1920 United States Senate elections

← 1918 November 2, 1920 1922 →
← 1914 1926 →
34 of the 96 seats in theUnited States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Henry Cabot Lodge[a] Oscar Underwood Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1919 April 27, 1920 Leader's seat Massachusetts Alabama Seats before 49 47 Seats after 59 37 Seat change 10 10 Seats up 15 19 Races won 25 9
Results of the elections:      Democratic hold      Republican gain     Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Henry Cabot Lodge[a] Republican ElectedMajority Leader Henry Cabot Lodge[a] Republican

The1920 United States Senate elections were elections for theUnited States Senate that coincided with thepresidential election ofWarren G. Harding. The 32 seats ofClass 3 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies.DemocratWoodrow Wilson's unpopularity allowedRepublicans to win races across the country, winning ten seats from the Democrats and providing them with an overwhelming 59-to-37 majority. The Republican landslide was so vast that Democrats lost over half of the contested seats this year and failed to win a single race outside the South. In fact, this is the most recent occasion where every race decided by under 10 points all voted for the same party, showcasing the sheer strength of Republicans' performance in this election.

Since the passage of theSeventeenth Amendment, these elections were the closest in which the winning party in almost every Senate election mirrored the winning party for their state in the presidential election, with Kentucky being the only Senate race not to mirror their presidential result. No other Senate election cycle in a presidential year would come close to repeating this feat until2016, in which the result of every Senate race mirrored the corresponding state's result in the presidential election. Coincidentally, that election cycle involved the same class of Senate seats, Class 3.^[1] This is also one of only five occasions where 10 or more Senate seats changed party in an election, with the other occasions being in1932,1946,1958, and1980.

As of 2025^[update], the 59 seats held after this election cycle remains the highest number of seats that the Republican Party has held as the result of an election cycle. This number rose to 60, the highest number of seats the Republicans have ever held, after Democrat senatorJosiah O. Wolcott of Delaware accepted an offer from Republican governorWilliam D. Denney to become Chancellor of theDelaware Court of Chancery, allowing Denney to name RepublicanT. Coleman du Pont to replace Wolcott, a seat du Pont held untilthe next election, in which both a special election was held for the remainder of the term and a regular election was held as the seat was normally up then, both of which du Pont lost narrowly to DemocratThomas F. Bayard Jr. In addition, the 22-seat majority is the largest majority that the Republicans have achievedin any election since.

Two Republicans and three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election. One Democrat retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term.

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

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1920 or before March 4, 1921; ordered by election date.

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1921; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

Nine races had a margin of victory under 10%:

The tipping point state was Colorado, with a margin of 15.2%.

1920 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Oscar Underwood L. H. Reynolds Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 154,664 77,337 Percentage 66.10% 33.05%

County results Underwood:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Reynolds:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Oscar Underwood Democratic Elected U.S. senator Oscar Underwood Democratic

1920 United States Senate special election in Alabama

← 1918 November 2, 1920 1924 →

Nominee J. Thomas Heflin C. P. Lunsford Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 160,680 68,460 Percentage 69.27% 29.51%

County results Heflin:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Lunsford:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election B. B. Comer Democratic Elected U.S. senator J. Thomas Heflin Democratic

1920 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Ralph H. Cameron Marcus A. Smith Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 35,893 29,169 Percentage 55.17% 44.83%

County results Cameron:     50–60%     60–70% Smith:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Marcus A. Smith Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ralph H. Cameron Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Arkansas

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Thaddeus H. Caraway Charles F. Cole Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 126,477 65,381 Percentage 65.92% 34.08%

County results Caraway:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Cole:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election William F. Kirby Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thaddeus H. Caraway Democratic

1920 United States Senate election in California

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Samuel M. Shortridge James Duval Phelan James S. Edwards Party Republican Democratic Prohibition Popular vote 447,835 371,580 57,768 Percentage 49.01% 40.67% 6.32%

County results Shortridge:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     80–90% Phelan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election James Duval Phelan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Samuel Morgan Shortridge Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1924 (special) →

Nominee Samuel D. Nicholson Tully Scott Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 157,577 112,890 Percentage 54.52% 39.31%

Results by county Nicholson:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Scott:     40–50%

U.S. senator before election Charles S. Thomas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Samuel D. Nicholson Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Frank B. Brandegee Augustine Lonergan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 216,792 131,824 Percentage 59.36% 36.10%

County results Municipality results Brandegee:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%     90-100% Lonergan:     40–50%     50–60%     60-70%

U.S. senator before election Frank B. Brandegee Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank B. Brandegee Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Duncan U. Fletcher John Moses Cheney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 98,957 37,065 Percentage 69.50% 26.03%

County results Fletcher:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%     90-100%

U.S. senator before election Duncan U. Fletcher Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Duncan U. Fletcher Democratic

1920 United States Senate election in Georgia

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Thomas E. Watson Harry S. Edwards Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 124,630 6,700 Percentage 94.50% 5.10%

U.S. senator before election M. Hoke Smith Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thomas E. Watson Democratic

1920 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Frank R. Gooding John F. Nugent Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 75,985 64,513 Percentage 54.08% 45.92%

County results Gooding:     50-60%     60-70% Nugent:     50-60%     60-70%

U.S. senator before election John F. Nugent Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Frank R. Gooding Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee William B. McKinley Peter A. Waller Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,381,384 554,372 Percentage 66.83% 26.82%

Results by county McKinley:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Waller:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Lawrence Yates Sherman Republican Elected U.S. senator William B. McKinley Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1916 (special) November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee James E. Watson Thomas Taggart Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 681,851 514,191 Percentage 54.57% 41.15%

County results Watson:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Taggart:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election James E. Watson Republican Elected U.S. Senator James E. Watson Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Albert B. Cummins Claude R. Porter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 528,499 322,015 Percentage 61.42% 37.42%

County results Cummins:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Porter:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Albert B. Cummins Republican Elected U.S. Senator Albert B. Cummins Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Charles Curtis George H. Hodges Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 327,072 170,443 Percentage 64.01% 33.36%

County results Curtis:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election Charles Curtis Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles Curtis Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Richard P. Ernst J. C. W. Beckham Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 454,226 449,244 Percentage 50.28% 49.72%

County results Ernst:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Beckham:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election J. C. W. Beckham Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Richard P. Ernst Republican

1920 United States Senate Election in Louisiana Democratic primary

← 1914 September 14, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Edwin Broussard Jared Sanders Donelson Caffery III Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Popular vote 49,718 43,425 15,563 Percentage 45.74% 39.95% 14.32%

U.S. senator before election Edward J. Gay Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Edwin S. Broussard Democratic

1920 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Ovington Weller John Walter Smith George Iverson Jr. Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 184,999 169,200 21,345 Percentage 47.29% 43.25% 5.46%

County results Weller:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Smith:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election John Walter Smith Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ovington Weller Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1918 (special) November 2, 1920 1926 (special) →

Nominee Selden P. Spencer Breckinridge Long Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 711,161 589,498 Percentage 53.65% 44.47%

County results Spencer:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Long:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Selden P. Spencer Republican Elected U.S. senator Selden P. Spencer Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Nevada

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Tasker Oddie Charles Henderson Anne Henrietta Martin Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 11,550 10,402 4,981 Percentage 42.11% 37.93% 18.16%

County results Oddie:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Henderson:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Charles Henderson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tasker Oddie Republican

1920 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1918 (special) November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee George H. Moses Raymond Bartlett Stevens Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 90,173 65,038 Percentage 57.72% 41.63%

County results Moses:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election George H. Moses Republican Elected U.S. Senator George H. Moses Republican

1920 United States Senate election in New York

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee James W. Wadsworth Harry C. Walker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,434,393 901,310 Percentage 52.37% 32.90%   Nominee Jacob Panken Ella A. Boole Party Socialist Prohibition Popular vote 208,155 159,623 Percentage 7.60% 5.83%

County results Wadsworth:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Senator before election James W. Wadsworth Republican Elected Senator James W. Wadsworth Republican

1920 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Lee Slater Overman A. E. Holton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 310,504 229,343 Percentage 57.52% 42.48%

County results Overman:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100% Holton:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Lee Slater Overman Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Lee Slater Overman Democratic

1920 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Edwin F. Ladd H. H. Perry Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 130,614 88,495 Percentage 59.61% 40.39%

County results Ladd:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Perry:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Gerald Nye Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edwin F. Ladd Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Ohio

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Frank B. Willis William Alexander Julian Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,134,953 782,650 Percentage 59.10% 40.76%

County results Willis:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Julian:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Warren G. Harding Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frank B. Willis Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee John W. Harreld Scott Ferris Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 247,719 217,783 Percentage 50.64% 44.52%

County results Harreld:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Ferris:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Thomas Gore Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John W. Harreld Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Robert N. Stanfield George Earle Chamberlain Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 116,696 100,133 Percentage 50.73% 43.53%

County results Stanfield:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Chamberlain:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election George Earle Chamberlain Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Robert N. Stanfield Republican

1920 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1922 (special) →

Nominee Boies Penrose John A. Farrell Leah C. Marion Party Republican Democratic Prohibition Popular vote 1,067,989 484,362 132,610 Percentage 59.94% 27.18% 7.44%

County results Penrose:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Farrell:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Boies Penrose Republican Elected U.S. Senator Boies Penrose Republican

1920 South Carolina Democratic Senate primary runoff

← 1914 September 14, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Ellison D. Smith George Warren Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 65,880 42,735 Percentage 60.7% 39.3%

First round results by county Runoff results by county Smith:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Warren:     30–40%     40–50%     50-60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Ellison D. Smith Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ellison D. Smith Democratic

1920 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Peter Norbeck Tom Ayres Party Republican Nonpartisan League Popular vote 92,267 44,309 Percentage 50.10% 24.06%   Nominee U. S. G. Cherry R. O. Richards Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 36,833 10,032 Percentage 20.00% 5.45%

County results Norbeck:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Ayres:     30-40%     40–50%     50–60% Richards:     30–40% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election Edwin S. Johnson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck Republican