Although Roosevelt was re-elected, support for his administration had dropped somewhat after eight years, and the Republican opposition gained three seats from the Democrats.

However, the New Deal Democrats regained firm control of both the House and Senate because Progressives dominated the election.

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

To avoid affecting the election, the party told the press that the senator was hospitalized for exhaustion and that his condition was not serious.

[5] Pittman died on November 10 at the Washoe General Hospital in Reno, Nevada.

In later years, a myth spread that Pittman had in fact died before the election, and his body had been kept on ice in the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah so that Carville could appoint his replacement.