The 1930 midterm elections saw Republicans lose control of the House and narrowly retain control of the Senate . John Nance Garner , the incoming Democratic leader in the House of Representatives , emerged as perhaps the most influential individual in Congress . The election was also a victory for progressives of both parties , as Republicans closely aligned with Hoover lost several congressional elections . Additionally , New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt 's landslide re-election established him as the front-runner for the 1932 Democratic nomination . Despite the election defeat , Hoover refused to change his policies , rejecting the Chairman of the Committee on Employment 's advice to appropriate additional money for public works . Instead , Hoover 's first State of Union address after the election called for a balancing of the budget . Hoover also refused to call a special session of Congress after the election , leaving the 72nd Congress in recess from March 1931 to December 1931
1932 Democratic nomination
1932 Democratic National Convention
Presidency of Herbert Hoover