Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies and actions significantly influenced the 1938 congressional elections. Seeking party realignment, Roosevelt actively campaigned against conservative Democrats during the primaries, aiming to defeat them. However, these efforts were largely unsuccessful, as conservative forces gained strength, with Republicans making significant gains in both the House and Senate.
This election was a major setback for Roosevelt as the Democrats lost 72 seats in the House and eight in the Senate. The strengthened coalition of Southern Democrats and Republicans in Congress marked the end of the New Deal's reform momentum and led to a political shift that would affect Roosevelt's ability to enact further reforms.
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