1926 United States Senate election in California

1926 United States Senate election in California

←  1920 November 2, 1926 1932  →

Nominee Samuel Morgan Shortridge John B. Elliott Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 670,128 391,599 Percentage 63.12% 36.88%

County results Shortridge:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. senator before election Samuel Morgan Shortridge Republican Elected U.S. Senator Samuel Morgan Shortridge Republican

The 1926 United States Senate election in California was held on November 2, 1926. Incumbent Republican Senator Samuel Morgan Shortridge was re-elected to a second term.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Robert M. Clarke, member of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission
• Walter Lineberger, U.S. Representative from Long Beach
• Samuel Morgan Shortridge, incumbent Senator

Campaign

Hiram Johnson, the state's senior senator and a progressive maverick, recruited Clarke as an opponent to his own colleague and fellow Republican. Johnson sought to unseat Shortridge in order to undermine President Calvin Coolidge, whom he opposed, and to balance the Senate delegation with a native of Southern California, in order to boost his own re-election in 1928. ^[1] (Johnson also supported C. C. Young for the governorship against incumbent Friend Richardson.) ^[1]

Shortridge ran his campaign on his support for Coolidge, protective tariffs, and proposals for a World Court. ^[1] The primary was bitter and considered tantamount to election, given minimal registration for the Democratic Party in the state. ^[1]

Results

1926 Republican Senate primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Samuel Morgan Shortridge (incumbent)	339,827	48.04%
	Republican	Robert M. Clarke	239,011	33.79%
	Republican	Walter Lineberger	128,488	18.17%
Total votes			707,326	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Isidore B. Dockweiler, former Member of the United States Board of Indian Commissioners
• John B. Elliott, former Collector of the Port of Los Angeles

Campaign

Elliott was endorsed by former Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo, who would win this seat himself in 1932.

Results

1926 Democratic Senate primary ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John B. Elliott	77,841	60.18%
	Democratic	Isidore B. Dockweiler	51,507	39.82%
Total votes			129,348	100.00%

General election

Results

1926 United States Senate election in California ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Samuel Morgan Shortridge (incumbent)	670,128	63.12%
	Democratic	John B. Elliott	391,599	36.88%
Total votes			1,061,727	100.00%

See also

• 1926 United States Senate elections

References

1. Holman, Alfred Holman special To the New York Times by Alfred (September 2, 1926). "SHORTRIDGE WINS SWEEPING VICTORY; Coolidge Senator Defeats His Anti-World Court Opponent in California Primary. DEMOCRATIC FIGHT CLOSE But Elliott, McAdoo Candidate for the Senate. Increases His Lead Over Dockweiler. SHORTRIDGE WINS SWEEPING VICTORY". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 21, 2025.
2. "CA US Senate – R Primary, 1926". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
3. "CA US Senate – D Primary, 1926". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
4. "CA US Senate, 1926". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.