1940 United States Senate election in Delaware

← 1934 November 5, 1940 1946 →

Nominee James M. Tunnell John G. Townsend Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 68,294 63,799 Percentage 50.63% 47.30%

County results Tunnell:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election John G. Townsend Jr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator James M. Tunnell Democratic

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v t e

The 1940 United States Senate election in Delaware took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John G. Townsend Jr. ran for re-election to a third term in office, but was defeated by Democrat James M. Tunnell. This was the only seat that Democratic flipped during this cycle. This was the last time Democrats won Delaware's Class 1 Senate seat until Tom Carper's victory over Senator William Roth in 2000.

General election

Candidates

• William F. Allen, former U.S. Representative from Seaford (Liberal Democratic)
• James M. Tunnell, Georgetown banker and candidate for Senate in 1924 (Democratic)
• John G. Townsend Jr., incumbent Senator since 1929 (Republican)

Results

1940 U.S. Senate election in Delaware^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James M. Tunnell	68,294	50.63%	4.47
	Republican	John G. Townsend Jr. (incumbent)	63,799	47.30%	5.97
	Liberal Democratic	William F. Allen	2,786	2.07%	N/A
Total votes			134,879	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican