1940 United States Senate special election in Kentucky

1940 United States Senate special election in Kentucky

←  1936 November 5, 1940 1942  →

Nominee Happy Chandler Walter B. Smith Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 561,151 401,812 Percentage 58.27% 41.73%

County results Chandler:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Smith:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. senator before election Happy Chandler Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Happy Chandler Democratic

The 1940 United States Senate special election in Kentucky took place on November 5, 1940, to complete the unexpired term of M. M. Logan. Interim appointee Happy Chandler was re-elected to complete the term, defeating Republican Walter B. Smith.

Background

Senator M. M. Logan died on October 3, 1939. Governor of Kentucky Happy Chandler, whose term was set to expire in 1940, resigned his office so that Lieutenant Governor (and Democratic nominee for Governor) Keen Johnson could appoint him to the Senate. Johnson appointed Chandler to fill the vacant seat until a successor could be duly elected, and the special election was scheduled for November 5, 1940, concurrent with the general election.

Primary election

Candidates

• Happy Chandler, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Charles R. Farnsley, member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
• M. E. Gilbert
• Jack Harrod
• John J. Thobe
• Joseph G. Thornbury

Results

Primary results by county

  Chandler

•   50%–60%
•   60%–70%
•   70%–80%
•   80%–90%
•   90%–100%

  Farnsley

•   80%–90%

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Happy Chandler (incumbent)	176,520	79.19
	Democratic	Charles R. Farnsley	26,061	11.69
	Democratic	M. E. Gilbert	7,788	3.49
	Democratic	Joseph G. Thornbury	4,909	2.20
	Democratic	Jack Harrod	4,189	1.88
	Democratic	John J. Thobe	3,439	1.54
Total votes			222,906	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Happy Chandler, Governor of Kentucky and candidate for Senate in 1938 (Democratic)
• Walter B. Smith (Republican)

Results

1940 U.S. Senate election in Kentucky ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Happy Chandler (Incumbent)	561,151	58.27%
	Republican	Walter B. Smith	401,812	41.73%
Total votes			962,963	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1940 United States Senate elections

References

1. Jewell, Malcolm E. Kentucky Votes. Vol. 1. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 36–37. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
2. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1941). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1940" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.