The 1912 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place in the Arizona State Legislature on March 27, 1912, confirming the selection of Marcus A. Smith and Henry F. Ashurst as the state's first U.S. Senators. [1] Their results were predetermined on the basis on the results of a popular vote taken on December 12, 1911.
This marked the first U.S. Senate elections held in the state after it was admitted to the union as the 48th state on February 14, 1912. The two men were sworn in on April 2. [2]
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the direct election of United States senators in each state. The amendment supersedes Article I, §3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. The amendment was proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912 and became part of the Constitution on April 8, 1913, on ratification by three-quarters (36) of the state legislatures.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Election results by county Ashurst: 40–50% 50–60% Cameron: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Henry F. Ashurst was elected to the Territorial House of Representatives in 1897. He was re-elected in 1899, and became the territory's youngest speaker. In 1902, he was elected to the Territorial Senate. In 1911, Ashurst presided over Arizona's constitutional convention. [3] During the convention, he positioned himself for a U.S. Senate seat by avoiding the political fighting over various clauses in the constitution which damaged his rivals. [4]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Henry F. Ashurst | 10,872 | 50.00% | ||
Republican | Ralph H. Cameron | 9,640 | 44.33% | ||
Socialist | E. Johnson | 1,234 | 5.68% | ||
Majority | 1,232 | 5.67% | |||
Turnout | 21,746 | ||||
Democratic win (new seat) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Election results by county Smith: 40–50% 50–60% Smith: 40-50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Elections in Arizona |
---|
Marcus A. Smith announced his candidacy for one of Arizona's two senate seats on September 24, 1911. [6] As the campaign began, Smith abandoned his long standing conservative stand and declared himself a "Progressive". [7]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Marcus A. Smith | 10,598 | 50.35% | ||
Republican | Hoval A. Smith | 9,228 | 43.85% | ||
Socialist | E. B. Simonton | 1,221 | 5.80% | ||
Majority | 1,370 | 6.50% | |||
Turnout | 21,047 | ||||
Democratic win (new seat) |
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the direct election of United States senators in each state. The amendment supersedes Article I, Section 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held.
The 1914 United States Senate elections were held on November 3, 1914. These were the first regularly scheduled elections held following the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1913, which required that all seats up for election be popularly elected, rather than chosen by their state legislatures. Thus, it was the first time that elections were generally scheduled on Election Day to coincide with the U.S. House elections. The 32 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections in 1914. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. These elections occurred in the middle of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson's first term.
Henry Fountain Ashurst was an American Democratic politician and one of the first two senators from Arizona. Largely self-educated, he served as a district attorney and member of the Arizona Territorial legislature before fulfilling his childhood ambition of joining the United States Senate. During his time in the Senate, Ashurst was chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs and the Judiciary Committee.
Marcus Aurelius Smith was an American attorney and politician who served eight terms as Arizona Territorial Delegate to Congress and as one of the first two Senators from Arizona. As a Delegate, he was a leader in the effort to gain statehood for Arizona. His non-voting status, however, minimized his influence with only 35 of the 277 bills he introduced into the House of Representatives being signed into law. Lack of a voice in the United States Senate further weakened his efforts as he managed to get Arizona statehood bills passed by the House only to see the legislation blocked in the Senate. Beyond his efforts for statehood, Smith worked to have government buildings constructed and to provide relief to his constituents affected by either man-made or natural misfortunes. His efforts to provide relief to the citizens of Arizona did not extend to the indigenous population, for whom Smith expressed great animosity.
The 1912–13 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. They were the last U.S. Senate elections before the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, establishing direct elections for all Senate seats. Senators had been primarily chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1912 and 1913, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. Some states elected their senators directly even before passage of Seventeenth Amendment. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election.
The 1910–11 United States Senate election were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were primarily chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1910 and 1911, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. However, some states had already begun direct elections during this time. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election.
The 1908–09 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were primarily chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1906 and 1907, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. However, some states had already begun direct elections during this time. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election.
The Arizona Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Arizona. Its headquarters are in Phoenix.
Richard Elihu Sloan was an American jurist and politician, who served as associate justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court, a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and as the 17th and final Governor of Arizona Territory. As an Associate Justice he served for 16 years, the longest service of any member of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court, and wrote over 150 legal opinions. As Governor he oversaw Arizona's transition from territory to statehood.
The 1932 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Carl Hayden ran for reelection to a second term, again defeating his 1926 challenger former U.S. Senator Ralph H. Cameron in the general election.
Mulford Winsor was an American newspaperman and politician active in Arizona.
The 16th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which convened in Phoenix, Arizona. The session began on January 19, 1891.
The 17th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which convened in Phoenix, Arizona. The session ran from February 13 through April 13, 1893.
The 1928 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 6, 1928. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst ran for reelection to a fourth term, defeating Republican nominee former U.S. Senator Ralph H. Cameron in the general election. Cameron was defeated in the previous election year, in 1926, by then-U.S. Congressman Carl T. Hayden, leading Cameron to decide to challenge Ashurst in order to return to the United States Senate.
The 1934 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 3, 1934. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst ran for reelection to a fifth term, defeating Republican nominee Joseph Edward Thompson in the general election by a wide margin.
The 1940 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst ran for reelection to a sixth term, but was defeated in the Democratic primary to challenger Ernest McFarland.
The 1920 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 2, 1920. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Marcus A. Smith ran for reelection to a third term, but was defeated by former Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Arizona Territory Ralph H. Cameron in the general election. Cameron would become the first Republican elected to the office of U.S. Senator from Arizona since the state joined the union in 1912. The same year, Republican Governor Thomas Edward Campbell was reelected to a second term.
The 25th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was the final session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature. The session convened in Phoenix, Arizona, and ran from January 18 till March 18, 1909. Its actions include the creation of Greenlee County, establishing the Arizona Pioneers' Home, and requiring primary elections.
The 1916 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst ran for reelection to a second term, defeating Republican former Territorial Governor Joseph H. Kibbey in the general election by a comfortable margin.