1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota
| country = South Dakota
| flag_year = 1909
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1932 United States Senate election in South Dakota
| previous_year = 1932
| next_election = 1944 United States Senate election in South Dakota
| next_year = 1944
| election_date = November 8, 1938
| image_size = x150px
| image1 = John Chandler Gurney.jpg
| nominee1 = Chan Gurney
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 146,813
| percentage1 = 52.46%
| image2 = Tom Berry.jpg
| nominee2 = Tom Berry
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 133,064
| percentage2 = 47.54%
| map_size = 240px
| map_image = 1938 United States Senate election in South Dakota results map by county.svg
| map_caption = County results
Gurney: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
Berry: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
No Vote: {{legend0|#cccccc}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Herbert E. Hitchcock
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Chan Gurney
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsSD}}
The 1938 United States Senate elections in South Dakota took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Republican Senator Peter Norbeck died in office on December 20, 1936. Herbert E. Hitchcock was appointed by Governor Tom Berry as Norbeck's replacement. Two elections for the same Senate seat were held on the same day; one as a special election to fill the remainder of Norbeck's six-year term, and another to select a Senator to serve the next six-year term.
In the regularly scheduled election, Hitchcock ran for election for a full term, but was overwhelmingly defeated in the Democratic primary by former Governor Berry. In the Republican primary, businessman Chan Gurney won a slim plurality in a crowded primary. Gurney narrowly defeated Berry to win his first of two terms in the Senate. In the special election for the final few months of Norbeck's term, former Secretary of State Gladys Pyle won the Republican nomination unopposed, and Thomas W. Crawford won the Democratic nomination unopposed. However, following Crawford's death, the state Democratic Party named John T. McCullen as its replacement nominee. Pyle defeated McCullen in a landslide, becoming the first woman to represent South Dakota in the United States Senate.
Democratic primary
=Regular election=
==Candidates==
- Tom Berry, former Governor of South Dakota
- Fred H. Hildebrandt, U.S. Congressman from South Dakota's 1st congressional district
- Herbert E. Hitchcock, incumbent U.S. Senator
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tom Berry
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 46,292
| percentage = 63.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Fred Hildebrandt
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 17,391
| percentage = 23.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Herbert Hitchcock (inc.)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 9,750
| percentage = 13.28%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 73,433
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Special election=
Thomas M. Crawford was the only Democratic candidate to file for the special election, thereby removing the primary election from the ballot and granting him the nomination by default.{{cite news|date=April 3, 1938|title=23 Candidates Qualify For Major State And National Offices: Fights Develop for All Posts; Drawing Monday|work=Argus Leader|location=Sioux Falls, S.D.|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/229686141/|access-date=June 10, 2021}} However, after the primary election took place, Crawford died. The Democratic Party of South Dakota named John T. McCullen, a former State Senator from Hand County,{{cite web |url=https://sdlegislature.gov/Historical/Legislator/Profile/747|title=J. T. McCullen|author=|website=Historical Listing|publisher=South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council|access-date=June 10, 2021}} as its replacement nominee.{{cite news|date=August 1, 1938|title=Vacancies on Demo Ticket Are Filled Today|work=Lead Daily Call|location=Lead, S.D.|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/93913017/|access-date=June 10, 2021}}
Republican primary
=Regular election=
==Candidates==
- Chan Gurney, businessman
- Leslie Jensen, Governor of South Dakota
- George J. Danforth, former State Senator,{{cite web |url=https://sdlegislature.gov/Historical/Legislator/Profile/2392|title=George Johnathan Danforth|author=|website=Historical Listing|publisher=South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council|access-date=June 10, 2021}} 1926 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate
- Paul E. Bellamy, businessman{{cite news|date=February 1, 1938|title=Bellamy Still Considers Running for Senate Post|work=Lead Daily Call|location=Lead, S.D.|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/93912281/|access-date=June 10, 2021}}
==Results==
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Chan Gurney
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 49,371
| percentage = 46.75%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Leslie Jensen
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 40,917
| percentage = 38.75%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = George J. Danforth
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 8,883
| percentage = 8.41%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Paul E. Bellamy
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,434
| percentage = 6.09%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 105,605
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Special election=
Former Secretary of State Gladys Pyle announced that she would run for the Republican nomination for the special election.{{cite news|date=February 23, 1938|title=Gladys Pyle Seeks Short Senate Term|work=Rapid City Journal|location=Rapid City, S.D.|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/350596412/|access-date=June 10, 2021}} She, like Crawford, won the Republican nomination unopposed and the race did not appear on the primary election ballot.
General election
=Results=
==Regular election==
{{Election box begin | title=1938 United States Senate election in South Dakota
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chan Gurney
|votes = 146,813
|percentage = 52.46%
|change = -1.37%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Tom Berry
|votes = 133,064
|percentage = 47.54%
|change = +2.97%
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 13,749
|percentage = 4.91%
|change = -4.34%
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 279,877
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing|
|winner = Republican Party (US)
|loser = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Special election==
[[File:1938 United States Senate special election in South Dakota results map by county.svg|thumb|240px|Special election county results
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#e27f7f|Pyle}}|{{legend|#e27f7f|50–60%}}|{{legend|#d75d5d|60–70%}}|{{legend|#d72f30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#c21b18|80–90%}}}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#7996e2|McCullen}}|{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}}}
{{legend|#ae8bb1|Tie}}
{{legend|#cccccc|No Vote}}
]]
{{Election box begin | title=1938 United States Senate special election in South Dakota
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Gladys Pyle
|votes = 155,292
|percentage = 58.06%
|change = +4.23%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = John T. McCullen
|votes = 112,177
|percentage = 41.94%
|change = -2.63%
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 43,115
|percentage = 16.12%
|change = +6.86%
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 267,469
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing|
|winner = Republican Party (US)
|loser = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{1938 United States elections}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1938 United States Senate Elections In South Dakota}}