Smith Wildman Brookhart (February 2, 1869 – November 15, 1944), was twice elected as a Republican to represent Iowa in the United States Senate.

His criticisms of the Harding and the Coolidge administrations and of business interests alienated others in the Republican caucus and led to his ouster from the Senate over an election challenge.

[6] A special election was required because Iowa Senator William S. Kenyon had resigned before the completion of his term to accept an appointment as federal judge.

Time quoted him in their inaugural March 3, 1923 issue as saying, "If I am asked to the White House, or to attend any other state occasion, I shall go as I am, with cowhide shoes and the clothes I wear on the farm.

In the committee hearings on Steck's challenge, the Iowa Republican Party sided with the Democrat Steck by filing a brief that was sharply critical of Brookhart and accused him of disloyalty to the Republican presidential ticket in 1924 because of his support for the Progressive Party presidential candidate Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin.

[10] Brookhart held the seat only until April 12, 1926, when the Senate voted by a margin of 45–41 to replace him with Steck, who then served out the remainder of the term.

As Idaho Republican William Edgar Borah said the following morning, "Senator Cummins was highly respected by everyone who knew him.

"[13] In the general election, Brookhart defeated the conservative Democrat Claude R. Porter, who had been a US Attorney during the Wilson administration.

[14] Brookhart was a harsh critic of the Federal Reserve: "A more sinister or evil device could not be arranged for using the people's savings to their own injury and the destruction of their property values.

Field had attacked Brookhart's absences from the Senate on speaking tours, as well as the number of relatives holding federal positions.

Those favoring repeal argued that legalizing alcoholic beverages would stimulate the economy and provide desperately-needed tax revenue.

"[17] After his 1932 defeat, Brookhart was a special advisor to the federal government on Soviet trade, until he resigned in 1935 and returned to Iowa.

[18] Brookhart then announced a plan to unite diverse progressive elements under a new banner, declined an opportunity to run for the Senate under a Farmer-Labor Party nomination, and endorsed Franklin Roosevelt's 1936 re-election.