The 1928 United States Senate elections were elections that coincided with the

presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The p ...

of Republican

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and ...

. The 32 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies. The strong economy helped the Republicans to gain seven seats from the

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

s. Senate Majority leader, Republican

Charles Curtis Charles Curtis (January 25, 1860 – February 8, 1936) was the 31st vice president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 under President Herbert Hoover. He was the Senate Majority Leader from 1924 to 1929. An enrolled member of the Kaw Natio ...

of Kansas, was not up for election this cycle, but he was elected U.S. Vice President. He resigned March 3, 1929, so his seat was vacant at the beginning of the next Congress until April 1, 1929, when a Republican was appointed to continue the term.

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Two Republicans and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

Seven Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Disqualification

Two Republicans were elected in 1926, but disqualified from taking office. One resigned on February 9, 1928, and the seat was filled in the 1928 election. One resigned December 6, 1929 and the seat was filled by appointment.

Post-election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

At the beginning of 1928.

Elections result

Race summary

Special elections during the 70th Congress

In these special elections, the winner were seated during 1928; ordered by election date.

Elections leading to the 71st Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1929; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats, unless otherwise indicated.

Closest races

Twelve races had a margin of victory under 10%: New Mexico was the tipping point state with a margin of 15.4%.

Arizona

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Idaho (special)

Illinois (special)

Indiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

First-term Democrat Woodbridge N. Ferris died March 23, 1928. On March 31, 1928, Governor Fred W. Green appointed 44-year-old Republican

Arthur H. Vandenberg Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg Sr. (March 22, 1884April 18, 1951) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from Michigan from 1928 to 1951. A member of the Republican Party, he participated in the creation of the United Nati ...

to fill the vacancy, pending a special election. Green considered resigning so he could be appointed to the vacancy. He also considered several other candidates, including former governors

Albert Sleeper Albert Edson Sleeper (December 31, 1862 – May 13, 1934) was an American politician who served as the 29th governor of Michigan from 1917 to 1921. Biography Sleeper was born on December 31, 1862, in Bradford, Vermont and was educated at the Bra ...

and

Chase Osborn Chase Salmon Osborn (January 22, 1860 – April 11, 1949) was an American politician, newspaper reporter and publisher, and explorer. He served as the 27th governor of Michigan from 1911 to 1913. The governor spent time at Possum Poke in Georg ...

. In addition, Green considered Representative Joseph W. Fordney, who would have been a placeholder until the election for the remainder of Ferris' term. Green finally decided upon Vandenberg, who immediately declared his intention to stand for election to both the short, unexpired term and the full six-year term. Both the special and the general elections were held the same day, November 6, 1928.

Michigan (regular)

Michigan (special)

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

Two-term Democrat Andrieus A. Jones died December 20, 1927. Republican Bronson M. Cutting was appointed December 29, 1927, to continue the term, pending a special election in which he was not a candidate.

New Mexico (special)

Larrazolo was not a candidate, however, for the next term. After leaving office, Larrazolo died on April 7, 1930.

New Mexico (regular)

Cutting would be re-elected in 1934 but died May 6, 1935.

New York

North Dakota

Ohio

There were 2 elections due to the March 30, 1928, death of Republican Frank B. Willis.

Ohio (regular)

Ohio (special)

Democrat Cyrus Locher was appointed April 5, 1928, to continue the term, pending the special election, in which he lost his party's nomination. Burton, in turn, died October 28, 1929, triggering another interim appointment and

special election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

before the 1933 end of the term.

Pennsylvania

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