1934 United States Senate special election in Montana

1934 United States Senate special election in Montana

←  1930 November 6, 1934 1936  →

Nominee James E. Murray Scott Leavitt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 116,965 77,307 Percentage 59.66% 39.43%

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James E. Murray, Chairman of the State Advisory Board of the Public Works Administration, former Silver Bow County Attorney
• James F. O'Connor, former Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives
• John E. Erickson, incumbent United States Senator
• Louis P. Donovan
• John A. Lovelace
• W. W. Hamilton

Results

Democratic Party primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James E. Murray	19,640	24.89%
	Democratic	James F. O'Connor	18,194	23.05%
	Democratic	John E. Erickson (incumbent)	17,440	22.10%
	Democratic	Louis P. Donovan	10,212	12.94%
	Democratic	John A. Lovelace	8,649	10.96%
	Democratic	W. W. Hamilton	4,788	6.07%
Total votes			78,923	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Scott Leavitt, former United States Congressman from Montana's 2nd congressional district
• Wellington D. Rankin, former United States Attorney for the District of Montana, former Attorney General of Montana
• Leonard C. Young
• James A. Jergenson

Results

Republican Primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Scott Leavitt	25,479	47.03%
	Republican	Wellington D. Rankin	18,150	33.50%
	Republican	Leonard C. Young	6,202	11.45%
	Republican	James A. Jergenson	4,344	8.02%
Total votes			54,175	100.00%

General election

Results

United States Senate special election in Montana, 1934 ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	James E. Murray	116,965	59.66%	−0.67%
	Republican	Scott Leavitt	77,307	39.43%	+1.56%
	Socialist	John F. Duffy	1,779	0.91%	+0.34%
Majority			39,658	20.23%	−2.22%
Turnout			196,051
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "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.