The 1940 United States Senate elections coincided with the

election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operat ...

of Franklin D. Roosevelt to his third term as president. Although Roosevelt was re-elected, support for his administration had dropped somewhat after eight years, and the

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 ...

opposition gained three seats from the Democrats. However, the New Deal Democrats regained firm control of both the

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air cond ...

and

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

because Progressives dominated the election. The

Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party The Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party (FL) was a left-wing American political party in Minnesota between 1918 and 1944. Largely dominating Minnesota politics during the Great Depression, it was one of the most successful statewide third party movem ...

also disappeared from the Senate, as

Henrik Shipstead Henrik Shipstead (January 8, 1881June 26, 1960) was an American politician. He served in the United States Senate from 1923 to 1947, from the state of Minnesota. He served first as a member of the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party from 1923 to 1941 an ...

joined the Republican party and

Ernest Lundeen Ernest Lundeen (August 4, 1878August 31, 1940) was an American lawyer and politician. Family and education Lundeen was born and raised on his father's homestead in Brooklyn Township of Lincoln County near Beresford in the Dakota Territory. H ...

had died during the preceding term. Senator Harry S. Truman of

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

was elected to his final term in the Senate in 1940. Truman resigned in 1945 to serve as President Roosevelt's third

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

Gains and losses

Republicans had a net gain of three seats in the regular elections, plus one more in a November special election. Four Republican gains came from wins over Democrats: #

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

: First-term Democrat

Sherman Minton Sherman "Shay" Minton (October 20, 1890 – April 9, 1965) was an American politician and jurist who served as a U.S. senator from Indiana and later became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; he was a member of the ...

narrowly lost to Republican

Raymond E. Willis Raymond Eugene Willis (August 11, 1875March 21, 1956) 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 m ...

. #

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...

: First-term Democrat Edward R. Burke lost renomination to

Robert LeRoy Cochran Robert Leroy "Roy" Cochran (January 28, 1886 – February 23, 1963) was an American Democratic politician and the 24th Governor of Nebraska. Cochran was born in Avoca, Nebraska, and began his education in a sod school house. After graduating ...

, who then lost the regular election to Republican Hugh Butler. #

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

: First-term Democrat A. Victor Donahey retired and was replaced by Republican Harold H. Burton. #

Illinois (Special) Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockford, as wel ...

: Democratic interim appointee James M. Slattery lost to Republican C. Wayland Brooks. Republicans gained a seat from Farmer–Labor when an incumbent changed party: #

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

: Three-term Farmer–Laborite

was re-elected, but changed party to Republican. Democrats did win one seat from a Republican: #

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent ...

: Two-term Republican

John G. Townsend Jr. John Gillis Townsend Jr. (May 31, 1871 – April 10, 1964) was an American businessman and politician from Selbyville in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party who served one term as Governor and two terms as U.S. Se ...

lost to Democrat James M. Tunnell.

Change in composition

Before the elections

Election results

Race summaries

Special elections during the 76th Congress

In these special elections, the winner elected during 1940 and seated once qualified; ordered by election date.

Races leading to the 77th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1941; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

Arizona

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Idaho (Special)

Illinois (Special)

Indiana

Kentucky (Special)

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

One-term Democrat Harry S. Truman was narrowly re-elected. He would only serve until resigning January 17, 1945, to become

U.S. Vice President The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice pr ...

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

The whole ticket nominated by Democrats and American Laborites was elected.

North Dakota

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Tennessee

Kenneth McKellar LCCN2014716761 (cropped)

Texas

Utah

Vermont

There were 2 elections due to the June 20, 1940, death of two-term Republican

Ernest Willard Gibson Ernest Willard Gibson (December 29, 1872June 20, 1940) was an American politician and lawyer from Vermont. A Republican Party (United States), Republican, he served in both the United States House of Representatives (1923-1933) and United Stat ...

Vermont (Regular)

Two-term Republican Warren Austin was easily re-elected. He faced no opponents in the primary. Austin served only until his August 2, 1946, resignation to become

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations The United States ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is formally known as the permanent representative of the United States of America to the United Nations ...

Vermont (Special)

Gibson's son, Republican Ernest W. Gibson Jr. was appointed June 24, 1940, to continue his father's term, pending a special election, in which he was not a candidate. Aiken did not take the seat until January 10, 1941, as he wanted to remain

Governor of Vermont The governor of Vermont is the head of government of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of 2 years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every ...

. He would be repeatedly re-elected and serve until his 1975 retirement.

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Notes

References

{{1940 United States elections