The 1938 United States Senate election in Iowa took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Democratic Senator
Guy M. Gillette, who won a special election to complete the unexpired term of
Richard Louis Murphy, won a full term in office by defeating Republican former Senator
Lester J. Dickinson. Gillette and Dickinson had briefly served together in the final months of 1936.
Primary elections were held on June 6. Gillette overcame a primary challenge from U.S. Representative
Otha Wearin, who was personally recruited by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt given Gillette's opposition to
New Deal programs.[1] Dickinson defeated Representative
Lloyd Thurston for the Republican nomination.