1932 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

1932 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

←  1926 November 8, 1932 1938  →

Nominee Fred H. Brown George H. Moses Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 98,766 96,649 Percentage 50.35% 49.27%

Brown:     50–60% Moses:     50–60%     60–70%

Senator before election George H. Moses Republican Elected Senator Fred H. Brown Democratic

The 1932 United States Senate election in New Hampshire took place on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Republican Senator George H. Moses ran for re-election to a third full term but was defeated by Democratic former governor Fred H. Brown. Although the state voted for incumbent Republicans Herbert Hoover and John G. Winant in the concurrent presidential election and gubernatorial election, respectively, Moses ran significantly behind the top of the ticket and was narrowly defeated by Brown. ^[1] The result was attributed to Brown's personal popularity and Moses's age. ^[1]

Background

Incumbent Senator George H. Moses was first elected in 1918 to fill the unexpired term of Jacob H. Gallinger and re-elected in 1920 and 1926. Entering 1932, he pledged to retire at the expiration of the next term and referred to this race as his "sunset campaign." ^[1]

As a Senator, Moses was noted for biting remarks which had alienated the progressive wing of his own party, whom he referred to in a Senate speech as "sons of the wild jackass." ^[1] By contrast, Brown had a strong public profile as a former player for the Boston Braves and governor from 1923 to 1925. He had been put forward as a candidate for the presidential nomination of at the 1924 Democratic National Convention. ^[1] In January 1932, Democratic Party supporters from Strafford County began recruiting Brown to oppose Moses. ^[2] He defeated two lesser candidates for the Democratic nomination in September. ^{[3] [4]}

Republican primary

Candidates

• George H. Moses, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1918

Results

1932 Republican U.S. Senate primary ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George H. Moses (incumbent)	45,443	100.00%
Total votes			45,443	100.00%
		Blank ballots	16,257	26.35%
Turnout			61,700	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Fred H. Brown, former Governor of New Hampshire
• Joseph A. Coutremarsh, Lebanon dentist ^[6]
• Timothy F. O'Connor, Manchester attorney

Results

1932 Democratic U.S. Senate primary ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Fred H. Brown	14,598	57.13%
	Democratic	Timothy F. O'Connor	8,239	32.24%
	Democratic	Joseph A. Coutremarsh	2,715	10.63%
Total votes			25,552	100.00%
		Blank ballots	4,701	15.54%
Turnout			30,253	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Fred H. Brown, former Governor of New Hampshire (Democratic)
• Fred B. Chase (Independent)
• Charles W. Greene (Independent)
• George H. Moses, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1918 (Republican)

Results

The Manchester Union , which supported Moses, conceded his defeat on November 9. Brown's largest margin came from his home town of Somersworth, which he had won by a margin of roughly 1,900 votes and had presided over for a decade as mayor. ^[1]

1932 U.S. Senate election in New Hampshire ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Fred H. Brown	98,766	50.35%	12.67
	Republican	George H. Moses (incumbent)	96,649	49.27%	13.05
	Independent	Charles W. Greene	533	0.27%	N/A
	Independent	Fred B. Chase	228	0.12%	N/A
Total votes			196,176	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. "MOSES IS DEFEATED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; Senator Loses to Ex-Gov. Brown as Hoover and Gov. Winant Carry the State". The New York Times. November 9, 1932. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
2. "Ex-Democratic Governor Boomed For U.S. Senate". The Journal. Associated Press. January 19, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved March 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Political Spotlight of Week Focused on State Primaries" . The Times Dispatch. September 11, 1932. p. 15. Retrieved March 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Davidson is Defeated By Chas. W. Tobey" . The Caledonian-Record. Associated Press. September 14, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
5. Manual for the General Court. Concord, N.H.: Department of State. 1933. p. 174.
6. "National Affairs: First Primary". TIME. 23 March 1936. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
7. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1933). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1932" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.