The 1918 United States Senate elections were held throughout 1918, 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). 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 Lawrence Cowle Phipps (August 30, 1862 – March 1, 1958) was a United States Senator representing Colorado from 1919 until 1931. Biography Lawrence Cowle Phipps was born on August 30, 1862 in Amity, Pennsylvania, the son of William Henry Phi ...

(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 (KS) *

Selden P. Spencer Selden Palmer Spencer (September 16, 1862May 16, 1925) was an American lawyer and politician. A Republican, he was a United States Senator from Missouri. Early life Selden Spencer was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Samuel Selden and Eliza Debor ...

(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 David Ignatius Walsh (November 11, 1872June 11, 1947) was an American politician from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 46th Governor of Massachusetts before serving several terms in the Unite ...

(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