United States Senate special election in Montana, 1934

United States Senate special election in Montana, 1934
Montana
November 6, 1934
 
Nominee James E. Murray Scott Leavitt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 116,965 77,307
Percentage 59.66% 39.43%
U.S. Senator before election

John E. Erickson
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

James E. Murray
Democratic

Elections in Montana

The 1934 United States Senate special election in Montana took place on November 6, 1934. Incumbent United States Senator John E. Erickson, who, as Governor, had appointed himself to the seat in 1933 upon the death of Thomas J. Walsh, ran for re-election. However, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by James E. Murray, who was the former Silver Bow County Attorney and the Chairman of the State Advisory Board of the Public Works Administration. In the general election, Murray defeated Scott Leavitt, a former United States Congressman who had represented Montana's 2nd congressional district, and an independent candidate in a landslide to win his first term in the Senate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Murray 19,640 24.89
Democratic James F. O'Connor 18,194 23.05
Democratic John E. Erickson (inc.) 17,440 22.10
Democratic Louis P. Donovan 10,212 12.94
Democratic John A. Lovelace 8,649 10.96
Democratic W. W. Hamilton 4,788 6.07
Total votes 78,923 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Leavitt 25,479 47.03
Republican Wellington D. Rankin 18,150 33.50
Republican Leonard C. Young 6,202 11.45
Republican James A. Jergenson 4,344 8.02
Total votes 54,175 100.00

General election

Results

United States Senate special election in Montana, 1934[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James E. Murray 116,965 59.66% -0.67%
Republican Scott Leavitt 77,307 39.43% +1.56%
Socialist John F. Duffy 1,779 0.91% +0.34%
Majority 39,658 20.23% -2.22%
Turnout 196,051
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election, Held in the State of Montana, July 17, 1934". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1934" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.