1916 United States Senate elections

Four Republicans and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.

Nine Democrats and five Republicans sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Seven Democrats and two Republicans died during the 65th Congress, and initially were all replaced by appointees.

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1916 or before March 4, 1917; ordered by election date.

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1917; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

Eighteen races had a margin of victory under 10%:

Arkansas special election

← 1914 1920 →

Nominee William F. Kirby Harmon L. Remmel Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 110,293 48,922 Percentage 69.27% 30.73%

County results Kirby:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Remmel:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election James Paul Clarke Democratic Elected U.S. senator William F. Kirby Democratic

Three-term Democratic Senate President pro tempore James Paul Clarke died October 1, 1916.

Democrat William F. Kirby was elected November 7, 1916, to finish the term. He served only the rest of this term, losing renomination in 1920.

There were two elections held November 7, 1916, due to a vacancy. The elections converted both seats from Democratic to Republican, thus marking the first time since the popular-election of Senators was mandated by the Seventeenth Amendment three years earlier that both Senate seats in a state flipped from one party to the other in a single election cycle.

Indiana special election

← 1914 1920 →

Nominee James Eli Watson Thomas Taggart Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 335,193 325,577 Percentage 47.66% 46.29%

County results Watson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Taggart:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Thomas Taggart Democratic Elected U.S. senator James Eli Watson Republican

Two-term Democrat Benjamin F. Shively was re-elected in 1914 and served until he died March 14, 1916. Democrat Thomas Taggart was appointed by Governor Samuel Ralston on March 20 to continue the term until a November 7, 1916, special election. Taggart lost the special election to Republican James Eli Watson.

Watson would finish out the term, be re-elected twice, and serve until his 1932 re-election loss.

Indiana election

← 1911 1922 →

Nominee Harry New John W. Kern Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 337,089 325,588 Percentage 47.77% 46.14%

County results New:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Kern:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election John W. Kern Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harry New Republican

One-term Democrat John W. Kern was elected in 1911. He lost re-election to Republican Harry Stewart New.

New served only until losing renomination in 1922. Kern died on August 17, 1917, the same year he left the U.S Senate.

There were two elections due to a vacancy. Both elections were held September 11, 1916, as Maine routinely held its annual elections in September at the time.

Maine special election

← 1911 1918 →

Nominee Bert M. Fernald Kenneth C. Sills Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 81,369 68,201 Percentage 54.27% 45.49%

County results Fernald:      50–60%      60–70% Sillis:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Edwin C. Burleigh Republican Elected U.S. senator Bert M. Fernald Republican

One-term Republican Edwin C. Burleigh was elected in 1913, and died June 16, 1916. Republican Bert M. Fernald was elected September 12, 1916, to finish the term.

Fernand would later be re-elected twice and serve until his 1926 death.

Maine election

← 1911 September 11, 1916 1922 →

Nominee Frederick Hale Charles F. Johnson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 79,481 69,486 Percentage 52.72% 46.09%

County results Hale:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Johnson:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Charles F. Johnson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Frederick Hale Republican

One-term Democrat Charles Fletcher Johnson was elected in 1911. He lost re-election to Republican Frederick Hale.

Hale would later be re-elected three times and serve until his 1935 retirement.

Incumbent Democrat Charles Culberson survived a challenge from former Governor Oscar Colquitt in the Democratic primary, then easily won the general election.

Texas election

← 1911 1922 →

Nominee Charles Culberson Alex W. Atcheson Thomas A. Hickey Party Democratic Republican Socialist Popular vote 303,035 48,788 18,616 Percentage 81.30% 13.09% 4.99%

County Results[63] Culberson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Atcheson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% No vote:

U.S. senator before election Charles Culberson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Charles Culberson Democratic

Vermont election

← 1910 November 7, 1916 (1916-11-07) 1922 →

Nominee Carroll S. Page Oscar C. Miller Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 47,362 14,956 Percentage 74.4% 23.5%

U.S. senator before election Carroll S. Page Republican Elected U.S. Senator Carroll S. Page Republican

The 1916 United States Senate election in Vermont took place on November 7, 1916.^[68] It was the second direct election for the U.S. Senate to take place in Vermont following the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the first for Vermont's Class I seat. The incumbent, Republican Carroll S. Page successfully ran for re-election to a second full term.^[69]

In the primary election, which was held on September 11, Page gained re-nomination by winning 62 percent of the vote to defeat former governor Allen M. Fletcher (20.3) and current governor Charles W. Gates (17.7).^[70]

With the Republican Party dominant in Vermont, as it had been since its founding in the 1850s, Democratic candidate Oscar C. Miller was little more than a token opponent for Page.^[71] In the general election, Page defeated Miller 74.4 percent to 23.5.^[69]