# 1942 United States Senate elections

The 1942 United States Senate elections were held November 3, 1942, midway through Franklin D. Roosevelt's third term as president. The 32 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections, and two special elections were held to fill vacancies.
Although this election took place during World War II, the opposition Republican party made major gains, taking eight seats from the Democrats and one from an independent. The Democrats nonetheless retained a significant majority, though the smallest since Roosevelt was first elected in 1932. However, for the first time since 1932, Democrats did not have a supermajority.
The New York Times ascribed the results to "voters' dissatisfaction with the conduct of the war, both at home and abroad" but not evidence of a lack of enthusiasm for the war effort. It found that a candidate's stance as isolationist or interventionist before Pearl Harbor had little impact on his success at the polls. The paper's editorial board welcomed a return to normal political alignments after the unbalanced majorities of the previous decade. The election not only changed the numbers of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, but also accomplished an ideological shift, as several longtime enthusiastic supporters of the New Deal were replaced by Republicans of the most conservative sort.
The Republicans gained enough seats to end the Democrats' supermajority control. Democrats later gained a seat in New Jersey through an appointment, bringing their seat total up to 58.

## Results summary

| 57 | 1 | 38 |
| Democratic | P | Republican |
Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.
| Parties | Parties | | | | | Total |
| Parties | Parties | Democratic | Republican | Progressive | Other | Total |
| Last elections (1940) | Last elections (1940) | 66 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 96 |
| Before these elections | Before these elections | 65 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 96 |
| Not up | Not up | 41 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 62 |
| Up | Up | 24 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 34 |
| | Class 2 (1936→1942) | 23 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 32 |
| | Special: Class 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 |
| | Special: Class 3 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Incumbent retired | Incumbent retired | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 |
| | Held by same party | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 |
| | Replaced by other party | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 |
| | Result | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Incumbent ran | Incumbent ran | 22 | 8 | — | 1 | 31 |
| | Won re-election | 13 | 8 | — | 0 | 21 |
| | Lost re-election | 5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican | 5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican | 5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican | 5 Democrats replaced by 5 Republicans 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican | 6 |
| | Lost renomination but held by same party | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 |
| | Lost renomination and party lost | 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans | 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans | — | — | 2 |
| | Result | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Appointee ran for either, but not both, special and regular election | Appointee ran for either, but not both, special and regular election | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 2 |
| | Appointee's party won both elections | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | 1 |
| | Appointee's party lost both elections | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | — | 0 | 1 |
| | Result | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total elected | Total elected | 16 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| Net change | Net change | 8 | 9 | | 1 | 9 |
| Nationwide vote | Nationwide vote | 6,497,048 | 6,869,448 | — | 565,783 | 13,932,279 |
| | Share | 46.63% | 49.31% | — | 4.06% | 100% |
| Result | Result | 57 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 96 |
Source:

## Gains, losses, and holds
### Retirements

One Republican retired instead of seeking election to finish the unexpired term and two Democrats retired instead of seeking election to a full term.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Arkansas | Lloyd Spencer | John L. McClellan |
| Minnesota (special) | Joseph H. Ball | Arthur E. Nelson |
| West Virginia | Joseph Rosier | Chapman Revercomb |

### Defeats

Eight Democrats and one Independent sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election. One Democrat sought election to finish the unexpired term but lost in the primary election and one Democrat sought election to finish the unexpired term but lost in the general election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| Delaware | James H. Hughes | C. Douglass Buck |
| Iowa | Clyde L. Herring | George A. Wilson |
| Michigan | Prentiss M. Brown | Homer S. Ferguson |
| Mississippi | Wall Doxey | James Eastland |
| Nebraska | George W. Norris | Kenneth S. Wherry |
| Nevada | Berkeley L. Bunker | James G. Scrugham |
| New Jersey | William H. Smathers | Albert W. Hawkes |
| Oklahoma | Joshua B. Lee | Edward H. Moore |
| South Dakota | William J. Bulow | Harlan J. Bushfield |
| West Virginia (special) | Joseph Rosier | Hugh Ike Shott |
| Wyoming | Harry Schwartz | Edward V. Robertson |

### Post election changes

| State | Senator | Replaced by |
| New Jersey | William Warren Barbour | Arthur Walsh |
| Indiana | Frederick Van Nuys | Samuel D. Jackson |
| Oregon | Charles L. McNary | Guy Cordon |
| Massachusetts | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. | Sinclair Weeks |

## Change in composition
### Before the elections

At the beginning of 1942.
| | | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ |
| D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ |
| D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ |
| D$_{38}$ | D$_{37}$ | D$_{36}$ | D$_{35}$ | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ | D$_{30}$ | D$_{29}$ |
| D$_{39}$ | D$_{40}$ | D$_{41}$ | D$_{42}$ Ala. Ran | D$_{43}$ Ark. Retired | D$_{44}$ Colo. (reg) Ran | D$_{45}$ Del. Ran | D$_{46}$ Ga. Ran | D$_{47}$ Iowa Ran | D$_{48}$ Ky. Ran |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{49}$ La. Ran |
| D$_{58}$ R.I. Ran | D$_{57}$ Okla. Ran | D$_{56}$ N.C. Ran | D$_{55}$ N.M. Ran | D$_{54}$ N.J. Ran | D$_{53}$ Nev. (sp) Ran | D$_{52}$ Mont. Ran | D$_{51}$ Miss. Ran | D$_{50}$ Mich. Ran | D$_{49}$ La. Ran |
| D$_{59}$ S.C. Ran | D$_{60}$ S.D. Ran | D$_{61}$ Tenn. Ran | D$_{62}$ Texas Ran | D$_{63}$ Va. Ran | D$_{64}$ W.Va. (sp) Ran W.Va. (reg) Retired | D$_{65}$ Wyo. Ran | P$_1$ | I$_1$ Neb. Ran | R$_{29}$ Ore. Ran |
| R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ Colo. (sp) Ran | R$_{22}$ Idaho Ran | R$_{23}$ Ill. Ran | R$_{24}$ Kan. Ran | R$_{25}$ Maine Ran | R$_{26}$ Mass. Ran | R$_{27}$ Minn. (sp) Retired Minn. (reg) Ran | R$_{28}$ N.H. Ran |
| R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ |
| | | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ |

### Election results

| | | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ |
| D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ |
| D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{28}$ |
| D$_{38}$ | D$_{37}$ | D$_{36}$ | D$_{35}$ | D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ | D$_{30}$ | D$_{29}$ |
| D$_{39}$ | D$_{40}$ | D$_{41}$ | D$_{42}$ Ala. Re-elected | D$_{43}$ Ark. Hold | D$_{44}$ Colo. (reg) Re-elected | D$_{45}$ Ga. Re-elected | D$_{46}$ Ky. Re-elected | D$_{47}$ La. Re-elected | D$_{48}$ Miss. Hold |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{49}$ Mont. Re-elected |
| P$_1$ | D$_{57}$ Va. Re-elected | D$_{56}$ Tenn. Re-elected | D$_{55}$ Texas Re-elected | D$_{54}$ S.C. Re-elected | D$_{53}$ R.I. Re-elected | D$_{52}$ N.C. Re-elected | D$_{51}$ N.M. Re-elected | D$_{50}$ Nev. (sp) Hold | D$_{49}$ Mont. Re-elected |
| R$_{38}$ Wyo. Gain | R$_{37}$ W.Va. (sp) Gain W.Va. (reg) Gain | R$_{36}$ S.D. Gain | R$_{35}$ Okla. Gain | R$_{34}$ N.J. Gain | R$_{33}$ Neb. Gain | R$_{32}$ Mich. Gain | R$_{31}$ Iowa Gain | R$_{30}$ Del. Gain | R$_{29}$ Ore. Re-elected |
| R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ Colo. (sp) Elected | R$_{22}$ Idaho Re-elected | R$_{23}$ Ill. Re-elected | R$_{24}$ Kan. Re-elected | R$_{25}$ Maine Re-elected | R$_{26}$ Mass. Re-elected | R$_{27}$ Minn. (sp) Hold Minn. (reg) Elected | R$_{28}$ N.H. Re-elected |
| R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ |
| | | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic P$_#$ Progressive R$_#$ Republican I$_#$ Independent |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 77th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1942 or before January 3, 1943; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Colorado Class 3 | Eugene Millikin | Republican | 1941 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected November 3, 1942. | ▌Y Eugene Millikin (Republican) 56.1% ▌James A. Marsh (Democratic) 42.1% |
| Minnesota Class 2 | Joseph H. Ball | Republican | 1940 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected November 3, 1942. Republican hold. Winner did not run for the next term, see below. | ▌Y Arthur E. Nelson (Republican) 56.1% ▌Al Hansen (Farmer–Labor) 26.7% ▌John E. O'Rourke (Democratic) 17.2% |
| Nevada Class 1 | Berkeley L. Bunker | Democratic | 1940 (Appointed) | Appointee lost nomination to finish term. New senator elected November 3, 1942 and qualified December 7, 1942. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James G. Scrugham (Democratic) 58.7% ▌Cecil W. Creel (Republican) 41.3% |
| West Virginia Class 2 | Joseph Rosier | Democratic | 1941 (Appointed) | Interim appointee lost election to finish term. New senator elected November 3, 1942 and qualified November 17, 1942. Neither candidate ran in the contemporaneous election for the next term, see below. Republican gain. | ▌Y Hugh Ike Shott (Republican) 52.3% ▌Joseph Rosier (Democratic) 47.7% |

### Races leading to the 78th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1943; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | John H. Bankhead II | Democratic | 1930 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John H. Bankhead II (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Arkansas | Lloyd Spencer | Democratic | 1941 (Appointed) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John L. McClellan (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Colorado | Edwin C. Johnson | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Edwin C. Johnson (Democratic) 50.2% ▌Ralph Lawrence Carr (Republican) 49.2% |
| Delaware | James H. Hughes | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y C. Douglass Buck (Republican) 54.2% ▌E. Ennalls Berl (Democratic) 44.9% |
| Georgia | Richard Russell Jr. | Democratic | 1932 (special) 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Richard Russell Jr. (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Idaho | John Thomas | Republican | 1939 (Appointed) 1940 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y John Thomas (Republican) 51.5% ▌Glen H. Taylor (Democratic) 48.5% |
| Illinois | C. Wayland Brooks | Republican | 1940 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y C. Wayland Brooks (Republican) 53.2% ▌Raymond S. McKeough (Democratic) 46.4% |
| Iowa | Clyde L. Herring | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y George A. Wilson (Republican) 58.0% ▌Clyde L. Herring (Democratic) 41.7% |
| Kansas | Arthur Capper | Republican | 1918 1924 1930 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Arthur Capper (Republican) 57.1% ▌George McGill (Democratic) 40.3% |
| Kentucky | Happy Chandler | Democratic | 1939 (Appointed) 1940 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Happy Chandler (Democratic) 55.3% ▌Richard J. Colbert (Republican) 44.7% |
| Louisiana | Allen J. Ellender | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Allen J. Ellender (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Maine | Wallace H. White | Republican | 1930 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Wallace H. White (Republican) 66.7% ▌Fulton J. Redman (Democratic) 33.3% |
| Massachusetts | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. | Republican | 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (Republican) 52.4% ▌Joseph E. Casey (Democratic) 46.6% |
| Michigan | Prentiss M. Brown | Democratic | 1936 1936 (Appointed) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Homer S. Ferguson (Republican) 49.6% ▌Prentiss M. Brown (Democratic) 47.2% |
| Minnesota | Joseph H. Ball | Republican | 1940 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected. Winner did not run to finish the term, see above. | ▌Y Joseph H. Ball (Republican) 47.0% ▌Elmer A. Benson (Farmer–Labor) 28.2% ▌Martin A. Nelson (Independent) 14.4% ▌Ed Murphy (Democratic) 10.4% |
| Mississippi | Wall Doxey | Democratic | 1941 (special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James Eastland (Democratic) Unopposed |
| Montana | James E. Murray | Democratic | 1934 (special) 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y James E. Murray (Democratic) 49.1% ▌Wellington D. Rankin (Republican) 48.4% |
| Nebraska | George W. Norris | Independent | 1913 1918 1924 1930 1936 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Kenneth S. Wherry (Republican) 49.0% ▌George W. Norris (Independent) 28.6% ▌Foster May (Democratic) 22.0% |
| New Hampshire | Styles Bridges | Republican | 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Styles Bridges (Republican) 54.6% ▌Francis P. Murphy (Democratic) 45.4% |
| New Jersey | William H. Smathers | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Albert W. Hawkes (Republican) 53.1% ▌William H. Smathers (Democratic) 45.8% |
| New Mexico | Carl Hatch | Democratic | 1933 (Appointed) 1934 (special) 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Carl Hatch (Democratic) 59.2% ▌J. Benson Newell (Republican) 40.8% |
| North Carolina | Josiah Bailey | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Josiah Bailey (Democratic) 65.9% ▌Sam J. Morris (Republican) 34.1% |
| Oklahoma | Joshua B. Lee | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Edward H. Moore (Republican) 54.8% ▌Joshua B. Lee (Democratic) 44.8% |
| Oregon | Charles L. McNary | Republican | 1917 (Appointed) 1918 (Not elected) 1918 (Appointed) 1918 1924 1930 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Charles L. McNary (Republican) 77.1% ▌Walter W. Whitbeck (Democratic) 22.9% |
| Rhode Island | Theodore F. Green | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Theodore F. Green (Democratic) 58.0% ▌Ira Lloyd Letts (Republican) 42.0% |
| South Carolina | Burnet R. Maybank | Democratic | 1941 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Burnet R. Maybank (Democratic) Unopposed |
| South Dakota | William J. Bulow | Democratic | 1930 1936 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Harlan J. Bushfield (Republican) 58.7% ▌Tom Berry (Democratic) 41.3% |
| Tennessee | Tom Stewart | Democratic | 1938 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Tom Stewart (Democratic) 70.5% ▌F. Todd Meacham (Republican) 21.5% |
| Texas | W. Lee O'Daniel | Democratic | 1941 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y W. Lee O'Daniel (Democratic) 94.9% |
| Virginia | Carter Glass | Democratic | 1920 (Appointed) 1920 (special) 1924 1930 1936 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Carter Glass (Democratic) 91.1% ▌Lawrence S. Wilkes (Socialist) 6.5% |
| West Virginia | Joseph Rosier | Democratic | 1941 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected. Republican gain. Winner did not run to finish the term, see above. | ▌Y Chapman Revercomb (Republican) 55.4% ▌Matthew M. Neely (Democratic) 44.6% |
| Wyoming | Harry Schwartz | Democratic | 1936 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | ▌Y Edward V. Robertson (Republican) 54.6% ▌Harry Schwartz (Democratic) 45.4% |

## Closest races

Eleven races had a margin of victory under 10%:
| State | Party of winner | Margin |
| Montana | Democratic | 0.7% |
| Colorado | Democratic | 1.0% |
| Michigan | Republican (flip) | 2.4% |
| Idaho | Republican | 3.0% |
| West Virginia (special) | Republican (flip) | 4.6% |
| Massachusetts | Republican | 5.8% |
| Illinois | Republican | 6.8% |
| New Jersey | Republican (flip) | 7.3% |
| Wyoming | Republican (flip) | 9.18% |
| New Hampshire | Republican | 9.22% |
| Delaware | Republican (flip) | 9.3% |
There is no tipping point state

## Alabama

1942 United States Senate election in Alabama :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John H. Bankhead II (Incumbent) | 69,212 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Arkansas

1942 United States Senate election in Arkansas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John L. McClellan | 99,124 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Colorado

There were 2 elections in Colorado.

### Colorado (regular)

Colorado regular election (Class 2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edwin C. Johnson (Incumbent) | 174,612 | 50.23% |
| | Republican | Ralph Lawrence Carr | 170,970 | 49.19% |
| | Socialist | Carle Whithead | 1,387 | 0.40% |
| | Communist | James Allander | 627 | 0.18% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,642 | 1.04% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 347,596 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### Colorado (special)

Colorado special election (Class 3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Eugene Millikin (Incumbent) | 191,517 | 56.12% |
| | Democratic | James A. Marsh | 143,817 | 42.14% |
| | Independent | Lewis Haley Tiley | 4,262 | 1.25% |
| | Socialist | Edgar P. Sherman | 1,664 | 0.49% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 48,700 | 13.98% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 341,260 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Delaware

1942 United States Senate election in Delaware :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | C. Douglass Buck | 46,210 | 54.17% |
| | Democratic | E. Ennalls Berl | 38,322 | 44.92% |
| | Prohibition | Thomas J. Sard | 776 | 0.91% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,888 | 9.25% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 85,308 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Georgia

1942 United States Senate election in Georgia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Russell Jr. (Incumbent) | 59,870 | 96.94% |
| | Independent | LeVert Dwyer Shivers | 1,892 | 3.06% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 57,978 | 93.88% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,762 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Idaho

1942 United States Senate election in Idaho :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Thomas (Incumbent) | 73,353 | 51.53% |
| | Democratic | Glen H. Taylor | 68,989 | 48.47% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Illinois

Illinois election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charles W. Brooks (Incumbent) | 1,582,887 | 53.24% |
| | Democratic | Raymond S. McKeough | 1,380,011 | 46.41% |
| | Prohibition | Enoch A. Holtwick | 10,331 | 0.35% |
| | Write-in | Others | 32 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 202,876 | 6.83% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,973,261 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Iowa

1942 United States Senate election in Iowa :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George A. Wilson | 410,383 | 57.97% |
| | Democratic | Clyde L. Herring (Incumbent) | 295,194 | 41.70% |
| | Prohibition | M. M. Heptonstall | 1,461 | 0.21% |
| | Independent Progressive | Ernest J. Seeman | 821 | 0.12% |
| | None | Scattering | 4 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 115,189 | 16.27% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 707,863 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Kansas

1942 United States Senate election in Kansas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Arthur Capper (Incumbent) | 284,059 | 57.11% |
| | Democratic | George McGill | 200,437 | 40.30% |
| | Prohibition | C. Floyd Hester | 12,863 | 2.59% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83,622 | 16.81% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 497,359 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Kentucky

1942 United States Senate election in Kentucky :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Happy Chandler (Incumbent) | 216,958 | 55.34% |
| | Republican | Richard J. Colbert | 175,081 | 44.66% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41,877 | 10.68% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 392,023 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Louisiana

1942 United States Senate election in Louisiana :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Allen J. Ellender (Incumbent) | 85,488 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Maine

1942 United States Senate election in Maine :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Wallace H. White Jr. (Incumbent) | 111,520 | 66.67% |
| | Democratic | Fulton J. Redman | 55,754 | 33.33% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65,766 | 33.34% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 167,274 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Massachusetts

General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (Incumbent) | 721,239 | 52.44% | +3.91% |
| | Democratic | Joseph E. Casey | 641,042 | 46.61% | +5.62% |
| | Socialist | George Lyman Paine | 4,802 | 0.35% | −0.19% |
| | Socialist Labor | Horace I. Hillis | 4,781 | 0.35% | +0.35% |
| | Prohibition | George L. Thompson | 3,577 | 0.26% | +0.26% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80,197 | 5.83% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,375,441 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

## Michigan

1942 United States Senate election in Michigan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Homer S. Ferguson | 589,652 | 49.55% |
| | Democratic | Prentiss M. Brown (Incumbent) | 561,595 | 47.19% |
| | Republican | Gerald L. K. Smith (sticker) | 32,173 | 2.70% |
| | Prohibition | Leroy M. Powell | 6,526 | 0.55% |
| | None | Scattering | 20 | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28,057 | 2.36% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,189,966 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Minnesota

There were two elections to the same seat due to the August 31, 1940 death of Farmer–Laborite Ernest Lundeen. Republican Joseph H. Ball was appointed October 14, 1940 to continue the term, pending the special election. Ball was elected to the next term in the regular election, but not to finish the current term in the special election.

### Minnesota (special)

Minnesota special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Arthur E. Nelson | 372,240 | 56.12% |
| | Farmer–Labor | Al Hansen | 177,008 | 26.68% |
| | Democratic | John E. O’Rourke | 114,086 | 17.20% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 195,232 | 29.44% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 663,334 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### Minnesota (regular)

Minnesota regular election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joseph H. Ball (Incumbent) | 356,297 | 46.98% |
| | Farmer–Labor | Elmer A. Benson | 213,965 | 28.21% |
| | Independent | Martin A. Nelson | 109,226 | 14.40% |
| | Democratic | Ed Murphy | 78,959 | 10.41% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 142,232 | 18.77% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 758,447 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Mississippi

1942 United States Senate election in Mississippi :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James Eastland (Incumbent) | 51,355 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Montana

1942 United States Senate election in Montana :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | James E. Murray (Incumbent) | 83,673 | 49.07% | −5.91% |
| | Republican | Wellington D. Rankin | 82,461 | 48.36% | +21.25% |
| | Prohibition | Charles R. Miller | 2,711 | 1.59% | |
| | Socialist | E. H. Helterbran | 1,669 | 0.98% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,212 | 0.71% | −27.16% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 170,514 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

## Nebraska

1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kenneth S. Wherry | 186,207 | 48.97% |
| | Independent | George W. Norris (Incumbent) | 108,899 | 28.64% |
| | Democratic | Foster May | 83,768 | 22.03% |
| | Independent | Albert F. Ruthven | 1,348 | 0.35% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77,308 | 20.33% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 380,222 | |
| | Republican gain from Independent | Republican gain from Independent | Republican gain from Independent | Republican gain from Independent |

## Nevada (special)

1942 United States Senate special election in Nevada :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James G. Scrugham | 23,805 | 58.72% |
| | Republican | Cecil W. Creel | 16,735 | 41.28% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,070 | 17.44% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,540 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## New Hampshire

1942 United States Senate election in New Hampshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Styles Bridges (Incumbent) | 88,601 | 54.61% |
| | Democratic | Francis P. Murphy | 73,656 | 45.39% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,945 | 9.22% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 162,257 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## New Jersey

1942 United States Senate election in New Jersey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Albert W. Hawkes | 648,855 | 53.09% |
| | Democratic | William H. Smathers (Incumbent) | 559,851 | 45.81% |
| | Socialist | William L. Becker | 6,775 | 0.55% |
| | Independent Progressive | Lorenzo Harris | 3,224 | 0.26% |
| | Prohibition | Elmo L. Bateman | 1,438 | 0.12% |
| | Socialist Labor | John C. Butterworth | 1,310 | 0.11% |
| | Socialist Workers | George Breitman | 679 | 0.06% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 89,004 | 7.28% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,222,132 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## New Mexico

1942 United States Senate election in New Mexico :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Carl Hatch (Incumbent) | 63,301 | 59.16% |
| | Republican | J. Benson Newell | 43,704 | 40.84% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,597 | 18.32% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 107,005 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## North Carolina

1942 United States Senate election in North Carolina :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Josiah Bailey (Incumbent) | 230,427 | 65.91% |
| | Republican | Sam J. Morris | 119,165 | 34.09% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111,262 | 31.82% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 349,592 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Oklahoma

1942 United States Senate election in Oklahoma :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edward H. Moore | 204,163 | 54.83% |
| | Democratic | Joshua B. Lee (Incumbent) | 166,653 | 44.76% |
| | Prohibition | Oliver W. Lawton | 1,549 | 0.42% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37,510 | 10.07% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 372,365 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Oregon

1942 United States Senate election in Oregon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charles L. McNary (Incumbent) | 214,755 | 77.06% |
| | Democratic | Walter W. Whitbeck | 63,946 | 22.94% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 150,809 | 54.12% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 278,701 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Rhode Island

1942 United States Senate election in Rhode Island :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Theodore F. Green (Incumbent) | 138,247 | 57.97% |
| | Republican | Ira Lloyd Letts | 100,240 | 42.03% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 38,007 | 15.94% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## South Carolina

South Carolina general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Burnet R. Maybank (Incumbent) | 22,556 | >99.9% |
| | No party | Write-Ins | 2 | <0.1% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22,554 | >99.9% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,558 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## South Dakota

1942 United States Senate election in South Dakota :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Harlan J. Bushfield | 106,704 | 58.74% |
| | Democratic | Tom Berry | 74,945 | 41.26% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31,759 | 17.48% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 181,649 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## Tennessee

1942 United States Senate election in Tennessee :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Stewart (Incumbent) | 109,881 | 68.88% |
| | Republican | F. Todd Meacham | 34,324 | 21.52% |
| | Independent | John Randolph Neal Jr. | 15,317 | 9.60% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75,557 | 47.36% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 159,522 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Texas

1942 United States Senate election in Texas :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | W. Lee O'Daniel (Incumbent) | 260,629 | 94.90% |
| | Republican | Dudley Lawson | 12,064 | 4.39% |
| | People’s Unity | Charles L. Somerville | 1,934 | 0.70% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 248,565 | 90.51% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 274,627 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## Virginia

1942 United States Senate election in Virginia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Carter Glass (Incumbent) | 79,421 | 91.08% | +0.58% |
| | Socialist | Lawrence S. Wilkes | 5,690 | 6.53% | +6.53% |
| | Communist | Alice Burke | 2,041 | 2.34% | −1.00% |
| | Write-ins | | 48 | <0.01% | −0.07% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73,731 | 84.55% | −2.40% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 87,200 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## West Virginia

There were 2 elections to the same seat due to the January 12, 1941 resignation of Democrat Matthew M. Neely who was elected Governor of West Virginia. Democrat Joseph Rosier was appointed January 13, 1941 to continue the term, pending the special election. Primaries for both races were held August 4, 1942.

### West Virginia (special)

Interim Democrat Joseph Rosier easily won the primary, but lost the special election to finish the term that would end in January 1943 to former congressman and 1936 Senate nominee Hugh Ike Shott.
West Virginia special election, November 3, 1942 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Hugh Ike Shott | 227,469 | 52.27% |
| | Democratic | Joseph Rosier (Incumbent) | 207,678 | 47.73% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,791 | 4.54% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 435,147 | 22.88% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### West Virginia (regular)

Neither Shott nor Rosier were candidates in the regular election. Instead, governor (and former senator) Neely ran to reclaim his seat, having regretted leaving the Senate.
Neely won the Democratic primary but lost the regular election.
West Virginia regular election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chapman Revercomb | 256,816 | 55.36% |
| | Democratic | Matthew M. Neely | 207,045 | 44.64% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 49,771 | 10.72% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 463,861 | 24.39% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
At the end of the term, Revercomb would lose re-election to Neely in 1948. He then won a special election to the other seat in 1956.

## Wyoming

1942 United States Senate election in Wyoming :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edward V. Robertson | 41,486 | 54.59% |
| | Democratic | Henry H. Schwartz (Incumbent) | 34,503 | 45.41% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,983 | 9.18% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75,989 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |