1932 United States Senate elections

← 1930 November 8, 1932 1934 →
← 1926 1938 →
34 of the 96 seats in theUnited States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Joseph Robinson James Watson (Lost re-election) Party Democratic Republican Leader since December 3, 1923 March 4, 1929 Leader's seat Arkansas Indiana Seats before 47[a] 48 Seats after 59[2] 36 Seat change 12 12 Seats up 17 17 Races won 28 6   Third party   Party Farmer–Labor Seats before 1 Seats after 1 Seat change Seats up 0 Races won 0
Clickable imagemap for the 1932 US Senate elections Results of the elections:      Democratic gain     Democratic hold      Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election James Watson Republican ElectedMajority Leader Joseph Robinson Democratic

The1932 United States Senate elections coincided withDemocratFranklin D. Roosevelt's landslide victory over incumbentHerbert Hoover in thepresidential election. The 32 seats ofClass 3 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies.

With the Hoover administration widely blamed for theGreat Depression,Republicans lost twelve seats and control of the chamber to the Democrats, who won 28 of the 34 contested races (two Democratic incumbents, Duncan U. Fletcher of Florida and John H. Overton of Louisiana, were re-elected unopposed). Democrats gained another seat through an appointment in Nebraska, bringing their total number of seats up to 60.

Among the Republican incumbents defeated in 1932 were Senate Majority LeaderJames Watson and five-term SenatorReed Smoot, an author of the controversialSmoot-Hawley tariff.^[3] This was the first of four elections in which a Senate leader lost re-election, and the only time they were a Republican. This election marked the first time a woman was elected to the Senate, that beingHattie Caraway of Arkansas. As of 2024, this is the last time Democrats won a Senate election inKansas.

This is also one of only five occasions where 10 or more Senate seats changed hands in an election, with the other occasions being in1920,1946,1958, and1980.

Three Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Eleven Republicans and three Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

All races are general elections for class 3 seats, unless noted.

In these elections, the winners were elected and seated during 1932; ordered by election date.

All elections are for Class 3 seats.

Eleven races had a margin of victory under 10%:

New York was the tipping point state with a margin of 17.2%.

1932 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 (special) →

Nominee Hugo Black J. Theodore Johnson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 209,615 33,425 Percentage 86.25% 13.75%

County results Black:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100% Johnson:     50-60%

U.S. senator before election Hugo Black Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Hugo Black Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Carl Hayden Ralph H. Cameron Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 74,310 35,737 Percentage 66.67% 32.06%

County results Hayden:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Carl Hayden Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Carl Hayden Democratic

There were two elections for the same seat, due to the November 6, 1931 death of two-term DemocratThaddeus H. Caraway.

Caraway's widow, DemocratHattie Wyatt Caraway,was appointed November 13, 1931 to continue his term.

1932 U.S. Senate special election in Arkansas

← 1926 November 8, 1932 November 1932 →

Nominee Hattie Caraway Rex Floyd Sam D. Carson Party Democratic Independent Independent Popular vote 31,133 1,752 1,095 Percentage 91.62% 5.16% 3.22%

Results by county Caraway:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Carson:     70–80% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election Hattie Caraway Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Hattie Caraway Democratic

1932 U.S. Senate special election in Arkansas

← Jan. 1932 (special) November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Hattie Caraway John H. White Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 187,994 21,558 Percentage 89.71% 10.29%

Results by county Caraway:     50–60%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% White:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Hattie Caraway Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Hattie Caraway Democratic

In May 1932, Caraway surprised Arkansas politicians by announcing that she would run for a full term in the upcoming election, joining a field already crowded with prominent candidates who had assumed she would step aside. She told reporters, "The time has passed when a woman should be placed in a position and kept there only while someone else is being groomed for the job."^[11] When she was invited byVice PresidentCharles Curtis to preside over the Senate she took advantage of the situation to announce that she would run for reelection.Populist formerGovernor and SenatorHuey Long of neighboringLouisiana traveled to Arkansas on a seven-day campaign swing on her behalf. She was the first female senator to preside over the body as well as the first to chair a committee (Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills).^[12] Lacking any significant political backing, Caraway accepted the offer of help from Long, whose efforts to limit incomes of the wealthy and increase aid to the poor she had supported. Long was also motivated by sympathy for the widow and his ambition to extend his influence into the home state of his party rival, SenatorJoseph Robinson, who had beenAl Smith's vice-presidential candidate in1928. Bringing his colorful and flamboyant campaign style to Arkansas, Long stumped the state with Caraway for a week just before the Democratic primary. He helped her to amass nearly twice as many votes as her closest opponent.^{[13][page needed]}

Long effectively used a method to quiet crying babies at campaign stops in Arkansas to encourage voter interest:

Mrs. Caraway would never forget nor cease to laugh over the plans we made for caring for obstreperous infants in the audience so that their mothers might listen to the speeches without the crowds being disturbed. I remember when I saw her notice one of our campaigners take charge of the first baby. The child began fretting and then began to cry. One of the young men accompanying us immediately gave it a drink of water. The child quieted for a bit and resumed a whimper, whereupon the same campaign worker handed the baby an all-day sucker, which it immediately grasped and soon fell asleep. Mrs. Caraway did not understand that it was a matter of design until it had been repeated several times.^[14]

Caraway went on to win the general election in November, with the accompanying victory ofFranklin D. Roosevelt asU.S. President.^{[13][page needed]}

1932 United States Senate election in California

← 1926 November 6, 1932 1938 →

Nominee William Gibbs McAdoo Tallant Tubbs Robert P. Shuler Party Democratic Republican Prohibition Popular vote 943,164 669,676 560,088 Percentage 43.39% 30.81% 25.77%

Election results by county McAdoo:     30-40%     40-50%     50-60%     60-70% Tubbs:     30-40%     40-50%     50-60%     60-70% Shuler:     30-40%     40-50%

U.S. senator before election Samuel Morgan Shortridge Republican Elected U.S. Senator William Gibbs McAdoo Democratic

There were two elections on November 8, 1932, for the same seat, due to the death of one-term RepublicanCharles W. Waterman. The primaries were held on September 13, 1932.^[15][16]

1932 United States Senate special election in Colorado

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1932 (regular) →

Nominee Karl C. Schuyler Walter Walker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 207,540 206,475 Percentage 48.76% 48.51%

Results by county Schuyler:     40–50%     50–60% Walker:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Walter Walker Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Karl Schuyler Republican

DemocratWalter Walker was appointed to continue the term, pending the special election, which he then lost.

Republican attorneyKarl C. Schuyler was elected to finish the term, but he lost the contemporaneous election to the next term. He died in 1933.^[17]

1932 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1932 (special) November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Alva B. Adams Karl C. Schuyler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 226,516 198,519 Percentage 51.91% 45.50%

Results by county Adams:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Schuyler:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Walter Walker Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Alva B. Adams Democratic

Democratic former senatorAlva B. Adams was elected to start the new term that would begin in March 1933.

Adams would bere-elected once and serve until his December 1, 1941 death.

1932 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Augustine Lonergan Hiram Bingham III Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 282,327 278,061 Percentage 47.50% 46.78%

County results Municipality results Lonergan:     50–60%     60-70% Bingham:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90% Tie:     50%

U.S. senator before election Hiram Bingham III Republican Elected U.S. Senator Augustine Lonergan Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1936 (special) →

Nominee Duncan U. Fletcher Party Democratic Popular vote 204,651 Percentage 100.00%

County results Fletcher:     90–100%

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

There were two elections due to the death ofWilliam J. Harris. It was only the second time that both of Georgia's Senate seats have been up for election at the same time, following double-barrel elections in1914.

1932 United States Senate election in Georgia

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Walter F. George James W. Arnold Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 234,490 18,151 Percentage 92.82% 7.18%

County results George:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90-100% Arnold:     50-60%     60-70%

U.S. senator before election Walter F. George Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Walter F. George Democratic

Democratic incumbentWilliam J. Harris died April 18, 1932.Richard Russell Jr., the DemocraticGovernor of Georgia, appointed fellow-DemocratJohn S. Cohen April 25, 1932 to continue the term but Cohen was not a candidate for election.

Russell then won the September 14, 1932 Democratic primary over RepresentativeCharles R. Crisp (nicknamed by Russell as "kilowatt Charlie" due to his links to the unpopularGeorgia Power Company^[20]), 57.72% to 42.28%.^[21] Russell was then unopposed in the November 8, 1932 special election.^[6]

1932 United States Senate election in Idaho

← 1926 1938 →

Nominee James P. Pope John Thomas Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 103,020 78,325 Percentage 55.64% 42.30%

County results Pope:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Thomas:     50-60%

U.S. senator before election John Thomas Republican Elected U.S. Senator James P. Pope Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1928 (special) November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee William H. Dieterich Otis F. Glenn Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,670,466 1,471,841 Percentage 52.23% 46.02%

Results by county Dieterich:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Glenn:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election Otis F. Glenn Republican Elected U.S. senator William H. Dieterich Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Frederick Van Nuys James E. Watson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 870,053 661,750 Percentage 55.57% 42.26%

County results Van Nuys:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Watson:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election James E. Watson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frederick Van Nuys Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1936 (special) →

Nominee Louis Murphy Henry Field Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 538,422 399,929 Percentage 54.15% 40.22%

Murphy:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Field:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Smith W. Brookhart Republican Elected U.S. Senator Louis Murphy Democratic

Primaries were held on June 6, 1932.^[23][24]

Murphy served only 3 years until his July 16, 1936 death.

1932 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1926 1938 →

Nominee George McGill Ben S. Paulen George A. Brown Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 328,992 302,809 65,583 Percentage 45.67% 42.03% 9.10%

County results McGill:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Paulen:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election George McGill Democratic Elected U.S. Senator George McGill Democratic

Kentucky election

← 1926 1938 →

Nominee Alben W. Barkley Maurice H. Thatcher Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 575,077 393,865 Percentage 59.15% 40.51%

County results Barkley:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Thatcher:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Alben W. Barkley Democratic Elected U.S. senator Alben W. Barkley Democratic

1932 Democratic Senate primary election in Louisiana

← 1926 September 13, 1932 1938 →

Nominee John H. Overton Edwin S. Broussard Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 181,464 124,935 Percentage 59.23% 40.78%

U.S. senator before election Edwin S. Broussard Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John H. Overton Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Millard Tydings Wallace Williams Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 293,389 138,536 Percentage 66.18% 31.25%

County results Tydings:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Williams:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Millard Tydings Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Millard Tydings Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1926 1938 →

Nominee Bennett Champ Clark Henry Kiel Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,017,046 575,174 Percentage 63.26% 35.77%

County results Clark:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Kiel:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Harry B. Hawes Democratic Elected U.S. senator Bennett Champ Clark Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Nevada

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Pat McCarran Tasker Oddie Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 21,398 19,706 Percentage 52.06% 47.94%

County results McCarran:     50–60%     60–70% Oddie:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Tasker Oddie Republican Elected U.S. Senator Pat McCarran Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 1926 1938 →

Nominee Fred H. Brown George H. Moses Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 98,766 96,649 Percentage 50.35% 49.27%

Brown:     50–60% Moses:     50–60%     60–70%

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

1938 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 1930 November 8, 1932 1936 →

Nominee William Warren Barbour Percy Hamilton Stewart Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 741,734 725,511 Percentage 49.61% 48.52%

County results Barbour:     50–60%     60–70% Stewart:     50–60%     70–80%

U.S. senator before election W. Warren Barbour Republican Elected U.S. senator W. Warren Barbour Republican

1932 United States Senate election in New York

← 1926 November 2, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Robert F. Wagner George Z. Medalie Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,532,905 1,751,186 Percentage 55.77% 38.56%

County results Wagner:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Medalie:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Senator before election Robert F. Wagner Democratic Elected Senator Robert F. Wagner Democratic

1932 United States Senate special election in North Carolina

← 1926 November 2, 1932 1932 (regular) →

Nominee Robert R. Reynolds Jake F. Newell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 485,048 221,392 Percentage 68.66% 31.34%

Results by county Reynolds:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Newell:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Senator before election Robert Rice Reynolds Democratic Elected Senator Robert Rice Reynolds Democratic

Democratic former-Governor of North CarolinaCameron A. Morrison was appointed on December 13, 1930, to continue Overman's term, pending a special election. Primaries for both parties were held on June 4, 1932.^[27][28][29] Morrison lost the primary run-off election.

Reynolds was seated December 5, 1932.

1932 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Robert R. Reynolds Jacob F. Newell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 482,133 220,524 Percentage 68.62% 31.38%

Senator before election Cameron A. Morrison Democratic Elected Senator Robert Rice Reynolds Democratic

Primaries for both parties were held on June 4, 1932^[30][31] and a Democratic run-off primary was held on July 2, 1932.^[32] Interim appointeeCameron A. Morrison lost the primary run-off election.

Reynolds would bere-elected once and serve until his 1945 retirement.

1932 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1926 (regular) November 6, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Gerald Nye P. W. Lanier Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 172,796 65,612 Percentage 72.30% 27.45%

County results Nye:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%

U.S. senator before election Gerald Nye Republican Elected U.S. Senator Gerald Nye Republican

1932 United States Senate election in Ohio

← 1930 (special) November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Robert J. Bulkley Gilbert Bettman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,293,175 1,126,832 Percentage 52.53% 45.77%

U.S. senator before election Robert J. Bulkley Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Robert J. Bulkley Democratic

1932 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →

Nominee Elmer Thomas Wirt Franklin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 426,130 218,854 Percentage 65.51% 33.70%

County results Thomas:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Franklin:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Elmer Thomas Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Elmer Thomas Democratic