The vote was largely seen as a referendum on Truman, whose approval rating had sunk to 32%[1] over the president's controversial handling of a wave of post-war labor strikes, such as a nationwide railroad strike in May, at a time when Americans depended on train service for both commuter and long-distance travel.

Just as damaging was Truman's back-and-forth over whether to end unpopular wartime price controls to handle shortages, particularly in foodstuffs.

The president's lack of popular support is widely seen as the reason for the Democrats' congressional defeat, the largest since they were trounced in the 1928 pro-Republican wave that brought Herbert Hoover to power.

However, the Republicans also benefited from what today would be called "a good map," meaning that of the one-third of Senate seats up for election, the majority were held by Democrats.

One Republican, one Progressive, and ten Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.

Republican Thomas C. Hart was appointed February 15, 1945, to continue the term, pending a special election.

The Liberal Party gathered 51,015 signatures and filed a petition to nominate candidates with the Secretary of State on September 2.

[16] The Democratic state convention met on September 4 at Albany, New York, and nominated Ex-Governor Herbert H. Lehman (in office 1933–1942) for the U.S.

[19] The Socialist Workers Party filed a petition to nominate candidates headed by Farrell Dobbs for Governor.

Democrat Absalom Willis Robertson defeated Republican Robert H. Woods and was elected to finish Glass's term.