Trends in electoral competition in U.S. senatorial elections for the period of 1912 to 1988 are examined via interrupted time-series analysis. The analysis documents that, contrary to what is often argued in the congressional elections' literature, there have been important changes in the nature of competition in senatorial elections. While senatorial elections, overall, remain more competitive than House elections, there has been a trend, since 1970, towards less competitive nonsouthern senatorial elections. As in the explanation for declining competition in House elections, a combination of party disaggregation and weakened opponents may be used to explain the recent decline in competition in nonsouthern senatorial elections.
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