis.
  2. Nebraska: First-term Democrat Edward R. Burke lost renomination to Robert LeRoy Cochran, who then lost the general election to Republican Hugh Butler.
  3. Ohio: First-term Democrat A. Victor Donahey retired and was replaced by Republican Harold H. Burton.
Republicans picked up a seat from Farmer–Labor when an incumbent changed party:
  1. Minnesota: Three-term Farmer–Labor Henrik Shipstead was re-elected, but changed party to Republican.
Democrats did win one seat from a Republican:
  1. Delaware: Two-term Republican John G. Townsend Jr. lost to Democrat James M. Tunnell.
Also, in a special election, Republicans gained an additional seat from the Democrats:
  1. Illinois: Democratic interim appointee James M. Slattery lost to Republican C. Wayland Brooks.

    Change in composition

Before the elections

Election results

Key

Race summaries

Special elections during the 76th Congress

In these special elections, the winner elected during 1940 and seated once qualified; ordered by election date.

Races leading to the 77th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1941; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

Arizona

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Idaho (Special)

Illinois (Special)

Indiana

Kentucky (Special)

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

The whole ticket nominated by Democrats and American Laborites was elected.

North Dakota

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

There were 2 elections, due to the June 20, 1940 death of two-term Republican Ernest Willard Gibson.

Vermont (General)

Two-term Republican Warren Austin was easily re-elected. He faced no opponents in the primary.
Austin served only until his August 2, 1946 resignation to become United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Vermont (Special)

Gibson's son, Republican Ernest W. Gibson Jr. was appointed June 24, 1940 to continue his father's term, pending a special election, in which he was not a candidate.
Aiken did not take the seat until January 10, 1941, as he wanted to remain Governor of Vermont. He would be repeatedly re-elected and serve until his 1975 retirement.

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

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