1930 United States elections

The 1930 United States elections were held on November 4, 1930, in the middle of Republican President Herbert Hoover's term. Taking place shortly after the start of the Great Depression, the Republican Party suffered substantial losses. The election was the last of the Fourth Party System, and marked the first time since 1918 that Democrats controlled either chamber of Congress.[4][5]

1930 United States elections

Midterm elections
Election day	November 4
Incumbent president	Herbert Hoover (Republican)
Next Congress	72nd
Senate elections
Overall control	Republican hold
Seats contested	35 of 96 seats (32 Class 2 seats + 7 special elections)[1]
Net seat change	Democratic +8[2]
1930 Senate election results   Democratic gain   Democratic hold   Republican gain   Republican hold
House elections
Overall control	Democratic gain[3]
Seats contested	All 435 voting seats
Net seat change	Democratic +52
Gubernatorial elections
Seats contested	33
Net seat change	Democratic +7
1930 gubernatorial election results   Democratic gain   Democratic hold   Republican gain   Republican hold   Farmer-Labor gain   Independent gain

The Republicans lost fifty-two seats to the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives. While the Republicans maintained a one-seat majority after the polls closed, they lost a number of special elections (since some Republican members died) before the start of the new congress. This allowed the Democrats to take control of that chamber with a one-seat majority.[4]

The Republicans also lost eight seats to the Democrats in the U.S. Senate, but were able to maintain control with Republican Vice President Charles Curtis casting the tie breaking vote.[6]

The election was a victory for progressives of both parties, as Republicans closely aligned with Hoover lost several Congressional elections. Additionally, New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt's landslide re-election established him as the front-runner for the 1932 Democratic nomination.[7]