1928 United States Senate elections

← 1926 November 6, 1928[1] 1930 →
32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Charles Curtis (retired) Joseph Robinson Party Republican Democratic Leader since November 9, 1924 December 3, 1923 Leader's seat Kansas Arkansas Seats before 49 46 Seats after 56 39 Seat change 7 7 Seats up 12 19 Races won 18 13   Third party   Party Farmer–Labor Seats before 1 Seats after 1 Seat change Seats up 1 Races won 1
Results of the elections:      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Farmer–Labor hold      No election
Majority Leader before election Charles Curtis Republican Elected Majority Leader James Watson Republican

The 1928 United States Senate elections were elections that coincided with the presidential election of Republican Herbert Hoover. The 32 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies. The strong economy helped the Republicans to gain seven seats from the Democrats.

Senate Majority leader, Republican Charles Curtis of Kansas, was not up for election this cycle, but he was elected U.S. Vice President. He resigned March 3, 1929, so his seat was vacant at the beginning of the next Congress until April 1, 1929, when a Republican was appointed to continue the term.

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Two Republicans and one Democrat retired instead of seeking re-election.

Defeats

Seven Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Disqualification

Two Republicans were elected in 1926, but disqualified from taking office. One resigned on February 9, 1928, and the seat was filled in the 1928 election. One resigned December 6, 1929 and the seat was filled by appointment.

Post-election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

At the beginning of 1928.

Elections result

Race summary

Special elections during the 70th Congress

In these special elections, the winner were seated during 1928; ordered by election date.

Elections leading to the 71st Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1929; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats, unless otherwise indicated.

Closest races

Twelve races had a margin of victory under 10%:

New Mexico was the tipping point state with a margin of 15.4%.

Arizona

1928 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Henry F. Ashurst Ralph H. Cameron Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 47,013 39,651 Percentage 54.25% 45.75%

County results Ashurst:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Cameron:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Henry F. Ashurst Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst Democratic

California

1928 United States Senate election in California

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Hiram Johnson Minor Moore Charles H. Randall Party Republican Democratic Prohibition Popular vote 1,148,397 282,411 92,106 Percentage 74.11% 18.23% 5.94%

County results Johnson:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%

U.S. senator before election Hiram Johnson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson Republican

Connecticut

1928 United States Senate election in Connecticut

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Frederic C. Walcott Augustine Lonergan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 296,958 251,429 Percentage 53.86% 45.60%

County results Walcott:      50–60%      60–70% Lonergan:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election George McLean Republican Elected U.S. Senator Frederic C. Walcott Republican

Delaware

Florida

Idaho (special)

Illinois (special)

1928 United States Senate special election in Illinois

← 1926 November 6, 1928 1932 →

Nominee Otis F. Glenn Anton Cermak Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,594,031 1,315,338 Percentage 54.46% 44.94%

Results by county Glenn:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Cermak:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Vacant Elected U.S. senator Otis F. Glenn Republican

Indiana

1928 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1926 (special) November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Arthur Robinson Albert Stump Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 782,144 623,996 Percentage 55.30% 44.12%

County results Robinson:      50–60%      60–70% Stump:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Arthur Raymond Robinson Republican Elected U.S. Senator Arthur Raymond Robinson Republican

Maine

Maryland

1928 United States Senate election in Maryland

← 1922 November 5, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Phillips Lee Goldsborough William Cabell Bruce Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 256,224 214,447 Percentage 54.05% 45.24%

County results Goldsborough:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bruce:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election William Cabell Bruce Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Phillips Lee Goldsborough Republican

Massachusetts

1928 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1926 (special) November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee David I. Walsh Benjamin Loring Young Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 818,055 693,563 Percentage 53.65% 45.48%

County results Walsh:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80% Young:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election David I. Walsh Democratic Elected Senator David I. Walsh Democratic

Michigan

First-term Democrat Woodbridge N. Ferris died March 23, 1928.

On March 31, 1928, Governor Fred W. Green appointed 44-year-old Republican Arthur H. Vandenberg to fill the vacancy, pending a special election. Green considered resigning so he could be appointed to the vacancy. He also considered several other candidates, including former governors Albert Sleeper and Chase Osborn. In addition, Green considered Representative Joseph W. Fordney, who would have been a placeholder until the election for the remainder of Ferris' term. Green finally decided upon Vandenberg, who immediately declared his intention to stand for election to both the short, unexpired term and the full six-year term. Both the special and the general elections were held the same day, November 6, 1928.

Michigan (regular)

1928 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Arthur Vandenberg John W. Bailey Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 977,893 376,592 Percentage 71.79% 27.65%

County results Vandenberg:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Arthur Vandenberg Republican Elected U.S. Senator Arthur Vandenberg Republican

Michigan (special)

Minnesota

1928 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Henrik Shipstead Arthur E. Nelson Party Farmer–Labor Republican Popular vote 665,169 342,992 Percentage 65.38% 33.71%

County results Shipstead:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Henrik Shipstead Farmer–Labor Elected U.S. Senator Henrik Shipstead Farmer–Labor

Mississippi

Missouri

1928 United States Senate election in Missouri

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Roscoe C. Patterson Charles M. Hay Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 787,499 726,322 Percentage 51.91% 47.88%

County Results Patterson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hay:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election James A. Reed Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Roscoe C. Patterson Republican

Montana

1928 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Burton K. Wheeler Joseph M. Dixon Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 103,655 91,185 Percentage 53.20% 46.80%

County Results Wheeler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Dixon:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Burton K. Wheeler Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler Democratic

Nebraska

1928 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 (special) →

Nominee Robert B. Howell Richard L. Metcalfe Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 324,014 204,737 Percentage 61.28% 38.72%

County results Howell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Metcalfe:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Robert B. Howell Republican Elected U.S. Senator Robert B. Howell Republican

Nevada

New Jersey

1928 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Hamilton Fish Kean Edward I. Edwards Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 841,752 608,623 Percentage 57.87% 41.84%

County results Kean:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Edwards:      60–70%

Senator before election Edward I. Edwards Democratic Elected Senator Hamilton Fish Kean Republican

New Mexico

Two-term Democrat Andrieus A. Jones died December 20, 1927. Republican Bronson M. Cutting was appointed December 29, 1927, to continue the term, pending a special election in which he was not a candidate.

New Mexico (special)

Larrazolo was not a candidate, however, for the next term. After leaving office, Larrazolo died on April 7, 1930.

New Mexico (regular)

Cutting would be re-elected in 1934 but died May 6, 1935.

New York

1928 United States Senate election in New York

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Royal S. Copeland Alanson B. Houghton Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,084,273 2,034,014 Percentage 49.08% 47.89%

County Results Copeland:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Houghton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Senator before election Royal S. Copeland Democratic Elected Senator Royal S. Copeland Democratic

North Dakota

Ohio

There were 2 elections due to the March 30, 1928, death of Republican Frank B. Willis.

Ohio (regular)

Ohio (special)

Democrat Cyrus Locher was appointed April 5, 1928, to continue the term, pending the special election, in which he lost his party's nomination.

Burton, in turn, died October 28, 1929, triggering another interim appointment and special election before the 1933 end of the term.

Pennsylvania

1928 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee David A. Reed William N. McNair Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,948,646 1,029,055 Percentage 64.38% 34.00%

County Results: Reed:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% McNair:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election David A. Reed Republican Elected U.S. Senator David A. Reed Republican

Rhode Island

Tennessee

1928 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Kenneth McKellar James A. Fowler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 175,431 120,289 Percentage 59.32% 40.68%

County results Congressional districts results McKellar:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Fowler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Kenneth McKellar Democratic Elected U.S. senator Kenneth McKellar Democratic

Texas

1928 United States Senate election in Texas

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Tom Connally T. M. Kennerly Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 566,139 129,910 Percentage 81.24% 18.64%

County Results[8] Connally:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Kennerly:      50–60%      60–70% No vote:

U.S. senator before election Earle Mayfield Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tom Connally Democratic

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

1928 United States Senate election in Washington

← 1922 November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Clarence Dill Kenneth Mackintosh Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 261,524 227,415 Percentage 53.42% 46.45%

County results Dill:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Mackintosh:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Clarence Dill Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Clarence Dill Democratic

West Virginia

Wisconsin

1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1925 (special) November 6, 1928 1934 →

Nominee Robert La Follette Jr. William H. Markham Party Republican Independent Republican Popular vote 635,376 81,302 Percentage 85.57% 10.92%

La Follete:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Robert La Follette Jr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator Robert La Follette Jr. Republican

Wyoming