1938 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

Fred H. Brown was elected to the United States Senate in 1932 by narrowly unseating incumbent Republican George H. Moses. As Senator, Brown was an ardent and active support of the New Deal programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, serving on the Joint Committee on the Tennessee Valley Authority and voting to confirm Hugo Black to the United States Supreme Court.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/601403148/?terms=%22fred%20h.%20brown%22%20%22new%20deal%22&match=1 |title=Lack Of Republican Harmony Encourages Democrats In Close New Hampshire Fight|first=J. Leo|last=Dery|agency=Central Press|page=2|work=Telegraph-Forum|via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=November 4, 1938 |accessdate=March 14, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/431694399/?terms=%22fred%20h.%20brown%22%20%22new%20deal%22&match=1 |title=Brown, Bridges May Clash Due to T.V.A. Inquiry Report|first=M.E.|last=Hennessy|page=18|work=The Boston Globe|via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=April 11, 1938 |accessdate=March 14, 2021}}

• Fred H. Brown, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1933

Senator Brown did not face an opponent for renomination.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74652170/no-opponent-seen-for-sen-brown/|title=No Opponent Seen For Sen. Brown|agency=Associated Press|page=1|work=The North Adams Transcript|via=Newspapers.com |date=July 29, 1938 |accessdate=March 14, 2021}}

• Charles W. Carroll, mayor of Laconia{{cite news |title=TOBEY TO RUN FOR SENATE; Will Seek Republican Nomination In New Hampshire |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1938/04/13/96813680.html?pageNumber=4 |access-date=15 April 2025 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=April 13, 1938 |language=en}}
• Eliot A. Carter, former State Senator from Nashua
• Charles W. Tobey, U.S. Representative from Manchester and former governor

Tobey announced his campaign on April 12, joining a field which already included Laconia mayor Charles W. Carroll and Eliot A. Carter.

• Fred H. Brown, incumbent Senator since 1933 (Democratic)
• Charles W. Tobey, U.S. Representative from Manchester and former governor (Republican)

During the campaign, Tobey accused Brown of being a "Roosevelt yes-man", and Brown defended his support of the New Deal as in "the best interests" of New Hampshire.{{cite news |title=NEW HAMPSHIRE IN DOUBT; Parties Concentrate at Close in the Industrial Cities |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1938/11/08/503867042.html?pageNumber=18 |access-date=15 April 2025 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=November 8, 1938 |language=en}}

As the campaign came to a close, both parties focused on Concord and the industrial cities of Manchester and Nashua.

{{Election box begin

| title = 1938 U.S. Senate election in New Hampshire{{Cite web |last=Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |date=1939-01-11 |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1938 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electioninfo/1938election.pdf |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Charles W. Tobey

| votes = 100,633

| percentage = 54.23%

| change = {{increase}} 4.96

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Fred H. Brown (incumbent)

| votes = 84,920

| percentage = 45.77%

| change = {{decrease}} 4.58

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 217,057

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

| winner = Republican Party (US)

| loser =

| swing =

}}

{{End}}

{{Clear}}

Following Brown's defeat and departure from office, President Roosevelt appointed him as the 2nd Comptroller General of the United States.

{{reflist}}

1938

New Hampshire

United States Senate