1918 United States Senate election in Kansas

1918 United States Senate election in Kansas

←  1913 November 5, 1918 1924  →

Nominee Arthur Capper William H. Thompson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 281,931 149,300 Percentage 63.69% 33.73%

County results Capper:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Thompson:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election William H. Thompson Democratic Elected U.S. senator Arthur Capper Republican

The 1918 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on November 5, 1918. Incumbent Democratic Senator William H. Thompson ran for re-election to a second term in the first popular election for this seat after the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment. Thompson was challenged by Governor Arthur Capper, the Republican nominee. Amid a nationwide Republican wave, Thompson lost to Capper in a landslide, winning just 34% of the vote to Capper's 64%.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William H. Thompson, incumbent U.S. Senator
• George W. Marble, publisher of the Fort Scott Tribune-Monitor ^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William H. Thompson (inc.)	29,080	75.36%
	Democratic	George W. Marble	9,510	24.64%
Total votes			38,590	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Arthur Capper, Governor of Kansas
• Walter R. Stubbs, former Governor of Kansas
• Charles F. Scott, U.S. Representative from Kansas's 2nd congressional district
• Joseph L. Bristow, former U.S. Senator

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arthur Capper	103,120	59.45%
	Republican	Walter R. Stubbs	31,614	18.22%
	Republican	Charles F. Scott	24,826	14.31%
	Republican	Joseph L. Bristow	13,911	8.02%
Total votes			173,471	100.00%

Socialist primary

Candidates

• Eva Harding, physician ^[3]

Results

Socialist primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	Eva Harding	1,245	100.00%
Total votes			1,245	100.00%

General election

Results

1918 United States Senate election in Kansas ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arthur Capper	281,931	63.69%
	Democratic	William H. Thompson (inc.)	149,300	33.73%
	Socialist	Eva Harding	11,429	2.58%
	Write-in		4	0.00%
Majority			132,631	29.96%
Total votes			442,664	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

See also

• 1918 United States Senate elections

References

1. "Marble in the Race". The Hutchinson News . Hutchinson, Kansas. June 26, 1918. p. 13. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
2. Botkin, J.T. (1918). Twenty-First Biennial Report of the Secretary of State of the State of Kansas 1917-'18. Topeka, Kansas: Kansas State Printing Plant. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
3. "Dr. Harding a Candidate". Leavenworth Times . Leavenworth, Kansas. June 27, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2025.