| | Considered an expert on waterway matters,<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> Overton sponsored flood acts several times during his Senate tenure.<ref>Jackson, Leah (November 29, 2011). [http://news.nsula.edu/home/family-donates-john-overton-collection-to-library Family donates John Overton Collection to library]. ''Northwestern State University''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> Like most racist Southern Democrats, he opposed anti-lynching measures, voting to table two such rider amendments in 1937<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/s43 TO TABLE AN AMENDMENT TO S. 69, THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT. THE AMEND. OFFERED BY SENATOR COPELAND WHICH WOULD HAVE ADDED HOUSE BILL 1507, THE ANTILYNCHING BILL, TO S. 69, A BILL LIMITING THE SIZE OF TRAINS IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/s58 TO TABLE AN AMENDMENT TO S. 2475. OFFERED BY SENATOR COPELAND WHICH WOULD HAVE ADDED THE ANTILYNCHING BILL AS PERFECTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO THE PENDING LEGISLATION.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> and against cloture to end a filibuster on an anti-lynching bill in 1938.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-3/s101 TO IMPOSE CLOTURE ON DEBATE H.R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> | | Considered an expert on waterway matters,<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> Overton sponsored flood acts several times during his Senate tenure.<ref>Jackson, Leah (November 29, 2011). [http://news.nsula.edu/home/family-donates-john-overton-collection-to-library Family donates John Overton Collection to library]. ''Northwestern State University''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> Like most racist Southern Democrats, he opposed anti-lynching measures, voting to table two such rider amendments in 1937<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/s43 TO TABLE AN AMENDMENT TO S. 69, THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT. THE AMEND. OFFERED BY SENATOR COPELAND WHICH WOULD HAVE ADDED HOUSE BILL 1507, THE ANTILYNCHING BILL, TO S. 69, A BILL LIMITING THE SIZE OF TRAINS IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/s58 TO TABLE AN AMENDMENT TO S. 2475. OFFERED BY SENATOR COPELAND WHICH WOULD HAVE ADDED THE ANTILYNCHING BILL AS PERFECTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO THE PENDING LEGISLATION.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> and against cloture to end a filibuster on an anti-lynching bill in 1938.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-3/s101 TO IMPOSE CLOTURE ON DEBATE H.R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.] ''GovTrack.us''. 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> | + | 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> |