1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado

1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado

←  1920 November 4, 1924 1926  →

Nominee Rice W. Means Morrison Shafroth Charles T. Philp Party Republican Democratic Farmer–Labor Popular vote 159,353 138,714 17,542 Percentage 50.17% 43.67% 5.52%

County results Means:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Shafroth:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election Alva B. Adams Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Rice W. Means Republican

The 1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado took place on November 4, 1924, to fill the remainder of the term for which Samuel D. Nicholson was elected in 1920. Nicholson died in office on March 24, 1923, and Democratic Governor William Ellery Sweet appointed Alva B. Adams, a prominent Pueblo attorney, to fill the vacancy. Adams, however, declined to be a candidate in the special election, instead challenging incumbent Republican Senator Lawrence C. Phipps in the regular election the same year.

In the Republican primary, Rice W. Means, the City Attorney of Denver, defeated attorney Charles W. Waterman and state prison official Charles T. Moynihan, reportedly aided in part by furtive help from the state's Ku Klux Klan organization. ^[1] Meanwhile, attorney Morrison Shafroth, the son of John F. Shafroth, defeated former Congressman Benjamin C. Hilliard in the Democratic primary, advancing to the general election. Aided by President Calvin Coolidge's landslide victory in the state, Means, as well as most of the rest of the state Republican ticket, won handily.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Morrison Shafroth, attorney and son of former Governor and U.S. Senator John F. Shafroth ^[2]
• Benjamin C. Hilliard, former U.S. Congressman

Results

Democratic primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Morrison Shafroth	34,478	72.48
	Democratic	Benjamin C. Hilliard	13,089	27.52
Total votes			47,567	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Rice W. Means, former Adams County Judge, 1920 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate
• Charles W. Waterman, attorney ^[4]
• Charles T. Moynihan, Chairman of the State Board of Corrections ^[5]

Results

Republican primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rice W. Means	48,778	43.04
	Republican	Charles W. Waterman	38,903	34.33
	Republican	Charles T. Moynihan	25,655	22.64
Total votes			113,336	100.00

General election

Results

1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rice W. Means	159,353	50.17%	−4.35%
	Democratic	Morrison Shafroth	138,714	43.67%	+4.37%
	Farmer–Labor	Charles T. Philp	17,542	5.52%	+2.37%
	Socialist	Clyde Robinson	2,012	0.63%	–
Majority			20,639	6.50%	−8.71%
Turnout			317,621
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

1. Quillen, Ed (May 22, 2003). "Welcome to Kolorado, Klan Kountry". Colorado Springs Independent . Colorado Springs, Colorado. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
2. "Sweet May Prefer to Run for Governor". Leadville Herald Democrat. Leadville, Colorado. January 6, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
3. Milliken, Carl S. (1924). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Ninth Day of September, A. D. 1924 and at the General Election Held on the Fourth Day of November, A. D. 1924 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
4. "Waterman Candidate for Short Term". Brush Tribune. Brush, Colorado. July 18, 1924. p. 3. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
5. "Challenge to Governor". Leadville Herald Democrat. Leadville, Colorado. May 24, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2022.