1918 United States Senate elections
The 1918 United States Senate elections were held throughout 1918,[lower-alpha 1] the midpoint of Woodrow Wilson's second term as President of the United States. Republicans gained a slim 2-seat control after picking up a net 6 seats (4 in general elections and 2 in special elections).
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32 of the 96 seats in the U.S. Senate, plus 9 seats in special elections 49 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results including special elections Democratic gains Republican gains Democratic holds Republican holds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The change in control meant that the Republicans could deny entry of the United States into the League of Nations. American participation in this new international institution was the centerpiece of Wilson's post-war foreign policy.
It was the first election in which all Class 2 senators were subject to direct or popular election following the enactment of the Seventeenth Amendment, making them the final class under the old system.
Gains and losses
Republicans gained seven seats:
- Lawrence C. Phipps (CO)
- L. Heisler Ball (DE)
- Joseph M. McCormick (IL)
- Arthur Capper (KS)
- Selden P. Spencer (MO)
- Henry W. Keyes (NH)
- Irvine Lenroot (WI) — won in a special election
Democrats gained one seat:
- David I. Walsh (MA)
Party division
These numbers represent composition at the March 4, 1919 start of the 66th United States Congress. Composition often changes due to deaths, resignations, or party shifting.
- Majority Party: Republican (49 seats)
- Minority Party: Democratic (47 seats)
- Other Parties: 0
- Total Seats: 96
Change in composition
Before the September/November elections
After the April 2, 1918 Wisconsin special election.
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
D38 Del. Ran |
D37 Colo. Ran |
D36 Ark. Ran |
D35 Ala. Ran |
D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 | D29 |
D39 Ga. Ran |
D40 Ill. Ran |
D41 Kan. Ran |
D42 La. Ran |
D43 Mont. Ran |
D44 N.C. Ran |
D45 Okla. Ran |
D46 Ore. Ran |
D47 S.C. Ran |
D48 Tenn. Ran |
Majority → | D49 Wyo. Ran | ||||||||
R39 Miss. Ran |
R40 S.D. Ran |
R41 Texas Ran |
R42 Ky. Retired |
R43 Mich. Retired |
R44 W.Va. Retired |
D52 N.J. Retired |
D51 N.H. Retired |
D50 Va. Ran | |
R38 R.I. Ran |
R37 N.M. Ran |
R36 Neb. Ran |
R35 Minn. Ran |
R34 Mass. Ran |
R33 Me. Ran |
R32 Iowa Ran |
R31 Idaho Ran |
R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 Wis. Gain |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
After the general elections
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
D38 Mont. Re-elected |
D37 La. Re-elected |
D36 Ark. Re-elected |
D35 Ala. Re-elected |
D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 | D29 |
D39 N.C. Re-elected |
D40 Okla. Re-elected |
D41 Tenn. Re-elected |
D42 Texas Re-elected |
D43 Va. Re-elected |
D44 Ga. Hold |
D45 Ky. Hold |
D46 Miss. Hold |
D47 S.C. Hold |
D48 Mass. Gain |
Majority with VP vote ↑ | |||||||||
R39 S.D. Re-elected |
R40 Wyo. Re-elected |
R41 Mich. Hold |
R42 N.J. Hold |
R43 W.Va. Hold |
R44 Colo. Gain |
R45 Del. Gain |
R46 Ill. Gain |
R47 Kan. Gain |
R48 N.H. Gain |
R38 R.I. Re-elected |
R37 Ore. Appointee elected |
R36 N.M. Re-elected |
R35 Neb. Re-elected |
R34 Minn. Re-elected |
R33 Me. Re-elected |
R32 Iowa Re-elected |
R31 Idaho Re-elected |
R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
After the November special elections
D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 Idaho Appointee elected |
D7 Nev. Appointee elected |
D8 La. Hold | ||
D18 | D17 | D16 | D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 |
D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 | D27 | D28 |
D38 | D37 | D36 | D35 | D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 | D29 |
D39 | D40 | D41 | D42 | D43 | D44 | D45 | D46 | D47 S.C. Hold |
R49 Mo. Gain |
Majority → | |||||||||
R39 | R40 | R41 | R42 N.J. Appointee elected |
R43 | R44 | R45 | R46 | R47 | R48 |
R38 | R37 Ore. Hold |
R36 | R35 | R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 |
R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 |
R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 |
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 N.H. Hold |
R8 |
Key: |
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Complete list of races
Special elections during the 65th Congress
In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1918 or before March 4, 1919; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Wisconsin (Class 3) |
Paul O. Husting | Democratic | 1914 | Incumbent died October 21, 1917. New senator elected April 2, 1918. Republican gain. |
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Idaho (Class 3) |
John F. Nugent | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 5, 1918. |
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Louisiana (Class 3) |
Walter Guion | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1918. Democratic hold. |
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Missouri (Class 3) |
Xenophon P. Wilfley | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost nomination. New senator elected November 5, 1918. Republican gain. |
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Nevada (Class 3) |
Charles Henderson | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 5, 1918. |
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New Hampshire (Class 3) |
Irving W. Drew | Republican | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1918. Republican hold. |
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New Jersey (Class 2) |
David Baird | Republican | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 5, 1918. |
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Oregon (Class 2) |
Charles L. McNary | Republican | 1917 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 5, 1918. Republican hold. Winner subsequently resigned so winner of the general election could be appointed early. |
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South Carolina (Class 2) |
Christie Benet | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected November 5, 1918. Democratic hold. |
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Elections leading to the 66th Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1919; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | John H. Bankhead | Democratic | 1907 (Appointed) 1907 (Special) 1911 (Early) |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Arkansas | Joseph Robinson | Democratic | 1913 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Colorado | John F. Shafroth | Democratic | 1913 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Delaware | Willard Saulsbury, Jr. | Democratic | 1913 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Georgia | Thomas W. Hardwick | Democratic | 1914 (Special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. |
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Idaho | William Borah | Republican | 1907 1913 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Illinois | J. Hamilton Lewis | Democratic | 1913 (Late) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Iowa | William S. Kenyon | Republican | 1911 (Special) 1913 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Kansas | William Thompson | Democratic | 1913 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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Kentucky | George B. Martin | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. |
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Louisiana | Joseph E. Ransdell | Democratic | 1912 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Maine | Bert M. Fernald | Republican | 1916 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected September 9, 1918. |
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Massachusetts | John W. Weeks | Republican | 1913 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain. |
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Michigan | William Alden Smith | Republican | 1911 1913 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
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Minnesota | Knute Nelson | Republican | 1895 1901 1907 1913 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Mississippi | James K. Vardaman | Democratic | 1912 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected.[23] Democratic hold.[24] |
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Montana | Thomas J. Walsh | Democratic | 1913 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Nebraska | George W. Norris | Republican | 1913 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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New Hampshire | Henry F. Hollis | Democratic | 1913 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. |
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New Jersey | David Baird | Republican | 1918 (Appointed) 1918 (Special) |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
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New Mexico | Albert B. Fall | Republican | 1912 (New state) 1912 (Invalidated) 1913 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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North Carolina | Furnifold Simmons | Democratic | 1901 1907 1913 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Oklahoma | Robert L. Owen | Democratic | 1907 1913 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Oregon | Charles L. McNary | Republican | 1917 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected to the next term but not to finish the term. Winner subsequently appointed to begin next term early when winner of the special election, see above, resigned. |
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Rhode Island | LeBaron B. Colt | Republican | 1913 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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South Carolina | Christie Benet | Democratic | 1918 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost election. New senator elected. Democratic hold. |
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South Dakota | Thomas Sterling | Republican | 1913 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Tennessee | John K. Shields | Democratic | 1913 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Texas | Morris Sheppard | Democratic | 1913 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Virginia | Thomas S. Martin | Democratic | 1893 (Early) 1899 (Early) 1906 1912 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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West Virginia | Nathan Goff, Jr. | Republican | 1913 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. |
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Wyoming | Francis E. Warren | Republican | 1890 1893 (Lost) 1895 1901 1907 1913 |
Incumbent re-elected. |
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Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Idaho (Special)
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Louisiana (Special)
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Missouri (Special)
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
Nevada (Special)
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New Hampshire (Special)
New Jersey (Special)
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Oregon (Special)
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Carolina (Special)
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wisconsin (Special)
Wyoming
See also
Notes
- There was a general election September 9, 1918 in Maine, and special elections in April and November 1918.
References
- "ID US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "LA US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "MO US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NV US Senate - Special Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NH US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NJ US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "OR US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "AL Senate Race - Nov 03, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "AR US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "CO US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "DE US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "GA US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "ID US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "IL US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "IA US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "KS US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "KY US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "LA US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "ME US Senate Race - Sep 09, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "MA US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "MI US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "MN US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- Street, William B. (March 21, 1965). "The Man Who Invented The Redneck". The Commercial Appeal.
- "MS US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "MT US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NE US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NH US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NJ US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NM US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "NC US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "OK US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "OR US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "RI US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "SD US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "TN US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "TX US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "VA US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- "WV US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- 1919 Official Directory of Wyoming and Election Returns For 1918. W.E. Chaplin, Wyoming Secretary of State. pp. 36–37. Retrieved January 23, 2018.