The 1918 United States Senate elections were held throughout 1918, the midpoint of

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

's second term as

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

s gained a slim 2-seat control after picking up a net 6 seats (4 in general elections and 2 in special elections). The change in control meant that the Republicans could deny entry of the United States into the

League of Nations The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...

. 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 Lewis Heisler Ball (September 21, 1861 – October 18, 1932) was an American physician and politician from Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party and served as U.S. Representative from Delaware a ...

(DE) *

Joseph M. McCormick Joseph Medill McCormick (May 16, 1877 – February 25, 1925) was part of the McCormick family of businessmen and politicians in Chicago. After working for some time and becoming part owner of the ''Chicago Tribune,'' which his maternal grandfath ...

(IL) *

Arthur Capper Arthur Capper (July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951) was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th governor of Kansas (the first born in the state) from 1915 to 1919 and a United States senator from 1919 to 1949. He also owned a radio ...

(KS) * Selden P. Spencer (MO) *

Henry W. Keyes Henry Wilder Keyes (; May 23, 1863June 19, 1938) was an American Republican politician from Haverhill, New Hampshire. He served as the 56th governor of New Hampshire from 1917 to 1919 and as a United States Senator. Early life Keyes was born in ...

(NH) *

Irvine Lenroot Irvine Luther Lenroot (January 31, 1869 – January 26, 1949) was a United States representative and United States senator from Wisconsin and an associate judge of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Education and career ...

(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 The 66th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1919, to Ma ...

. 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 Source
United States Senate Official Website

Change in composition

Before the elections

Elections results

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.

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.

Gains and losses

Party division

Change in composition

Before the elections

Elections results

Complete list of races

Special elections during the 65th Congress

Elections leading to the 66th Congress

Alabama

Arkansas

Colorado

Delaware

Georgia

Idaho

Idaho (regular)

Idaho (special)

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Louisiana (regular)

Louisiana (special)

Maine

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri (special)

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada (special)

New Hampshire

New Hampshire (regular)

New Hampshire (special)

New Jersey

New Jersey (regular)

New Jersey (special)

New Mexico

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Oregon

Oregon (Regular)

Oregon (Special)

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Carolina (regular)

South Carolina (special)

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin (Special)

Wyoming

See also

Notes

References