1928 United States Senate election in Texas

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1928 United States Senate election in Texas
Flag of Texas.svg
  1922 November 6, 1928 1934  
  TomconnallyTX.jpg T. M. Kennerly.jpg
Nominee Tom Connally T. M. Kennerly
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote566,139129,910
Percentage81.24%18.64%

1928 United States Senate election in Texas results map by county.svg
County Results [1]

Connally:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Kennerly:      50–60%     60–70%

Contents

No vote:      

U.S. senator before election

Earle Mayfield
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Tom Connally
Democratic

The 1928 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 6, 1928. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Earle Mayfield ran for re-election to a second term.

Mayfield drew several primary challengers, including former governor Oscar Branch Colquitt and U.S. Representatives Tom Connally and Thomas L. Blanton. [2] [3] The candidates ran on issues such as public utilities, transportation infrastructure, immigration, and agriculture, as well as several of the candidates' records in the House and Senate. [4] [5] The number of high-profile candidates in the race made a runoff almost certain. Mayfield campaigned very little prior to the runoff, which he was confident he would make, as to not alienate the supporters of the candidates who might be eliminated in the first round. [6] Mayfield won a plurality of the vote in the first round, but he failed to win a majority, forcing him into a runoff with the second place finisher, Tom Connally. [7]

Mayfield, who in his previous race had been supported by the Ku Klux Klan, was very ideologically similar to Connally. Despite having been defeated by him in the Democratic primary six years prior, former Governor Pa Ferguson endorsed Mayfield against Connally, considering him to be the lesser of two evils. [8] Despite this endorsement, Connally defeated Mayfield in the primary. [9] The Texas Republican Party nominated attorney T. M. Kennerly to run against him. [10] Connally easily defeated Kennerly in the general election, despite Republican Herbert Hoover carrying the state in the concurrent presidential election. [11] [12] [13]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Results

1928 Democratic U.S. Senate primary [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Earle B. Mayfield (incumbent) 200,246 29.66%
Democratic Tom Connally 178,09126.38%
Democratic Alvin M. Owsley 131,75519.52%
Democratic Thomas L. Blanton 126,75818.78%
Democratic Minnie Fisher Cunningham 28,9444.29%
Democratic A. Jeff McLemore 9,2441.37%
Total votes675,038 100.00%

Runoff

1928 Democratic U.S. Senate runoff [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tom Connally 320,071 55.39%
Democratic Earle B. Mayfield (incumbent)257,74744.61%
Total votes577,818 100.00%

General election

Results

1928 United States Senate election in Texas [16] [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Tom Connally 566,139 81.24% Increase2.svg14.34
Republican T. M. Kennerly129,91018.64%Decrease2.svg14.46
Socialist David Curran6900.10%N/A
Communist John Rust1140.02%N/A
Total votes696,853 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  2. "BLANTON, COLQUITT FOR SENATE: 2 ANNOUNCE THEY OPPOSE MAYFIELD". The Austin Statesman. January 18, 1928. p. 1. ProQuest   1611273079 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  3. "WET PLANNING RACE AGAINST MAYFIELD". The Austin Statesman. January 20, 1928. p. 1. ProQuest   1643860738 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  4. Shearer, Gordon K (January 31, 1928). "MAYFIELD READY FOR HOT RACE FOR SENATE". The Austin Statesman. p. 9. ProQuest   1611274298 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  5. "Texas Senatorial Race to Thresh National Issues: Immigration and Utility Fight Enliven Race For Mayfield's Job". The Austin American. February 19, 1928. p. 1. ProQuest   1620924251 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  6. "Mayfield to Let Others Fight In First Primaries: Earle Avoids Alienating Any Opponent's Run-Off Votes". The Austin American. February 26, 1928. p. 1. ProQuest   1611550136 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  7. "Connally Vote Near Mayfield's In Texas Race: Run-Off for Senator Sure Moody Renominated and Smith Enemies Defeated". July 30, 1928. p. 12. ProQuest   1113467238 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  8. "FERGUSON BACKS MAYFIELD: EARLE PICKED AS LESSER OF 2 EVILS". The Austin Statesman. August 4, 1928. p. 1. ProQuest   1611322373 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  9. "Connally Beats Mayfield in Texas Primary; Wins Senate Seat Choice; Leading by 50,000". The New York Times. August 27, 1928. p. 3. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  10. "Kennerly Named by Texas G.O.P. to Run for Senate: Holmes Nominated to Oppose Moody for Governor". The Christian Science Monitor. August 15, 1928. p. 4. ProQuest   512395315 . Retrieved April 28, 2023 via ProQuest.
  11. "REPUBLICAN GRIP ON CONGRESS FIRM". The New York Times . November 11, 1928. pp. 33–34. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  12. "CONNALLY REPORTS INEXPENSIVE RACE". The Austin Statesman. November 30, 1928. p. 1. ProQuest   1611343494 . Retrieved May 3, 2023 via ProQuest.
  13. "Texas Gives Hoover Lead in Early Returns: With 132 Counties of 253 In, His Vote Is 95,158 to 95,020 for Smith Moody Wins by 300,000 Close Race for President First in State's History". New York Herald Tribune. November 7, 1928. p. 2. ProQuest   1113399638 . Retrieved May 3, 2023 via ProQuest.
  14. "Our Campaigns – TX US Senate – D Primary Race – July 28, 1928". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  15. "Our Campaigns – TX US Senate – D Primary Race – August 25, 1928". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  16. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1929). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1928" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
  17. "Our Campaigns – TX US Senate Race – Nov 04, 1928". www.ourcampaigns.com.