United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1936

United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1936

November 1936

Nominee Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. James Michael Curley Thomas C. O'Brien Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 875,160 739,751 134,245 Percentage 48.53% 41.02% 7.44%

Senator before election Marcus A. Coolidge Democratic Elected Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Republican

Elections in Massachusetts
General elections General elections 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Federal government Presidential elections 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 U.S. Senate elections Class 1 1898 1904 1910 1916 1922 1928 1934 1940 1946 1952 1958 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006 2012 Class 2 1918 1924 1930 1936 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 2008 2014 U.S. House elections 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Special elections Senate, 1944 Senate, 1962 1st district, 1991 9th district, 2001 5th district, 2007 Senate, 2010 Senate, 2013 5th district, 2013
State government Gubernatorial elections 1839 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 State Senate elections 2004 2006 2008 State House elections 2006 2008 Governor's Council elections 2006
Ballot measures 1980 Proposition 2½ 2002 English Language Education in Public Schools 2008 Greyhound Protection Sensible Marijuana Policy State Income Tax Repeal 2010 No Sales Tax for Alcohol Sales Tax Relief Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning 2012 Right to Repair vehicle at non dealer Physician Assisted Suicide Medical Marijuana policy 2014 repeals automatic gas tax increases already signed into law Expands the state’s beverage container recycling law to include all non-alcoholic containers Repeals a 2011 law allowing resort casinos Entitles certain employees to earn and utilize paid sick days
Boston Mayoral elections 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 City council elections 2009 2011

The Massachusetts United States Senate election of 1936 coincided with the landslide re-election of Democratic incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt over Republican candidate Alf Landon (who won just two states against Roosevelt's 46).

The same year Democrats won six United States Senate seats from the Republicans, which gave them one of the largest Senate majorities ever. The Republicans retained just 16 seats.

The Massachusetts election was notable because this was the only state in which Republicans won a seat from Democrats in this election.

Democratic one-term incumbent Marcus A. Coolidge decided not to seek re-election, which left the contest open.

Candidates

Republican

• Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Grandson of former Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
• Alonzo B. Cook, Massachusetts Auditor from 1915-1931. Ran in the general election as an Economy candidate.
• Guy M. Gray, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Ran in the general election as a Social Justice candidate.
• Thomas C. O'Brien, Former District Attorney of Suffolk County. Also ran in the Democratic party. Ran in the general election as a member of the Union Party. Was also the Union Party's candidate for Vice President.

Democratic

• James Michael Curley, Governor of Massachusetts since 1935. Former Mayor of Boston (1914–1918, 1922–1926, 1930–1934) and member of the United States House of Representatives (1911–1914).
• Robert E. Greenwood, Mayor of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
• Thomas C. O'Brien, Former District Attorney of Suffolk County. Also ran in the Republican party. Ran in the general election as a member of the Union Party. Was also the Union Party's candidate for Vice President.

Results

Primaries

The Republican nominee was Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., grandson of Henry Cabot Lodge, a former Massachusetts Senator and the first Senate Majority Leader.

Despite his lack of experience Lodge, a moderate-to-liberal Republican, was viewed as a better choice to defeat a Democrat than a more conservative candidate.

The Democratic nominee was Governor and former (and future) Mayor of Boston James Michael Curley. President Franklin Roosevelt declined to endorse Curley, which may have affected the final results.

General election

References