1930 United States Senate elections

← 1928 November 4, 1930 1932 →
1931 (VT) →
32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader James Watson Joseph Robinson Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1929 December 3, 1923 Leader's seat Indiana Arkansas Seats before 56 39 Seats after 48 47 Seat change 8 8 Seats up 22 13 Races won 14 21   Third party   Party Farmer–Labor Seats before 1 Seats after 1 Seat change Seats up 0 Races won 0
Clickable imagemap for the 1930 US Senate elections Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election
Majority Leader before election James Watson Republican Elected Majority Leader James Watson Republican

The 1930 United States Senate elections occurred in the middle of Republican President Herbert Hoover's term. The 32 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and special elections were held to fill vacancies. With the Great Depression beginning to take hold, Republican incumbents became unpopular,^[1] and Democrats picked up a net of eight seats, erasing the Republican gains from the previous election cycle, however, Republicans retained control of the chamber. This was the first of four consecutive Senate elections during the Depression in which Democrats made enormous gains, achieving a cumulative pick-up of 34 seats.

In Louisiana, Democratic senator-elect Huey Long chose not to take his Senate seat until January 25, 1932, so he could remain as Governor of Louisiana. The Republicans therefore retained the plurality of seats at the beginning of the next Congress (with Vice President Charles Curtis (R) able to cast tie-breaking votes, the Republicans would have majority control).

Gains, losses, and holds

Retirements

Four Republicans retired instead of seeking re-election. Two Republicans retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term and instead of seeking election to full term. One Democrat retired instead of seeking election to a full term.

Defeats

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

Post-election changes

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the elections

Race summary

Special elections during the 71st Congress

In these special elections, the winner were seated during 1930; ordered by election date (then by state).

Elections leading to the 72nd Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1931; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Closest races

Ten races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Alabama

1930 United States Senate election in Alabama

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Candidate John H. Bankhead II James Thomas Heflin Party Democratic Independent Democrat Popular vote 150,985 100,952 Percentage 59.93% 40.07%

County results Bankhead:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100% Heflin:      50–60%      60–70%

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

Arkansas

Colorado

1930 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee Edward P. Costigan George H. Shaw Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 180,028 137,487 Percentage 55.85% 42.65%

County results Costigan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Shaw:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Lawrence C. Phipps Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edward P. Costigan Democratic

Delaware

Interim appointee Daniel O. Hastings was elected both to finish the current term and to the next term on the same November 4 ballot.^[6]

Delaware (regular)

Delaware (special)

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

1930 United States Senate election in Illinois

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee J. Hamilton Lewis Ruth Hanna McCormick Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,432,216 687,469 Percentage 64.02% 30.73%

Results by county Lewis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hanna McCormick:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Charles S. Deneen Republican Elected U.S. senator J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic

Iowa

Kansas

Kansas (regular)

Kansas (special)

Democratic nominee George McGill defeated Republican incumbent United States Senator Henry Justin Allen by a very narrow margin and George McGill was the only non-Republican to win this seat since 1896 and he also became the first non-Republican to have held this seat since 1903. George McGill was also the first and only Democrat to win this seat and to have held this seat.

Kentucky

Kentucky (regular)

1930 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee M. M. Logan John M. Robsion Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 336,718 309,180 Percentage 52.13% 47.87%

County results Logan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Robsion:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election John M. Robsion Republican Elected U.S. Senator Ben M. Williamson (for unexpired term) M. M. Logan (for next term) Democratic

Kentucky (special)

Louisiana

Maine

Massachusetts

1930 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee Marcus A. Coolidge William M. Butler Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 651,939 539,226 Percentage 54.01% 44.67%

County results Coolidge:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80% Butler:      50–60%      60–70%

Senator before election Frederick H. Gillett Republican Elected Senator Marcus A. Coolidge Democratic

Michigan

1930 United States Senate election in Michigan

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee James J. Couzens Thomas Weadock Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 634,577 169,757 Percentage 78.15% 20.91%

County results Couzens:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%

U.S. senator before election James J. Couzens Republican Elected U.S. Senator James J. Couzens Republican

Minnesota

1930 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 (special) →

Nominee Thomas D. Schall Einar Hoidale Ernest Lundeen Party Republican Democratic Farmer–Labor Popular vote 293,626 282,018 178,671 Percentage 37.61% 36.13% 22.89%

County results Schall:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Hoidale:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60% Lundeen:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Thomas D. Schall Republican Elected U.S. Senator Thomas D. Schall Republican

Mississippi

Montana

1930 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1934 (special) →

Nominee Thomas J. Walsh Albert J. Galen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 106,274 66,724 Percentage 60.33% 37.88%

County Results Walsh:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Galen:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Thomas J. Walsh Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thomas J. Walsh Democratic

Nebraska

1930 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee George W. Norris Gilbert Hitchcock Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 247,118 172,795 Percentage 56.84% 39.74%

County results Norris:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hitchcock:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election George W. Norris Republican Elected U.S. Senator George W. Norris Republican

New Hampshire

New Jersey

1930 United States Senate elections in New Jersey

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1932 (special) →

Nominee Dwight Morrow Alexander Simpson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 601,497 401,007 Percentage 58.50% 39.00%

Results by county Morrow:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Simpson:      50–60%      60-70%

Senator before election David Baird Jr. Republican Elected Senator Dwight Morrow Republican

New Jersey (regular)

New Jersey (special)

New Mexico

North Carolina

Ohio (special)

1930 United States Senate special election in Ohio

← 1928 (special) November 4, 1930 1932 →

Nominee Robert J. Bulkley Roscoe C. McCulloch Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,046,561 863,944 Percentage 54.78% 45.22%

County results Bulkley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% McCulloch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

United States Senator before election Roscoe C. McCulloch Republican Elected United States Senator Robert J. Bulkley Democratic

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania (special)

1930 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania

← 1926 November 4, 1930 1932 →

Nominee James J. Davis Sedgwick Kistler Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,462,186 523,338 Percentage 71.54% 25.61%

County results Davis:      30–40%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Kistler:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Joseph R. Grundy Republican Elected U.S. Senator James J. Davis Republican

Rhode Island

Incumbent Republican Senator Jesse H. Metcalf successfully sought reelection to a 2nd term in office. As of 2023^[update], this is the last time a Republican has won the Class 2 Senate seat in Rhode Island, and it would be the last time a Republican would win any Senate seat in the state at all until John Chafee in 1976

South Carolina

South Dakota

1930 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee William J. Bulow William H. McMaster Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 106,317 99,595 Percentage 51.63% 48.37%

County results Bulow:      50–60%      60–70%      >90% McMaster:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election William H. McMaster Republican Elected U.S. Senator William J. Bulow Democratic

Tennessee

One-term Democrat Lawrence D. Tyson died August 24, 1929, and Democrat William E. Brock was appointed September 2, 1929, to continue the term, pending a special election.

Tennessee (special)

1930 United States Senate special election in Tennessee

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1934 →

Nominee William E. Brock F. Todd Meacham Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 144,019 49,554 Percentage 74.40% 25.60%

Senator before election William E. Brock Democratic Elected Senator William E. Brock Democratic

Interim Democrat William E. Brock easily won election to finish the term.

Tennessee (regular)

1930 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1934 →

Nominee Cordell Hull Paul E. Divine Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 154,131 58,650 Percentage 71.30% 27.13%

Senator before election William E. Brock Democratic Elected Senator Cordell Hull Democratic

William E. Brock was not a candidate to the next term, instead choosing to return to his Chattanooga candy manufacturing business. Instead, former Democratic congressman Cordell Hull was swept into the seat.

Hull was appointed United States Secretary of State and served there for 11 years, and in 1945, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "co-initiating the United Nations."

Texas

1930 United States Senate election in Texas

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee Morris Sheppard Doran Haesly Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 266,550 39,047 Percentage 86.91% 12.73%

County Results[14] Sheppard:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Haesly:      50–60%      60–70% No vote:

U.S. senator before election Morris Sheppard Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Morris Sheppard Democratic

Virginia

West Virginia

Wyoming

Six-term Republican Francis E. Warren had died November 24, 1929, and Republican Patrick J. Sullivan was appointed to continue the term, pending a special election in which he was not a candidate.

Wyoming (special)

Wyoming (regular)