1934 United States Senate special election in Montana

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1934 United States Senate special election in Montana
Flag of Montana (1905-1981).svg
  1930 November 6, 1934 1936  
  M001108.jpg ScottLeavitt.jpg
Nominee James E. Murray Scott Leavitt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote116,96577,307
Percentage59.66%39.43%

1934 US Senate special election in Montana results.svg
County results
Murray:      40-50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Leavitt:      50–60%
     No data

U.S. senator before election

John E. Erickson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

James E. Murray
Democratic

The 1934 United States Senate special election in Montana took place on November 6, 1934. Incumbent United States Senator John E. Erickson, who, as governor, had appointed himself to the seat in 1933 upon the death of Thomas J. Walsh, ran for re-election. However, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by James E. Murray, who was the former Silver Bow County Attorney and the Chairman of the State Advisory Board of the Public Works Administration. In the general election, Murray defeated Scott Leavitt, a former United States Congressman who had represented Montana's 2nd congressional district, and an independent candidate in a landslide to win his first term in the Senate.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James E. Murray 19,640 24.89%
Democratic James F. O'Connor 18,19423.05%
Democratic John E. Erickson (incumbent)17,44022.10%
Democratic Louis P. Donovan10,21212.94%
Democratic John A. Lovelace8,64910.96%
Democratic W. W. Hamilton4,7886.07%
Total votes78,923 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Scott Leavitt 25,479 47.03%
Republican Wellington D. Rankin 18,15033.50%
Republican Leonard C. Young6,20211.45%
Republican James A. Jergenson4,3448.02%
Total votes54,175 100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate special election in Montana, 1934 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic James E. Murray 116,965 59.66% −0.67%
Republican Scott Leavitt 77,30739.43%+1.56%
Socialist John F. Duffy1,7790.91%+0.34%
Majority39,65820.23%−2.22%
Turnout 196,051
Democratic hold Swing

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References

  1. 1 2 "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election, Held in the State of Montana, July 17, 1934". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1934" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.