1930 United States Senate election in Colorado

1930 United States Senate election in Colorado

←  1924 November 4, 1930 1936  →

Nominee Edward P. Costigan George H. Shaw Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 180,028 137,487 Percentage 55.85% 42.65%

County results Costigan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Shaw:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Lawrence C. Phipps Republican Elected U.S. Senator Edward P. Costigan Democratic

The 1930 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 4, 1930. Republican Senator Lawrence C. Phipps declined to run for re-election, resulting in an open race to replace him. Edward P. Costigan, one of the founding members of the Progressive Party in Colorado and a former member of the United States Tariff Commission, won the Democratic nomination and faced attorney George H. Shaw, the Republican nominee, in the general election. Aided by the nationwide Democratic landslide, Costigan handily defeated Shaw, becoming the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Colorado since 1914.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Edward P. Costigan, former Member of the United States Tariff Commission
• Morrison Shafroth, attorney and son of former Governor and U.S. Senator John F. Shafroth, 1924 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate
• James A. Marsh, former City Attorney of Denver ^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edward P. Costigan	24,698	51.61
	Democratic	Morrison Shafroth	15,819	33.06
	Democratic	James A. Marsh	7,337	15.33
Total votes			47,854	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• George H. Shaw, Denver attorney ^[3]
• William V. Hodges, Denver attorney ^[4]

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George H. Shaw	63,112	56.27
	Republican	William V. Hodges	49,043	43.73
Total votes			112,155	100.00

General election

Results

1930 United States Senate special election in Colorado ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward P. Costigan	180,028	55.85%	+11.96%
	Republican	George H. Shaw	137,487	42.65%	−7.54%
	Socialist	Morton Alexander	1,745	0.54%	+0.05%
	Farmer–Labor	H. H. Marrs	1,367	0.42%	−4.62%
	Communist	James Allander	924	0.29%	−0.09%
	Democratic Liberal	Frank H. Rice	451	0.14%	–
	Commonwealth Party	James Allander	339	0.11%	–
Majority			42,541	13.20%	+6.90%
Turnout			322,341
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

1. "James Marsh Enters Race for Senatorship". Colorado Transcript. Golden, Colorado. July 17, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
2. Armstrong, Charles M. (1930). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Ninth Day of September, A. D. 1930 and at the General Election Held on the Fourth Day of November, A. D. 1930 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
3. "Shaw Will Be Candidate for U. S. Senator". Walsenburg World. Walsenburg, Colorado. April 8, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
4. "Republican Candidate for U. S. Senator: William V. Hodges". Aurora Democrat. Aurora, Colorado. April 11, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved July 6, 2022.