1938 United States Senate election in Vermont

The 1938 United States Senate election in Vermont took place on November 8, 1938. Republican Ernest W. Gibson Sr. successfully ran for re-election to another term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic candidate John McGrath. Gibson Sr. died in June 1940 and his son, Ernest W. Gibson Jr., was appointed to fill the seat until a special election could be held in November 1940.

1938 United States Senate election in Vermont

← 1934 (special) November 8, 1938 (1938-11-08) 1940 (special) →

Nominee Ernest W. Gibson Sr. John McGrath Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 73,990 38,673 Percentage 65.67% 34.33%

U.S. senator before election Ernest W. Gibson Sr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator Ernest W. Gibson Sr. Republican

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ernest W. Gibson, Sr. (inc.)	38,872	81.8%
	Republican	Martin S. Vilas	8,630	18.2%
	Republican	Other	14	0.0%
Total votes			47,516	100.0%

Democratic primary

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John McGrath	4,931	99.9%
	Democratic	Other	6	0.1%
Total votes			4,937	100.0%

General election

Candidates

• Ernest W. Gibson Sr. (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator^[2]
• John McGrath (Democratic), state senator, milk farmer and businessman^[3]

Results

United States Senate election in Vermont, 1938^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ernest W. Gibson, Sr. (inc.)	73,990	65.67%	+7.44%
	Democratic	John McGrath	38,673	34.33%	−7.41%
Total votes			112,663	100.00%