1946 United States Senate elections
The 1946 United States Senate elections were held November 5, 1946, in the middle of Democratic President Harry S. Truman's first term.
The Republicans took control of the Senate by picking up twelve seats, mostly from the Democrats.
The vote was largely seen as a referendum on Truman, whose approval rating had sunk to 32% over the president's controversial handling of a wave of post-war labor strikes, such as a nationwide railroad strike in May, at a time when Americans depended on train service for both commuter and long-distance travel. Just as damaging was Truman's back-and-forth over whether to end unpopular wartime price controls to handle shortages, particularly in foodstuffs. For example, price controls on beef had led to a "hamburger famine", but when Truman, in a surprise move, lifted the controls on October 14 — just weeks before the election — meat prices shot up to record levels.
Republican wave
The president's lack of popular support is widely seen as the reason for the Democrats' congressional defeat, the largest since they were trounced in the 1928 pro-Republican wave that brought Herbert Hoover to power. And for the first time since before the Great Depression, Republicans were seen as the party which could best handle the American economy.However, the Republicans also benefited from what today would be called "a good map," meaning that of the one-third of Senate seats up for election, the majority were held by Democrats.
Besides the Republicans being able to hold onto all of their seats, this was the party's largest senate gain since 1920.
Gains and losses
In addition to a net Republican gain by appointment before the election, the Republicans picked up twelve seats, eleven of them from Democrats, and one from Progressive Robert M. La Follette Jr.. This gave them a Senate majority for the first time since Hoover's administration.In addition to capturing open seats in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and New York, the Republicans defeated seven Democratic incumbents:
- James M. Tunnell
- David I. Walsh
- Frank P. Briggs, seat was previously held by President Truman himself.
- James W. Huffman
- Joseph F. Guffey
- Abe Murdock
- Hugh B. Mitchell
Change in composition
Before the elections
Election results
| Key | Race summariesSpecial elections during the 79th CongressIn these special elections, the winner was seated during 1946; ordered by election date.Races leading to the 80th CongressIn these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1947; ordered by state.All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. Alabama (Special)ArizonaIncumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Ernest McFarland ran for re-election to a second term, easily defeating his Republican challenger Ward S. Powers in the general election.CaliforniaConnecticutRepublican candidate Raymond E. Baldwin defeated the Democrats who were holding the office. He resigned only three years after the election.Connecticut (Special)DelawareFloridaIdaho (Special)IndianaKentucky (Special)MaineMarylandMassachusettsRepublican Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. defeated incumbent David I. Walsh.MichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkThe New York state election was held on November 5, 1946.The Socialist Labor state convention met on April 7 and nominated Eric Hass for the U.S.Senate. The party filed a petition to nominate candidates under the name "Industrial Government Party." The Liberal Party gathered 51,015 signatures and filed a petition to nominate candidates with the Secretary of State on September 2. The Republican state convention met on September 4 at Saratoga Springs, New York. They nominated Assembly Majority Leader Irving M. Ives. The Democratic state convention met on September 4 at Albany, New York, and nominated Ex-Governor Herbert H. Lehman for the U.S. Senate. The American Labor state convention met on September 3 and endorsed Lehman. Fielding, Chapman and Abt were withdrawn from the ticket on September 5, and Democrats Corning, Young and Epstein substituted on the ticket. The Socialist Workers Party filed a petition to nominate candidates headed by Farrell Dobbs for Governor. The Industrial Government, Socialist and Socialist Workers tickets were not allowed on the ballot because of "defective nominating petitions." The Court of Appeals upheld the decisions of the lower courts. The whole Republican ticket was elected in a landslide. Obs.:
North Dakota (Special)OhioOhio (Special)PennsylvaniaIncumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joseph F. Guffey sought re-election to another term, but was defeated by Republican nominee Edward Martin.Rhode IslandTennesseeTexasUtahVermontIncumbent Republican Ralph Flanders successfully ran for re-election to a full term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic candidate Charles P. McDevitt.VirginiaIncumbent Senator Harry F. Byrd Sr. was re-elected to a third term after defeating Republican Lester S. Parsons.Virginia (Special)Appointed Democratic Senator Thomas G. Burch retired after filling the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Carter Glass. Absalom Willis Robertson defeated Republican Robert H. Woods and was elected to finish Glass's term in office.WashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming |