1934 United States Senate election in Arizona

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1934 United States Senate election in Arizona
Flag of Arizona.svg
  1928 November 3, 1934 1940  
  Teacher and scholar meet again. Washington, D.C., April 1. Memories of school days were recalled today when Dean Harry M. Bates of the Michigan Law School, faced Senator Henry F. Ashurst, LCCN2016871464 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Henry F. Ashurst Joseph Edward Thompson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote67,64824,075
Percentage72.03%25.63%

1934 United States Senate election in Arizona results map by county.svg
County results
Ashurst:      60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

United States Senator before election

Henry F. Ashurst
Democratic

Elected United States Senator

Henry F. Ashurst
Democratic

The 1934 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 3, 1934. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst ran for reelection to a fifth term, defeating Republican nominee Joseph Edward Thompson in the general election by a wide margin.

Contents

Thompson's candidacy came at an inopportune time, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt had just begun his first term, and with the country in the midst of the Great Depression, the Democrats were far more popular than the Republicans at the time. Additionally, Ashurst, who had served continuously as U.S. Senator since Arizona joined the union in 1912, presented an even greater challenge to anyone who would have hoped to defeat him for reelection, due to his seniority, and Thompson was fairly unknown in state politics, having never served in government prior to running for U.S. Senate.

Ashurst notably faced opposition in the Democratic primary, however, from former Secretary of State Sidney P. Osborn, who later became Governor of Arizona for several terms. This would be Ashurst's final electoral success, as he would lose the Democratic primary in 1940 to Ernest McFarland.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Primary results by county:
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Ashurst
30-40%
40-50%
50-60% 1934 US Senate election in Arizona Democratic primary.svg
Primary results by county:
  Ashurst
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Henry F. Ashurst (incumbent) 36,646 40.7%
Democratic Sidney P. Osborn24,06526.7%
Democratic Renz L. Jennings16,74318.6%
Democratic William Coxon8,6539.6%
Democratic Charles H. Rutherford4,0264.5%
Total votes90,133 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

United States Senate election in Arizona, 1934 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Henry F. Ashurst (incumbent) 67,648 72.03% +17.78%
Republican Joseph Edward Thompson24,07525.63%−20.12%
Socialist Charles D. Pinkerton1,5911.69%
Communist Ramon Garcia6060.65%
Majority 43,57346.39%+37.90%
Turnout 93,920
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

  1. "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate - D Primary Race - Sep 11, 1934".
  2. "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1934".