Colonel William A. Phillips

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The 1918 United States Senate elections were held throughout 1918,[a] the midpoint of Woodrow Wilson's second term as president. This was the first election since the enactment of the Seventeenth Amendment that all 32 Class 2 Senators were subject to direct or popular election, making them the final class under the old system of being selected by state legislatures. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies.

Republicans gained a slim 2-seat control after picking up a net 6 seats. This came after an April 1918 special election where they flipped a seat in Wisconsin.

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Three Republicans and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election. Two Republicans retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired terms, one Democrat retired instead of seeking election to a full term and two Democrats retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired terms.

State Senator Replaced by
Kentucky George B. Martin Augustus O. Stanley
Louisiana (special) Walter Guion Edward J. Gay
Michigan William Alden Smith Truman H. Newberry
New Hampshire (special) Irving W. Drew George H. Moses
New Hampshire Henry F. Hollis Henry W. Keyes
New Jersey David Baird Walter E. Edge
Oregon (special) Charles L. McNary Frederick W. Mulkey
South Carolina (special) Christie Benet Nathaniel B. Dial
West Virginia Nathan Goff Jr. Davis Elkins

Defeats

Eight Democrats and one Republican sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

State Senator Replaced by
Colorado John F. Shafroth Lawrence C. Phipps
Delaware Willard Saulsbury Jr. L. Heisler Ball
Georgia Thomas W. Hardwick William J. Harris
Illinois J. Hamilton Lewis Medill McCormick
Kansas William H. Thompson Arthur Capper
Massachusetts John W. Weeks David I. Walsh
Mississippi James K. Vardaman Pat Harrison
Missouri Xenophon P. Wilfley Selden P. Spencer
South Carolina (special) Christie Benet William P. Pollock

Deaths

One Democrat died on October 21, 1917, and his seat remained vacant until an April 1918 election.

State Senator Replaced by
Wisconsin Paul O. Husting Irvine Lenroot

Post-election changes

State Senator Replaced by
Alabama John H. Bankhead Braxton B. Comer
Ohio Warren G. Harding Frank B. Willis
Idaho John F. Nugent Frank R. Gooding
Virginia Thomas S. Martin Carter Glass

Source: United States Senate Official Website

Change in composition

Before the elections

  D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9
D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28
D38
Kan.
Ran
D37
Ill.
Ran
D36
Idaho
Ran
D35
Ga.
Ran
D34
Del.
Ran
D33
Colo.
Ran
D32
Ark.
Ran
D31
Ala.
Ran
D30 D29
D39
La. (reg)
Ran
D40
La. (sp)
Ran
D41
Mo. (sp)
Ran
D42
Mont.
Ran
D43
Nev. (sp)
Ran
D44
N.H. (reg)
Retired
D45
N.C.
Ran
D46
Okla.
Ran
D47
S.C. (reg) &
S.C. (sp)
Ran
D48
Tenn.
Ran
Majority → D49
Va.
Ran
R39
N.J. (sp)
Ran
N.J. (reg)
Retired
R40
N.M.
Ran
R41
Ore. (sp)
Retired
Ore. (reg)
Ran
R42
R.I.
Ran
R43
S.D.
Ran
R44
Texas
Ran
R45
W.Va.
Retired
D51
Wyo.
Ran
D50
Wis.
Died
R38
N.H. (sp)
Retired
R37
Neb.
Ran
R36
Miss.
Ran
R35
Minn.
Ran
R34
Mich.
Retired
R33
Mass.
Ran
R32
Me.
Ran
R31
Ky.
Retired
R30
Iowa
Ran
R29
Idaho (reg)
Ran
R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

Elections results

  D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9
D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28
D38
Mass.
Gain
D37
La. (sp)
Hold
D36
La. (reg)
Re-elected
D35
Ky.
Hold
D34
Idaho
Elected[c]
D33
Ga.
Hold
D32
Ark.
Re-elected
D31
Ala.
Re-elected
D30 D29
D39
Miss.
Hold
D40
Mont.
Re-elected
D41
Nev.
Elected[c]
D42
N.C.
Re-elected
D43
Okla.
Re-elected
D44
S.C. (reg) &
S.C. (sp)
Hold
D45
Tenn.
Re-elected
D46
Texas
Re-elected
D47
Va.
Re-elected
R49
Wyo.
Re-elected
Majority →
R39
Neb.
Re-elected
R40
N.H. (reg)
Gain
R41
N.H. (sp)
Hold
R42
N.J. (sp)
Elected
N.J. (reg)
Hold
R43
N.M.
Re-elected
R44
Ore. (sp)
Hold
Ore. (reg)
Elected[c]
R45
R.I.
Re-elected
R46
S.D.
Re-elected
R47
W.Va.
Hold
R48
Wis.
Gain
R38
Mo.
Gain
R37
Minn.
Re-elected
R36
Mich.
Hold
R35
Me.
Re-elected
R34
Kan.
Gain
R33
Iowa
Re-elected
R32
Ill.
Gain
R31
Idaho (reg)
Re-elected
R30
Del.
Gain
R29
Colo.
Gain
R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26 R27 R28
R18 R17 R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican

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.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Wisconsin
(Class 3)
Paul O. Husting Democratic 1914 Incumbent died October 21, 1917.
New senator elected April 2, 1918.
Republican gain.
Idaho
(Class 3)
John F. Nugent Democratic 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected November 5, 1918.
Louisiana
(Class 3)
Walter Guion Democratic 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected November 5, 1918.
Democratic hold.
Missouri
(Class 3)
Xenophon P. Wilfley Democratic 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost nomination.
New senator elected November 5, 1918.
Republican gain.
Nevada
(Class 3)
Charles Henderson Democratic 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected November 5, 1918.
New Hampshire
(Class 3)
Irving W. Drew Republican 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected November 5, 1918.
Republican hold.
New Jersey
(Class 2)
David Baird Republican 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected November 5, 1918.
Interim appointee was not a candidate for the next term, see below.
Oregon
(Class 2)
Charles L. McNary Republican 1917 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected November 5, 1918.
Republican hold.
Interim appointee was instead elected to the next term, see below.
Mulkey took the seat but subsequently resigned so McNary could be re-appointed ahead of the term.
South Carolina
(Class 2)
Christie Benet Democratic 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost renomination.
New senator elected November 5, 1918.
Democratic hold.
Neither the interim appointee nor the winner were elected to the next term, see below.

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.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Alabama John H. Bankhead Democratic 1907 (Appointed)
1907 (special)
1911 (Early)
Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas Joseph T. Robinson Democratic 1913 Incumbent re-elected.
Colorado John F. Shafroth Democratic 1913 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Delaware Willard Saulsbury Jr. Democratic 1913 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Georgia Thomas W. Hardwick Democratic 1914 (special) Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Idaho William Borah Republican 1907
1913
Incumbent re-elected.
Illinois J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic 1913 (Late) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Iowa William S. Kenyon Republican 1911 (special)
1913
Incumbent re-elected.
Kansas William H. Thompson Democratic 1913 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Kentucky George B. Martin Democratic 1918 (Appointed) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Louisiana Joseph E. Ransdell Democratic 1912 Incumbent re-elected.
Maine Bert M. Fernald Republican 1916 (special) Incumbent re-elected September 9, 1918.
Massachusetts John W. Weeks Republican 1913 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Democratic gain.
Michigan William Alden Smith Republican 1911
1913
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Minnesota Knute Nelson Republican 1895
1901
1907
1913
Incumbent re-elected.
Mississippi James K. Vardaman Democratic 1912 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Montana Thomas J. Walsh Democratic 1913 Incumbent re-elected.
Nebraska George W. Norris Republican 1913 Incumbent re-elected.
New Hampshire Henry F. Hollis Democratic 1913 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
New Jersey David Baird Republican 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Interim appointee, however, was elected to finish the current term, see above.
New Mexico Albert B. Fall Republican 1912 (New state)
1912 (Invalidated)
1913
Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina F. M. Simmons Democratic 1901
1907
1913
Incumbent re-elected.
Oklahoma Robert L. Owen Democratic 1907 (New state)
1913
Incumbent re-elected.
Oregon Charles L. McNary Republican 1917 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected to the next term but not to finish the term.
Winner subsequently appointed to begin next term early when winner of the special election, see above, resigned.
Rhode Island LeBaron B. Colt Republican 1913 Incumbent re-elected.
South Carolina Christie Benet Democratic 1918 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Neither the interim appointee nor the winner were elected to finish the current term, see above.
South Dakota Thomas Sterling Republican 1913 Incumbent re-elected.
Tennessee John K. Shields Democratic 1913 Incumbent re-elected.
Texas Morris Sheppard Democratic 1913 (special) Incumbent re-elected.
Virginia Thomas S. Martin Democratic 1893 (Early)
1899 (Early)
1906
1912
Incumbent re-elected.
West Virginia Nathan Goff Jr. Republican 1913 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Wyoming Francis E. Warren Republican 1890
1893 (Lost)
1895
1901
1907
1913
Incumbent re-elected.

Closest races

Eighteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

State Party of winner Margin
Idaho (special) Democratic 1.0%
New Hampshire (special) Republican 1.52%[d]
Kentucky Democratic 1.54%
Colorado Republican (flip) 1.55%
Michigan Republican 1.72%
Delaware Republican (flip) 3.34%
Wisconsin (special) Republican (flip) 3.61%
New Mexico Republican 3.92%
New Jersey (special) Republican 4.53%
Massachusetts Democratic (flip) 4.6%
Montana Democratic 5.28%
Rhode Island Republican 5.52%
Illinois Republican (flip) 5.58%
Missouri (special) Republican (flip) 6.1%
New Hampshire Republican (flip) 7.08%
New Jersey Republican 7.11%
West Virginia Republican 8.13%
Nebraska Republican 9.03%

Alabama

Alabama election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John H. Bankhead (incumbent) 54,880 100.00
Total votes 54,880 100.00
Democratic hold

Arkansas

Arkansas election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph T. Robinson (incumbent) 78,377 100.00
Total votes 78,377 100.00
Democratic hold

Colorado

Colorado election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lawrence C. Phipps 107,726 49.49
Democratic John F. Shafroth (incumbent) 104,347 47.94
Prohibition P. A. Richardson 5,606 2.58
Majority 3,379 1.55
Total votes 217,679 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

Delaware

Georgia

Idaho

Idaho (regular)

Idaho (special)

Incumbent Democratic Senator John Frost Nugent defeated Republican nominee Frank Robert Gooding by a very narrow margin of 1.00% and by 970 votes. Upon his election, John Frost Nugent became the first Democrat ever to have been elected to the United States Senate in Idaho or from Idaho and the first non-Republican to win a United States Senate seat in Idaho or from Idaho since 1901 and the first non-Republican to win the Class 3 Senate seat in Idaho or from Idaho since 1897.

Illinois

Illinois election[3]: 429 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Medill McCormick 479,983 50.50
Democratic James Hamilton Lewis (incumbent) 426,943 44.92
Socialist William Bross Lloyd 37,167 3.91
Socialist Labor John M. Francis 3,268 0.34
Prohibition Frank B. Vennum 3,151 0.33
Majority 53,024 5.58
Turnout 950,496
Republican gain from Democratic

Iowa

Kansas

Dr. Eva Harding, Socialist candidate in the 1918 U.S. Senate election in Kansas.

Kentucky

Louisiana

Louisiana (regular)

Louisiana (special)

Maine

Massachusetts

Michigan

1918 United States Senate election in Michigan[3]: 429 
Republican Truman H. Newberry 220,054 50.19%
Democratic Henry Ford 212,487 48.47%
Socialist Edward O. Foss 4,763 1.09%
Prohibition William J. Faull 1,133 0.26%
Party Candidate Votes %
Majority 7,567 1.72
Total votes 438,437 100.00
Republican hold

Minnesota

Minnesota election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Knute Nelson (incumbent) 206,428 60.05
National Willis Calderwood 137,334 39.95
Majority 69,094 20.10
Total votes 343,762 100.00
Republican hold

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 Democratic primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nathaniel B. Dial 65,064 58.70
Democratic Cole L. Blease 40,456 36.50
Democratic James F. Rice 5,317 4.80
Majority 24,608 22.20
Total votes 110,837 100.00
Democratic hold

South Carolina (special)

South Carolina special Democratic primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William P. Pollock 38,816 34.91
Democratic Thomas H. Peeples 37,567 33.79
Democratic Christie Benet (incumbent) 34,807 31.30
Total votes 111,190 100.00
South Carolina special Democratic primary runoff[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William P. Pollock 49,920 62.43
Democratic Thomas H. Peeples 30,044 37.57
Majority 19,876 24.86
Total votes 79,964 100.00
Democratic hold

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

West Virginia

Wisconsin (special)

Wisconsin election[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Irvine Lenroot 163,983 38.73
Democratic Joseph E. Davies 148,923 35.12
Socialist Victor L. Berger 110,487 26.09
Prohibition Anthony J. Benjamin 233 0.06
Write-in Scattering 371 0.06
Majority 15,060 3.61
Total votes 423,997 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

Wyoming

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b There was a general election September 9, 1918, in Maine, and special elections in April and November 1918.
  2. ^ as Republican Conference Chairman
  3. ^ a b c Appointee elected
  4. ^ New Hampshire (special) was the "tipping-point state".

References

  1. ^ a b The Wisconsin Blue Book. 1919. Madison: Democrat Printing Co. 1919. p. 46.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Kalb, Deborah, ed. (2010). Guide to U.S. Elections. Washington, DC: CQ Press. ISBN 978-1-60426-536-1.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Dubin, Michael J. (1998). United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-0283-0.
  4. ^ 1919 Official Directory of Wyoming and Election Returns For 1918. Wyoming official directory and election returns. W. E. Chaplin, Wyoming Secretary of State. pp. 36–37. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Jordan, Frank E. (1966). The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. Columbia. pp. 64–66.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Howard, George F. (1919). Supplemental Biennial Report of the Secretary of State. Austin, Texas: A. C. Baldwin & Stone Printers. pp. 27–28.