1932 United States Senate election in Kansas

1932 United States Senate election in Kansas

←  1930 (special) November 8, 1932 1938  →

Nominee George McGill Benjamin S. Paulen George A. Brown Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 328,992 302,809 65,583 Percentage 45.67% 42.03% 9.10%

County results McGill:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Paulsen:     40–50%     50–60%

U.S. senator before election George McGill Democratic Elected U.S. Senator George McGill Democratic

The 1932 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Democratic Senator George McGill, who was first elected in a 1930 special election, ran for re-election to his first full term. McGill defeated former U.S. Representative Chauncey B. Little in the Democratic primary and faced former Governor Benjamin S. Paulen, the Republican nominee, in the general election, along with independent candidates George Alfred Brown and J. F. William Renker and Socialist nominee E. Haldeman-Julius. McGill ultimately won re-election, winning 46% of the vote to Paulen's 42% and Brown's 9%, marking what is to date the last Democratic victory in a U.S. Senate election in Kansas.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• George McGill, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Chauncey B. Little, former U.S. Representative from Kansas's 2nd congressional district

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George McGill (inc.)	92,474	67.46%
	Democratic	Chauncey B. Little	44,613	32.54%
Total votes			137,087	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Benjamin S. Paulen, former Governor of Kansas
• Joe H. Mercer, State Livestock Commissioner ^[2]
• C. C. Isely, Dodge City lumber and grain dealer ^[3]
• James F. Getty, former State Senator, 1930 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate ^[4]
• Tom Harley, Wichita attorney ^[5]
• E. P. Fuller, Iola real estate agent ^[6]
• D. E. Dunne, former Comanche County Clerk ^[7]

Results

Republican primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Benjamin S. Paulen	103,808	36.42%
	Republican	Joe H. Mercer	61,912	21.72%
	Republican	C. C. Isely	46,635	16.36%
	Republican	James F. Getty	34,872	12.24%
	Republican	Tom Harley	17,731	6.22%
	Republican	E. P. Fuller	10,318	3.62%
	Republican	D. E. Dunne	9,734	3.42%
Total votes			285,010	100.00%

Socialist primary

Candidates

• E. Haldeman-Julius, writer and publisher

Results

Socialist primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	E. Haldeman-Julius	189	100.00%
Total votes			189	100.00%

General election

Results

1932 United States Senate election in Kansas ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	George McGill (inc.)	328,992	45.67%	−4.37%
	Republican	Benjamin S. Paulen	302,809	42.03%	−5.91%
	Independent	George Alfred Brown	65,583	9.10%	—
	Independent	J. F. William Renker	14,550	2.02%	—
	Socialist	E. Haldeman-Julius	8,474	1.18%	−0.84%
Majority			26,183	3.63%	+1.55%
Total votes			720,408	100.00%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1932 United States Senate elections

References

1. Cornell, E. A. (1932). Twenty-Eighth Biennial Report of the Secretary of State 1931-1932. Topeka, Kansas: Kansas State Printing Plant. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
2. "173 Candidates File for State Election Before Books Close". The Wichita Eagle . Wichita, Kansas. June 21, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
3. "Isely Out for Senator". Morning Chronicle. Manhattan, Kansas. February 13, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
4. "Paulen Enters Senate Battle". The Manhattan Mercury . Manhattan, Kansas. January 13, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
5. "Harley Into Senate Race on Wet Plank". The Wichita Eagle . Wichita, Kansas. April 13, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
6. "Fuller to File for U.S. Senate". Iola Register. Iola, Kansas. January 26, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
7. "D. E. Duane Makes Announcement of Race for Senate". The Wichita Eagle . Wichita, Kansas. June 8, 1932. p. 5, 7. Retrieved March 3, 2025.