United States Senate election, 1946
Encyclopedia
The United States Senate elections of 1946 were in the middle of Democratic President
Harry Truman's first term.
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.
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.
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. This election is also notable for the election of Joe McCarthy who would become famous for his investigations of communism in the 1950's
In addition to capturing open seats in Idaho
, Montana
, Nevada
, and New York
, the Republicans defeated seven Democratic incumbents:
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harry Truman's first term.
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 HooverHerbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
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.
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
Progressive Party (United States, 1924)
The Progressive Party of 1924 was a new party created as a vehicle for Robert M. La Follette, Sr. to run for president in the 1924 election. It did not run candidates for other offices, and it disappeared after the election except in Wisconsin. Its name resembles the 1912 Progressive Party, which...
Robert M. La Follette, Jr.
Robert M. La Follette, Jr.
Robert Marion "Young Bob" La Follette, Jr. was an American senator from Wisconsin from 1925 to 1947, the son of Robert M. La Follette, Sr., the brother of Philip La Follette, and Fola La Follette, whose husband was the playwright George Middleton.- Early life:La Follette was born in Madison,...
(P-WI). This gave them a Senate majority for the first time since Hoover's administration. This election is also notable for the election of Joe McCarthy who would become famous for his investigations of communism in the 1950's
In addition to capturing open seats in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the Republicans defeated seven Democratic incumbents:
- James M. TunnellJames M. TunnellJames Miller Tunnell was an American teacher, lawyer and politician from Georgetown, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and served as U.S. Senator from Delaware.-Early life and family:...
(D-DE) - David I. WalshDavid I. WalshDavid Ignatius Walsh was a United States politician from Massachusetts. As a member of the Democratic Party, he served in the state legislature and then as Lieutenant Governor and then as the 46th Governor . His first term in the U.S...
(D-MA) - Frank P. BriggsFrank P. BriggsFrank Parks Briggs was a United States Senator from Missouri. Born in Armstrong, Missouri, he attended Armstrong and Fayette schools and Central College at Fayette from 1911 to 1914. He graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1915, engaged in the newspaper business that year, and...
(D-MO), seat was previously held by President Truman himself. - James W. HuffmanJames W. HuffmanJames Wylie Huffman was a Democratic Party politician from Ohio. He represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 1945 until 1946....
(D-OH) - Joseph F. GuffeyJoseph F. GuffeyJoseph Frank Guffey was an American business executive and Democratic Party politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from 1935 until 1947.-Early life:...
(D-PA) - Abe Murdock (D-UT)
- Hugh B. Mitchell (D-WA)
Complete list of races
State | Incumbent | Party | Result | Opposing Candidates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama Special: Class 2 |
George R. Swift George R. Swift George Robinson Swift was a U.S. senator from the state of Alabama. He was appointed to fill the term left by the death of John H. Bankhead, II and served in the Senate from June 15 to November 5, 1946, when a successor, John J. Sparkman, was elected. Swift was in the lumber business... |
Democratic | Appointee retired when successor elected to finish term Democratic hold, unopposed |
John Sparkman John Sparkman John Jackson Sparkman was an American politician from the state of Alabama. A conservative Southern Democrat, Sparkman served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate from 1937 until 1979. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President as Adlai Stevenson's running mate in... (Democratic) |
Arizona | Ernest W. McFarland | Democratic | Re-elected, 69.2 - 30.1 | Ward S. Powers (Republican) |
California | William F. Knowland William F. Knowland William Fife Knowland was a United States politician, newspaperman, and Republican Party leader. He was a U.S. Senator representing California from 1945 to 1959. He served as Senate Majority Leader from 1953-1955, and as Minority Leader from 1955-1959. He was defeated in his 1958 run for... |
Republican | Re-elected, 54.1 - 44.2 | Will Rogers, Jr. Will Rogers, Jr. William Vann Rogers, generally known as Will Rogers, Jr. , was a son of legendary humorist Will Rogers and his wife, the former Betty Blake . He was a Democratic U. S. Representative from California from January 3, 1943 until May 23, 1944, when he resigned to return to the United States Army... (Democratic) |
Connecticut | Thomas C. Hart Thomas C. Hart Thomas Charles Hart was an admiral of the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish-American War through World War II. Following his retirement from the Navy, he served briefly as a United States Senator from Connecticut.-Life and career:Hart was born in Genesee County, Michigan... |
Republican | Retired Republican hold, 56.1 - 40.7 |
Raymond E. Baldwin Raymond E. Baldwin Raymond Earl Baldwin was a United States Senator, the 72nd and 74th Governor of Connecticut.-Biography:Born in Rye, New York, he moved to Middletown, Connecticut in 1903 and attended the public schools. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown in 1916, and entered Yale University... (Republican) Joseph M. Tone (Democratic) |
Delaware | James M. Tunnell James M. Tunnell James Miller Tunnell was an American teacher, lawyer and politician from Georgetown, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and served as U.S. Senator from Delaware.-Early life and family:... |
Democratic | Lost re-election, 55.2 - 44.9 Republican gain |
John J. Williams John J. Williams (senator) John James "Whispering Willie" Williams was an American businessman and politician from Millsboro, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party, who served four terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware.... (Republican) |
Florida | Spessard Holland Spessard Holland Spessard Lindsey Holland was an American lawyer, politician and elected officeholder. He was the 28th Governor of Florida from 1941 until 1945, during World War II. After finishing his term as governor, he was a United States Senator from Florida from 1946 until 1971... |
Democratic | Re-elected, 78.7 - 21.4 | J. Harry Schad (Republican) |
Idaho Special: Class 2 |
Charles C. Gossett Charles C. Gossett Charles Clinton Gossett was the 20th Governor of Idaho and United States Senator from Idaho.-Biography:... |
Democratic | Appointee lost nomination to finish term, 58.6 - 41.4 Republican gain |
Henry C. Dworshak (Republican) George E. Donart George E. Donart George E. Donart was a Democratic politician from Idaho. He was the Democratic nominee in a 1946 special election for the United States Senate seat in Idaho to finish the term of John W. Thomas, who died in November 1945.... (Democratic) |
Indiana | Raymond E. Willis Raymond E. Willis Raymond Eugene Willis was a United States Senator from Indiana. Born in Waterloo, Indiana, he attended the public schools and graduated from Wabash College in 1896. He learned the printer's trade in Waterloo and moved to Angola, Indiana and engaged in the newspaper publishing business in 1898... |
Republican | Retired Republican hold, 52.4 - 46.8 |
William E. Jenner William E. Jenner William Ezra Jenner was a U.S. Republican Indiana State and U.S. Senator.Jenner was born in Marengo, Crawford County, Indiana. He graduated with a Law degree from Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington in 1930, and set up practice in Paoli, Indiana... (Republican) M. Clifford Townsend M. Clifford Townsend Maurice Clifford Townsend was the 35th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1937 to 1941. During his term he led relief efforts during and after the Great Flood of 1937.-Early life:... (Democratic) |
Kentucky Special: Class 2 |
William A. Stanfill William A. Stanfill William Abner Stanfill was briefly a member of the United States Senate from Kentucky.Stanfill attended Union College and received a law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1912. He practiced law in Barbourville, Kentucky and Hazard, Kentucky... |
Republican | Appointee retired when successor elected to finish term Republican hold, 53.3 - 46.5 |
John S. Cooper John S. Cooper John Sherman Cooper was a politician, jurist, and diplomat from the US state of Kentucky. He served three non-consecutive, partial terms in the United States Senate before being elected to two full terms in 1960 and 1966. He also served as U.S Ambassador to India from 1955 to 1956 and U.S.... (Republican) John Y. Brown John Y. Brown, Sr. John Young Brown, Sr. was a state representative for nearly three decades, serving one term as speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives and as majority floor leader during the term of Gov. Edward T. Breathitt. A Democrat, he was elected to one term in the U.S... (Democratic) |
Maine | Ralph O. Brewster | Republican | Re-elected, 63.6 - 36.5 | Peter M. MacDonald (Democratic) |
Maryland | George L. P. Radcliffe George L. P. Radcliffe George Lovic Pierce Radcliffe was a Democratic member of the United States Senate, representing the State of Maryland from 1935-1947.Radcliffe was born on a farm at Lloyds, near Cambridge, Maryland... |
Democratic | Lost renomination, 50.2 - 49.8 |
Herbert R. O'Conor (Democratic) David J. Markey (Republican) |
Massachusetts United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1946 The United States Senate election of 1946 in Massachusetts was held on November 5, 1946. Republican Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. defeated incumbent David I. Walsh.-Democratic:... |
David I. Walsh David I. Walsh David Ignatius Walsh was a United States politician from Massachusetts. As a member of the Democratic Party, he served in the state legislature and then as Lieutenant Governor and then as the 46th Governor . His first term in the U.S... |
Democratic | Lost re-election, 59.6 - 39.7 Republican gain |
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. was a Republican United States Senator from Massachusetts and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, South Vietnam, West Germany, and the Holy See . He was the Republican nominee for Vice President in the 1960 Presidential election.-Early life:Lodge was born in Nahant,... (Republican) |
Michigan | Arthur H. Vandenberg Arthur H. Vandenberg Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg was a Republican Senator from the U.S. state of Michigan who participated in the creation of the United Nations.-Early life and family:... |
Republican | Re-elected, 67.1 - 32.0 | James H. Lee James H. Lee James H. Lee was an American sailor who received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War.-Biography:Lee was born on Long Island, New York in 1840... (Democratic) |
Minnesota | Henrik Shipstead Henrik Shipstead Henrik Shipstead was an American politician. He served in the United States Senate from March 4, 1923, to January 3, 1947, from the state of Minnesota in the 68th, 69th, 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, 75th, 76th, 77th, 78th, and 79th Congresses... |
Republican | Lost renomination, 58.9 - 39.8 Republican hold |
Edward John Thye Edward John Thye Edward John Thye was an American politician. He was the 26th Governor of Minnesota and a United States Senator from Minnesota.-Background:... (Republican) Theodore Jorgenson (Democratic) |
Mississippi | Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore G. Bilbo Theodore Gilmore Bilbo was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi and later was elected a U.S. Senator . A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a rough-and-tumble fighter in debate, he made his name a synonym for white supremacy... |
Democratic | Re-elected, unopposed | |
Missouri | Frank P. Briggs Frank P. Briggs Frank Parks Briggs was a United States Senator from Missouri. Born in Armstrong, Missouri, he attended Armstrong and Fayette schools and Central College at Fayette from 1911 to 1914. He graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1915, engaged in the newspaper business that year, and... |
Democratic | Lost re-election, 52.7 - 47.1 Republican gain |
James P. Kem James P. Kem James Preston Kem represented Missouri in the United States Senate from 1947 to 1953.James P. Kem was born in Macon, Missouri. He attended Blees Military Academy, then graduated from the University of Missouri in 1910, and Harvard Law School in 1913. He was admitted to the bar in 1913 and... (Republican) |
Montana | Burton K. Wheeler Burton K. Wheeler Burton Kendall Wheeler was an American politician of the Democratic Party and a United States Senator from 1923 until 1947.-Early life:... |
Democratic | Lost renomination, 53.5 - 45.4 Republican gain |
Zales N. Ecton (Republican) Leif Erickson Leif Erickson (politician) Leif Erickson was a politician and jurist in the State of Montana.-Biography:Erickson was born on July 29, 1906 to Oluf and Dora B. Erickson in Cashton, Wisconsin. On December 29, 1932 he married Huberta Burton Brown. He died on December 22, 1998 in Missoula, Montana... (Democratic) |
Nebraska | Hugh Butler | Republican | Re-elected, 70.8 - 29.2 | John E. Mekota (Democratic) |
Nevada | Edward P. Carville Edward P. Carville Edward Peter Carville was an American politician. He was the 18th Governor of Nevada and a Senator from Nevada. He was a member of the Democratic Party.-Biography:... |
Democratic | Lost renomination, 55.2 - 44.8 Republican gain |
George W. Malone George W. Malone George Wilson Malone was an American civil engineer and Republican politician.-Biography:Malone was born in Fredonia, Kansas... (Republican) Berkeley L. Bunker Berkeley L. Bunker Berkeley Lloyd Bunker was a United States Senator and Representative from Nevada.-Early life:Born in what was then St. Thomas, Clark County, Nevada , he attended public schools, graduating from Clark County High School in 1926... (Democratic) |
New Jersey | H. Alexander Smith | Republican | Re-elected, 58.5 - 40.1 | George E. Brunner George E. Brunner George Edward Brunner was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who served as the Mayor of Camden, New Jersey from 1936 to 1959.-Biography:... (Democratic) |
New Mexico | Dennis Chavez Dennis Chavez Dionisio "Dennis" Chavez was a Democratic politician from the U.S. State of New Mexico who served in the United States House of Representatives, and in the United States Senate from 1935 to 1962.-Early life:... |
Democratic | Re-elected, 51.5 - 48.5 | Patrick J. Hurley Patrick J. Hurley Patrick Jay Hurley was an American soldier, statesman, and diplomat.... (Republican) |
New York | James M. Mead James M. Mead James Michael Mead represented New York in the United States Senate from 1938 until 1947.Born in Mount Morris, Livingston County, New York, Mead moved to Buffalo with his family at the age of four... |
Democratic | Retired Republican gain, 52.6 - 47.6 |
Irving M. Ives (Republican) Herbert H. Lehman Herbert H. Lehman Herbert Henry Lehman was a Democratic Party politician from New York. He was the 45th Governor of New York from 1933 to 1942, and represented New York in the United States Senate from 1950 to 1957.-Lehman Brothers:... (Democratic) |
North Dakota | William Langer William Langer William "Wild Bill" Langer was a prominent US politician from North Dakota. Langer is one of the most colorful characters in North Dakota history, most famously bouncing back from a scandal that forced him out of the governor's office and into prison. He served as the 17th and 21st Governor of... |
Republican | Re-elected, 53.3 - 23.5 - 23.2 | Arthur E. Thompson Arthur E. Thompson Arthur E. Thompson was a North Dakota politician and teacher who served as the North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1933 to 1946.-Biography:... (Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... ) Abner B. Larson (Democratic) |
North Dakota Special: Class 3 |
Milton R. Young | Republican | Appointee elected to finish term, 55.5 - 27.4 - 15.2 | William Lanier (Democratic) Gerald P. Nye (Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... ) |
Ohio | James W. Huffman James W. Huffman James Wylie Huffman was a Democratic Party politician from Ohio. He represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 1945 until 1946.... |
Democratic | Lost re-election, 57.0 - 42.4 Republican gain |
John W. Bricker John W. Bricker John William Bricker was a United States Senator and the 54th Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Republican nominee for Vice President in 1944.-Early life:... (Republican) |
Pennsylvania | Joseph F. Guffey Joseph F. Guffey Joseph Frank Guffey was an American business executive and Democratic Party politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from 1935 until 1947.-Early life:... |
Democratic | Lost re-election, 59.3 - 39.8 Republican gain |
Edward Martin (Republican) |
Rhode Island | Peter G. Gerry Peter G. Gerry Peter Goelet Gerry was an American lawyer and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island.-Early life:... |
Democratic | Retired Democratic hold, 55.1 - 44.9 |
J. Howard McGrath J. Howard McGrath James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Rhode Island.McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming Governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S... (Democratic) W. Gurnee Dwyer (Republican) |
Tennessee | Kenneth D. McKellar | Democratic | Re-elected, 66.6 - 26.2 | W. B. Ladd (Republican) |
Texas | Tom Connally | Democratic | Re-elected, 88.5 - 11.5 | Murray C. Sells (Republican) |
Utah | Abe Murdock | Democratic | Lost re-election, 51.2 - 48.8 Republican gain |
Arthur V. Watkins (Republican) |
Vermont | Warren R. Austin | Republican | Retired Republican hold, 74.6 - 25.4 |
Ralph E. Flanders (Republican) Charles P. McDevitt (Democratic) |
Virginia | Harry F. Byrd Harry F. Byrd Harry Flood Byrd, Sr. of Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia, was an American newspaper publisher, farmer and politician. He was a descendant of one of the First Families of Virginia... |
Democratic | Re-elected, 64.9 - 30.5 | Lester S. Parsons (Republican) |
Virginia Special: Class 2 |
Thomas G. Burch Thomas G. Burch Thomas Granville Burch was an American farmer, tobacco manufacturer, and politician from Martinsville, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1931 until 1946. In 1946 he served as a U.S... |
Democratic | Appointee retired when successor elected to finish term Democratic hold, 68.2 - 29.0 |
A. Willis Robertson (Democratic) Robert H. Woods (Republican) |
Washington | Hugh B. Mitchell | Democratic | Lost re-election, 54.3 - 45.2 Republican gain |
Harry P. Cain Harry P. Cain Harry Pulliam Cain was a United States Senator from Washington who served as a Republican from 1946 to 1953. Today, Cain is mainly remembered for his very conservative and often highly controversial views as a member of the Senate, and as a friend and supporter of Senator Joseph McCarthy, but... (Republican) |
West Virginia | Harley M. Kilgore Harley M. Kilgore Harley Martin Kilgore was a United States Senator from West Virginia.Born in Brown, West Virginia, he attended the public schools and graduated from the law department of West Virginia University at Morgantown in 1914 and was admitted to the bar the same year.He taught school in Hancock, West... |
Democratic | Re-elected, 50.3 - 49.7 | Thomas Sweeney (Republican) |
Wisconsin | Robert M. La Follette, Jr. Robert M. La Follette, Jr. Robert Marion "Young Bob" La Follette, Jr. was an American senator from Wisconsin from 1925 to 1947, the son of Robert M. La Follette, Sr., the brother of Philip La Follette, and Fola La Follette, whose husband was the playwright George Middleton.- Early life:La Follette was born in Madison,... |
Progressive Progressive Party (United States, 1924) The Progressive Party of 1924 was a new party created as a vehicle for Robert M. La Follette, Sr. to run for president in the 1924 election. It did not run candidates for other offices, and it disappeared after the election except in Wisconsin. Its name resembles the 1912 Progressive Party, which... |
Lost renomination as a Republican, 61.3 - 37.4 Republican gain |
Joseph R. McCarthy (Republican) Howard J. McMurray Howard J. McMurray Howard Johnstone McMurray was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.Born in Harvey County, near Mount Hope, Kansas, McMurray attended the public schools, Berea Academy at Berea, Kentucky, and high school at Madison, Wisconsin.... (Democratic) Edwin Knappe Edwin Knappe Edwin W. Knappe was an American machinist from Milwaukee who became a lawyer, and who served one term as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.- Background :... (Socialist Socialist Party of America The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization... |
Wyoming | Joseph C. O'Mahoney Joseph C. O'Mahoney Joseph Christopher O'Mahoney was a Democratic United States Senator from Wyoming.O'Mahoney was born in Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, November 5, 1884. He attended the parochial and public schools and Columbia University, New York City... |
Democratic | Re-elected, 56.2 - 43.8 | Harry B. Henderson (Republican) |
Change in Senate composition
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See also
- United States House of Representatives elections, 1946