1920 United States Senate election in California

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1920 United States Senate election in California
	County results; Shortridge: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 80–90%; Phelan: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
U.S. senator before election; James Duval Phelan ; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator; Samuel Morgan Shortridge ; Republican

Last updated August 17, 2025

The 1920 United States Senate election in California was held on November 6, 1920. Incumbent Democratic Senator James Duval Phelan ran for re-election but was defeated by Republican attorney Samuel Morgan Shortridge.

Republican primary

Candidates

William Kent, U.S. Representative from Marin County
Samuel Morgan Shortridge, attorney and candidate for Senate in 1914
Albert Joseph Wallace, Lieutenant Governor

Results

1920 Republican Senate primary^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Samuel Morgan Shortridge	132,165	40.40%
	Republican	William Kent	110,269	33.71%
	Republican	Albert Joseph Wallace	84,711	25.89%
Total votes			327,145	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Elvina S. Beals (Socialist), nominee for Lt. Governor in 1918
James S. Edwards (Prohibition), nominee for Secretary of State in 1920 and Congress in 1910, 1914, and 1916
James Duval Phelan (Democratic), incumbent Senator
Samuel Morgan Shortridge (Republican), attorney and candidate for Senate in 1914

Results

1920 United States Senate election in California^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Samuel Morgan Shortridge	447,835	49.01%
	Democratic	James Duval Phelan (incumbent)	371,580	40.67%
	Prohibition	James S. Edwards	57,768	6.32%
	Socialist	Elvina S. Beals	36,545	4.00%
Total votes			886,013	100.00%

References

↑ "CA US Senate, 1920". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
↑ "CA US Senate, 1920". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.

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[1] "CA US Senate, 1920". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.

[2] "CA US Senate, 1920". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.

[1]

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1920 United States Senate election in California

Contents

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Results

See also

References