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Within his home state, Overton was targeted for being unseated by [[Hilda Phelps Hammond]], who led the Women's Committee of Louisiana in fierce opposition to the corruption of the Long political machine.<ref>[https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-h/ Dictionary H]. ''Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> However, even after Long's assassination in 1935, Overton was popular enough in his state<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> to be re-elected in 1938<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=267987 LA US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1938]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> and 1944.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=267988 LA US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1944]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref>

Within his home state, Overton was targeted for being unseated by [[Hilda Phelps Hammond]], who led the Women's Committee of Louisiana in fierce opposition to the corruption of the Long political machine.<ref>[https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-h/ Dictionary H]. ''Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> However, even after Long's assassination in 1935, Overton was popular enough in his state<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> to be re-elected in 1938<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=267987 LA US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1938]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> and 1944.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=267988 LA US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1944]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref>

In the 1946 Senate race in [[Mississippi]], incumbent Democrat racist demagogue [[Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]] threatened and intimidated blacks during his re-election campaign, leading to calls for him being blocked from taking his Senate seat following the general election.<ref name=senate.gov>[https://www.cop.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/contested_elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''United States Senate''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> The Senate GOP in that midterm cycle had just gained a majority, and, amidst petitions filed against Bilbo, moved to halt the latter.<ref name=bilbo.pdf>Fleegler, Robert L. [http://www.mississippihistory.org/sites/default/files/bilbo.pdf Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, 1938-1947]. ''Mississippi Historical Society''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> However, prior to the start of the new Congress on January 3, 1947, the Senate committees were still controlled by the Democratic Party, including one which the case was referred to. It consisted of five members, three being Southern Democrats and two being conservative Republicans, and was chaired by Overton's Louisiana colleague [[Allen J. Ellender]].<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Ellender defended the racist voter suppression as a result of "tradition" rather than Bilbos' rhetoric,<ref name=senate.gov/> and the committee voted on party lines to clear Bilbo.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> However, the GOP-led 80th Congress still budged in refusal to seat Bilbo. Overton then introduced two motions that would allow Bilbo to be seated as investigations continued; this was due to the fact that ''expelling'' a ''seated'' senator required an unobtainable two-thirds majority rather than merely a simple majority.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Both motions were tabled, with all Republicans and less than half of Democrats voting to kill the Overton motions.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s2 S RES 1. WHITE MOTION THAT THE OATH OF OFFICE BE ADMINIS- TERED TO BREWSTER. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE OVERTON MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE NAME OF BILBO.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s1 S RES 1. RESOLUTION TO REFER TO RULES COMMITTEE BILBO'S CLAIM TO A SENATE SEAT. OVERTON AMEND. TO PERMIT OATH TO BE ADMINISTERED TO BILBO. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE BOTH RESOLUTION AND AMEND.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> Bilbo ultimately did not take his seat due to health issues, and ultimately died of mouth cancer later in 1947 following decades of spewing virulent, demagogic racism.

In the 1946 Senate race in [[Mississippi]], incumbent Democrat racist demagogue [[Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]] threatened and intimidated blacks during his re-election campaign, leading to calls for him being blocked from taking his Senate seat following the general election.<ref name=senate.gov>[https://www.cop.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/contested_elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''United States Senate''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> The Senate GOP in that midterm cycle had just gained a majority, and, amidst petitions filed against Bilbo, moved to halt the latter.<ref name=bilbo.pdf>Fleegler, Robert L. [http://www.mississippihistory.org/sites/default/files/bilbo.pdf Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, 1938-1947]. ''Mississippi Historical Society''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> However, prior to the start of the new Congress on January 3, 1947, the Senate committees were still controlled by the Democratic Party, including one which the case was referred to. It consisted of five members, three being Southern Democrats ([[Allen J. Ellender]] of Louisiana, Burnet Maybank of [[South Carolina]], and Elmer Thomas of [[Oklahoma) and two being conservative Republicans ([[Bourke Hickenlooper]] of [[Iowa]] and [[Styles Bridges]] of [[New Hampshire]]), and was chaired by Ellender.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Ellender defended the racist voter suppression as a result of "tradition" rather than Bilbos' rhetoric,<ref name=senate.gov/> and the committee voted on party lines to clear Bilbo.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> However, the GOP-led 80th Congress still budged in refusal to seat Bilbo. Overton then introduced two motions that would allow Bilbo to be seated as investigations continued; this was due to the fact that ''expelling'' a ''seated'' senator required an unobtainable two-thirds majority rather than merely a simple majority.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Both motions were tabled, with all Republicans and less than half of Democrats voting to kill the Overton motions.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s2 S RES 1. WHITE MOTION THAT THE OATH OF OFFICE BE ADMINIS- TERED TO BREWSTER. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE OVERTON MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE NAME OF BILBO.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s1 S RES 1. RESOLUTION TO REFER TO RULES COMMITTEE BILBO'S CLAIM TO A SENATE SEAT. OVERTON AMEND. TO PERMIT OATH TO BE ADMINISTERED TO BILBO. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE BOTH RESOLUTION AND AMEND.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> Bilbo ultimately did not take his seat due to health issues, and ultimately died of mouth cancer later in 1947 following decades of spewing virulent, demagogic racism.

===Death in office===

===Death in office===