United States Senate elections, 1946

United States Senate elections, 1946

November 5, 1946
32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Wallace White Alben Barkley Party Republican Democratic Leader since February 25, 1944 July 22, 1937 Leader's seat Maine Kentucky Seats before 39 56 Seats won 50 46 Seat change 11 10 Popular vote 14,984,498 11,369,078 Percentage 54.5% 41.4% Swing 8.4% 8.9% Seats up 10 21 Races won 21 11   Third party   Party Progressive Seats before 1 Seats won 0 Seat change 1 Seats up 1 Races won 0
Results including special elections      Republican gain      Republican hold      Democratic hold
Majority Leader before election Alben Barkley Democratic Elected Majority Leader Wallace White Republican

The United States Senate elections of 1946 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%^[1] 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. (P-WI). 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 (D-DE)
• David I. Walsh (D-MA)
• Frank P. Briggs (D-MO), seat was previously held by President Truman himself.
• James W. Huffman (D-OH)
• Joseph F. Guffey (D-PA)
• Abe Murdock (D-UT)
• Hugh B. Mitchell (D-WA)

Change in Senate composition

Race summaries

Arizona

Incumbent 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.

Connecticut

Republican candidate Raymond E. Baldwin defeated the Democrats who were holding the office. He resighned only three years after the election.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts election

Nominee Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. David I. Walsh Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 989,736 660,200 Percentage 59.55% 39.72%

U.S. Senator before election David I. Walsh Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Republican

Republican Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. defeated incumbent David I. Walsh.

New York

The 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.^[9] 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.^[10]

The Republican state convention met on September 4 at Saratoga Springs, New York. They nominated Assembly Majority Leader Irving M. Ives.^[11]

The Democratic state convention met on September 4 at Albany, New York, and nominated Ex-Governor Herbert H. Lehman (in office 1933-1942) for the U.S. Senate.^[12]

The American Labor state convention met on September 3 and endorsed Lehman.^[13] Fielding, Chapman and Abt were withdrawn from the ticket on September 5, and Democrats Corning, Young and Epstein substituted on the ticket.^[14]

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.^[15]

The whole Republican ticket was elected in a landslide.

Obs.:

• "Blank, void and scattering" votes: 178,694

Pennsylvania

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joseph F. Guffey sought re-election to another term, but was defeated by Republican nominee Edward Martin.

Vermont

Incumbent Republican Ralph Flanders successfully ran for re-election to a full term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic candidate Charles P. Mcdevitt.

Virginia

Incumbent 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.

See also

• United States elections, 1946
  • United States House of Representatives elections, 1946
• 79th United States Congress
• 80th United States Congress

References

• New York: "RECORD FOR DEWEY IN OFFICIAL COUNT; His 687,151 Majority Topped Lehman's 627,388 in 1932; Won in 1942 by 173,254". The New York Times. December 14, 1946. (Subscription required (help)).