# 1938 United States Senate election in Iowa

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The 1938 United States Senate election in Iowa took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Democratic Senator Guy M. Gillette, who won a special election to complete the unexpired term of Richard Louis Murphy, won a full term in office by defeating Republican former Senator Lester J. Dickinson. Gillette and Dickinson had briefly served together in the final months of 1936.
Primary elections were held on June 6. Gillette overcame a primary challenge from U.S. Representative Otha Wearin, who was personally recruited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt given Gillette's opposition to New Deal programs. Dickinson defeated Representative Lloyd Thurston for the Republican nomination.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Wilson G. Byerhoff
* Guy M. Gillette, incumbent Senator since 1936
* Joseph J. Meyers
* Mrs. Ellsworth Richardson
* Otha Wearin, U.S. Representative from Glenwood

### Results

1938 Democratic U.S. Senate primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Guy M. Gillette (incumbent) | 81,605 | 51.96% |
| | Democratic | Otha Wearin | 43,044 | 27.41% |
| | Democratic | Joseph J. Meyers | 17,497 | 11.14% |
| | Democratic | Mrs. Ellsworth Richardson | 9,445 | 6.01% |
| | Democratic | Wilson G. Byerhoff | 5,465 | 3.48% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 157,056 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Lester J. Dickinson, former U.S. Senator (1931–37)
* Lloyd Thurston, U.S. Representative from Osceola

### Results

1938 Republican U.S. Senate primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lester J. Dickinson | 146,764 | 56.97% |
| | Republican | Lloyd Thurston | 110,847 | 43.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 257,611 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Candidates

* G.W. Bauseman (Prohibition)
* George F. Buresh (Farmer-Labor)
* Lester J. Dickinson, former U.S. Senator (1931–37) (Republican)
* Guy M. Gillette, incumbent Senator since 1936 (Democratic)
* Raymond E. Hanke (Progressive)

### Results

1938 U.S. Senate election in Iowa :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Guy M. Gillette (incumbent) | 413,788 | 49.74% | 2.17 |
| | Republican | Lester J. Dickinson | 410.983 | 49.41% | 3.07 |
| | Farmer–Labor | George F. Buresh | 4,723 | 0.57% | 1.00 |
| | Progressive Party (United States, 1924–34) | Raymond E. Hanke | 1,525 | 0.18% | N/A |
| | Prohibition | G. W. Bauseman | 820 | 0.10% | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 831,839 | 100.00% |