1926 United States Senate election in Colorado

1926 United States Senate election in Colorado

←  1924 (special) November 2, 1926 1932  →

Nominee Charles W. Waterman William Ellery Sweet Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 149,585 138,113 Percentage 50.25% 46.39%

Results by county Waterman:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Sweet:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Rice W. Means Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles W. Waterman Republican

The 1926 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 1926. Incumbent Republican Senator Rice W. Means ran for re-election, but he was defeated in the Republican primary by Charles W. Waterman, a prominent attorney and party leader. In the general election, Waterman faced former Governor William Ellery Sweet, the Democratic nominee. Despite the nationwide Democratic trend, as well as the landslide victory for Democrats in the gubernatorial election, Waterman ended up defeating Sweet by a thin margin. Waterman would not end up serving a full term in the Senate, and died in office on August 27, 1932.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William Ellery Sweet, former Governor of Colorado
• Paul P. Prosser, Denver attorney, former Howard County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney ^[1]
• Frank J. Hayes, former President of the United Mine Workers ^[2]

Dropped out

• Harry L. Lubers, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives ^[3]

Defeated at convention

• H. C. Fink, Montrose attorney ^[4]

Campaign

At the Democratic convention, a crowded slate of candidates was slightly winnowed down. Paul P. Prosser, a prominent Denver attorney who had previously been elected as the Howard County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney, placed first with 569 1/2 votes. He was followed by former Governor William Ellery Sweet with 279 1/2, former State House Speaker Harry L. Lubers with 133, and former labor leader Frank J. Hayes with 121. Attorney H. C. Fink received only 18 votes and was eliminated. ^[5] Shortly after the convention, Lubers dropped out, concluding that he lacked the financial resources to compete in the primary. ^[6] Sweet ended up defeating Prosser and Hayes by a decisive margin, though he fell just short of winning a majority.

Results

Democratic primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William E. Sweet	26,491	49.27
	Democratic	Paul P. Prosser	19,583	36.42
	Democratic	Frank J. Hayes	7,689	14.30
Total votes			53,763	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Charles W. Waterman, attorney, 1924 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate
• Rice W. Means, incumbent U.S. Senator
• George A. Luxford, Denver County Court Judge ^[8]
• Mortimer W. Spaulding, Denver attorney ^[9]

Results

Republican primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles W. Waterman	57,537	49.82
	Republican	Rice W. Means (inc.)	41,721	36.12
	Republican	George A. Luxford	14,330	12.41
	Republican	Mortimer W. Spaulding	1,906	1.65
Total votes			115,494	100.00

General election

Results

1926 United States Senate election in Colorado ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Charles W. Waterman	149,585	50.25%	+0.08%
	Democratic	William Ellery Sweet	138,113	46.39%	+2.72%
	Farmer–Labor	Morton Alexander	5,829	1.96%	−3.56%
	Socialist	Frank H. Rice	2,218	0.75%	+0.11%
	People's Constitutional Rights	James A. Ownbey	1,091	0.37%	—
	Communist	James A. Ayres	859	0.29%	—
Majority			11,472	3.85%	−2.64%
Turnout			297,695
	Republican hold

References

1. "Paul P. Prosser Seeking Senatorship as Democrat Free from Factionalism". Longmont Daily Times. Longmont, Colorado. June 30, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
2. "Labor Leader Wants to Be U.S. Senator". Aspen Daily Times. Aspen, Colorado. April 12, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
3. "Harry Lubers Enters Senatorial Fight". Leadville Herald Democrat. Leadville, Colorado. May 9, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
4. "H. C. Fink Out for U.S. Senate". Fort Collins Coloradoan . Fort Collins, Colorado. August 6, 1926. p. 7. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
5. "Democratic Candidates Designated". Longmont Daily Times. Longmont, Colorado. August 13, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
6. "Primary Election Costs". Eagle Valley Enterprise. Eagle, Colorado. August 27, 1926. p. 4. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
7. Armstrong, Charles M. (1926). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Fourteenth Day of September, A. D. 1926 and at the General Election Held on the Second Day of November, A. D. 1926 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
8. "Challenge to Governor". Telluride Daily Journal. Telluride, Colorado. August 9, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
9. "Spaulding Wants Toga!". Aspen Daily Times. Aspen, Colorado. July 30, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.