1940 United States Senate election in Ohio

The 1940 United States Senate election in Ohio took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Democratic Senator Vic Donahey did not run for re-election to a second term. In the open race to succeed him, Republican Mayor of Cleveland Harold Hitz Burton defeated Democratic U.S. Representative John McSweeney.

1940 United States Senate election in Ohio

← 1934 November 5, 1940 1946 →

Nominee Harold Burton John McSweeney Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,602,498 1,457,304 Percentage 52.37% 47.63%

U.S. senator before election Vic Donahey Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harold Hitz Burton Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Herbert S. Bigelow, former U.S. Representative from Cincinnati (1937–39)
• John McSweeney, former U.S. Representative from Wooster (1923–29, 1937–39)

Results

1940 Democratic Senate primary^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John McSweeney	272,690	61.62%
	Democratic	Herbert S. Bigelow	169,818	38.38%
Total votes			442,508	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Harold Hitz Burton, Mayor of Cleveland
• Charles E. Wharton
• Dudley A. White, U.S. Representative from New London

Results

1940 Republican Senate primary^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harold Hitz Burton	303,339	52.85%
	Republican	Dudley A. White	235,344	41.01%
	Republican	Charles E. Wharton	35,258	6.14%
Total votes			573,941	100.00%

General election

Results

1940 U.S. Senate election in Ohio^[3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Harold Hitz Burton	1,602,498	52.37%	12.96
	Democratic	John McSweeney	1,457,304	47.63%	12.32
Total votes			3,059,802	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

See also

• 1940 United States Senate elections