Contents

1936 United States Senate elections

1936 United States Senate elections

← 1934 November 3, 1936 1938 →
1937 (AR) →
32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Joseph Robinson Charles McNary Party Democratic Republican Leader since December 3, 1923 March 4, 1933 Leader's seat Arkansas Oregon Seats before 70 22 Seats after 75 17 Seat change 5 5 Seats up 19 11 Races won 24 6   Third party Fourth party   Party Farmer–Labor Progressive Seats before 2 1 Seats after 2 1 Seat change Seats up 1 0 Races won 1 0   Fifth party   Party Independent Seats before 0 Seats after 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 0 Races won 1
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Farmer–Labor hold      Independent gain      No election
Majority Leader before election Joseph Robinson Democratic Elected Majority Leader Joseph Robinson Democratic

The 1936 United States Senate elections coincided with the reelection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The 32 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies. The Great Depression continued and voters backed progressive candidates favoring Roosevelt's New Deal in races across the country. The Democrats gained 5 net seats during the election, and in combination with Democratic and Farmer–Labor interim appointments and the defection of George W. Norris from the Republican Party to become independent, the Republicans were reduced to 16 seats. Democrats gained a further two seats due to mid-term vacancies. The Democrats' 77 seats and their 62-seat majority remain their largest in history.

This was the last of four consecutive election cycles where Republicans suffered losses due to the ongoing effects of the Great Depression. This was also the last Senate election cycle until 2012 in which a Democratic candidate who won two terms also made net gains in the Senate on both occasions (although Roosevelt won a third term and fourth term, he lost Senate seats on both occasions). Additionally, this is the last time any party held three-fourths of all Senate seats.

Gains, losses, and holds[edit]

Retirements[edit]

One Republican, one Farmer-Labor, and five Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats[edit]

Six Republicans and one Democrat sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Death[edit]

One Democrat died on July 16, 1936, and his seat remained vacant until the election.

Independent gain[edit]

One Republican won re-election as an Independent.

Post-election changes[edit]

Change in composition[edit]

Before the elections[edit]

After the April 1936 special election.

Result of the elections[edit]

Beginning of the next Congress[edit]

Race summaries[edit]

Elections during the 74th Congress[edit]

In these special elections the winners were seated once they qualified; ordered by election date.

Elections leading to the 75th Congress[edit]

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1937; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Closest races[edit]

Eleven races had a margin of victory under 10%:

There is no tipping point state.

Alabama[edit]

1936 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1930 November 2, 1936 1942 →

Nominee John H. Bankhead II H. E. Berkstresser Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 239,632 33,698 Percentage 87.03% 12.24%

County results Bankhead:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Berkstresser:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election John H. Bankhead II Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John H. Bankhead II Democratic

Arkansas[edit]

1936 United States Senate election in Arkansas

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1937 (special) →

Nominee Joe T. Robinson G.C. Ledbetter Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 170,336 27,746 Percentage 84.08% 15.06%

County results Robinson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Ledbetter:      50–60% Williams:      50–60% Tie:      40-50%

U.S. senator before election Joseph T. Robinson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Joseph T. Robinson Democratic

Colorado[edit]

1936 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1942 →

Nominee Ed Johnson Ray Sauter Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 299,376 166,308 Percentage 63.45% 35.25%

Results by county Johnson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Sauter:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Edward P. Costigan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson Democratic

Delaware[edit]

Florida (special)[edit]

There were two special elections in Florida, due to the May 8, 1936, death of four-term Democrat Park Trammell and the June 17, 1936, death of five-term Democrat Duncan U. Fletcher.

Florida (special, class 1)[edit]

Democrat Scott M. Loftin was appointed May 26, 1936, to continue the term, pending a special election. Primaries were held August 11, 1936.^[5]

Andrews would be re-elected once and serve until his death September 18, 1946.

Florida (special, class 3)[edit]

Democrat William Luther Hill was appointed July 1, 1936, to continue the term, pending a special election. Democrat Claude Pepper, who had lost to Trammell in 1934 won this election.

Pepper would be re-elected twice and serve until he lost renomination in 1950. He would later be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and serve there for 26 years.

Georgia[edit]

Idaho[edit]

Illinois[edit]

1936 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1930 November 3, 1936 1940 (special) →

Nominee J. Hamilton Lewis Otis F. Glenn Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,142,887 1,545,170 Percentage 56.47% 40.72%

Results by county Lewis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Glenn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic Elected U.S. senator J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic