1940 United States Senate elections

The 1940 United States Senate elections coincided with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt to his third term as president. The 32 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies.

1940 United States Senate elections

November 5, 1940

34 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate
49 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Alben Barkley Warren Austin (acting)
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since July 22, 1937 January 3, 1940
Leader's seat Kentucky Vermont
Seats before 69 24
Seats after 66 28
Seat change 3 4
Popular vote 19,715,831 19,831,926
Percentage 47.5% 47.8%
Seats up 25 9
Races won 22 13

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Farmer–Labor Progressive
Seats before 1 1
Seats won 0 1
Seat change 1
Popular vote 310,875 605,609
Percentage 2.57% 1.5%
Seats up 1 1
Races won 0 1

  Fifth party
 
Party Independent
Seats before 1
Seats after 1
Seat change
Seats up 0
Races won 0

Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     Progressive hold
     No election

Majority Leader before election

Alben Barkley
Democratic

Elected Majority Leader

Alben Barkley
Democratic

Although Roosevelt was re-elected, support for his administration had dropped somewhat after eight years, and the Republican opposition gained three seats from the Democrats. However, the New Deal Democrats regained firm control of both the House and Senate because Progressives dominated the election. The Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party also disappeared from the Senate, as Henrik Shipstead joined the Republican party and Ernest Lundeen had died during the preceding term. Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri was elected to his final term in the Senate in 1940. Truman resigned in 1945 to serve as President Roosevelt's third Vice President.

Republicans later gained an additional seat through an appointment in Colorado.

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