1944 United States Senate election in Colorado

1944 United States Senate election in Colorado

←  1942 (special) November 7, 1944 1950  →

Nominee Eugene Millikin Barney L. Whatley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 277,410 214,335 Percentage 56.06% 43.31%

Results by county Millikin:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Whatley:     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Eugene Millikin Republican Elected U.S. Senator Eugene Millikin Republican

The 1944 United States Senate special election in Colorado took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Republican senator Eugene Millikin, who was first appointed to fill Alva B. Adams's seat in 1941 and re-elected at the ensuing special election in 1942, ran for re-election to his first full term. In the general election, he faced wealthy Denver attorney Barney L. Whatley. Millikin benefited from the strong Republican performance in Colorado—Thomas E. Dewey and Governor John C. Vivian both won their respective elections by decisive margins—and cruised to a landslide victory over Whatley.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Barney L. Whatley, Denver attorney, former chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, former District Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District ^[1]

Campaign

Though Colorado remained competitive for both parties in state and national politics, the state Democratic Party had few candidates interested in running against Senator Millikin. Though the party had attempted to recruit James G. Patton, the president of the National Farmers Union, to run, he declined to do so. Barney L. Whatley, a prominent Denver attorney who served as district attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1913 to 1921 and more recently as chairman of the state party, initially declined to run, but ultimately accepted the nomination, saying that someone "must carry the issue of this campaign to the crossroads of the state." ^[2]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barney L. Whatley	31,625	100.00
Total votes			31,625	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Eugene Millikin, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Republican primary results ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eugene D. Millikin (inc.)	40,868	100.00
Total votes			40,868	100.00

General election

Results

1944 United States Senate election in Colorado ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Eugene Millikin (inc.)	277,410	56.06%	−0.07%
	Democratic	Barney L. Whatley	214,335	43.31%	+1.17%
	Socialist	Carle Whitehead	3,143	0.64%	−0.61%
Majority			63,075	12.75%	−1.23%
Turnout			494,888
	Republican hold

References

1. "FR's Peace Plan Chief Issue Between Senate Candidates". Fort Collins Coloradoan . Fort Collins, Colorado. November 3, 1944. p. 5. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
2. "Democrats Nominate Whatley and Best". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. July 27, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
3. Morrison, Walter F. (1944). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Twelfth Day of September, A. D. 1944 and at the General Election Held on the Seventh Day of November, A. D. 1944 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.