This marked the first time that an incumbent president's party gained seats in both houses of Congress in midterm election cycles, followed by 1998 and 2002.

[2] This was also the second of three times since the ratification of the 17th Amendment that the opposition party failed to flip any Senate seats, alongside 1914 and 2022.

A number of historic figures were first elected to the Senate in 1934, including future President Truman, future Federal District Judge and Labor Secretary Schwellenbach, the first Hispanic to be elected to a full term in the US Senate, Chavez, longtime Senator and later Representative Pepper and future Supreme Court Justice Minton.

Eight Republicans and two Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Democrat Joseph C. O'Mahoney was appointed to continue the term, pending a special election.