1950 United States Senate elections in Kansas

Last updated

1950 United States Senate special election in Kansas
Flag of Kansas.svg
←  1944 November 7, 1950 1956  →
  Frank Carlson (R-KS).jpg
Nominee Frank Carlson Paul Aiken
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote335,880271,365
Percentage54.25%43.83%
1950 United States Senate election in Kansas results map by county.svg
County results
Carlson:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%
Aiken:     40–50%     50–60%
Senator before election

Harry Darby
Republican

Elected Senator

Frank Carlson
Republican

The 1950 United States Senate elections in Kansas took place on November 7, 1950. Incumbent Republican Senator Clyde M. Reed died in office on November 8, 1949. Governor Frank Carlson appointed Harry Darby to serve out the remaining year of Reed's term. Two elections for the same Senate seat were held on the same day: one as a special election to fill the remainder of Reed's six-year term, and another to elect a Senator to serve the next six-year term. Darby did not seek re-election. Instead, Governor Carlson ran, won the Republican primary, and defeated Democratic nominee Paul Aiken, the former Assistant U.S. Postmaster General, by a wide margin.

Contents

Democratic primary

Regular election

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Paul Aiken 54,857 57.15%
Democratic Carl V. Rice41,13542.85%
Total votes95,992 100.00%

Special election

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Paul Aiken 47,975 57.75%
Democratic Carl V. Rice35,10342.25%
Total votes83,078 100.00%

Republican primary

Regular election

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank Carlson 140,798 58.61%
Republican Harry W. Colmery99,41841.39%
Total votes240,216 100.00%

Special election

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank Carlson 121,020 57.37%
Republican Harry W. Colmery89,92142.63%
Total votes210,941 100.00%

Prohibition primary

Regular election

Candidates

  • Floyd M. Gurley

Results

Prohibition primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Prohibition Floyd M. Gurley 379 100.00%
Total votes379 100.00%

After winning the primary election, Gurley withdrew from the race, explaining, "My reason being that I have conscientious objections to the advocacy or support of a state legalizing or supporting the sale of whiskey or other forms of debauchery." [4] Gurley was replaced on the general election ballot by Verne L. Damon, a history professor at Sterling College. [5]

General election

Regular election

1950 United States Senate election in Kansas [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Frank Carlson 335,880 54.25% −3.59%
Democratic Paul Aiken271,36543.83%+3.18%
Prohibition Verne L. Damon11,8591.92%—
Majority64,51510.42%−6.77%
Total votes619,104 100.00%
Republican hold

Special election

1950 United States Senate special election in Kansas [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Frank Carlson 321,718 55.17% −2.67%
Democratic Paul Aiken261,40544.83%+4.17%
Majority60,31310.34%−6.85%
Total votes583,123 100.00%
Republican hold

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Senate Bid By Aiken". Parsons Sun. Parsons, Kansas. April 13, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Rice Will Jump Into Senate Tilt". The Wichita Eagle . Wichita, Kansas. February 19, 1950. p. 1, 27. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ryan, Larry (1950). Thirty-Seventh Biennial Report of the Secretary of State 1949-1950. Topeka, Kansas: Kansas State Printer. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Flays 'Legalized Debauchery' In Kansas". Iola Register. Iola, Kansas. September 14, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Prohibition Party Has New Candidate". Parsons Sun. Parsons, Kansas. September 23, 1950. p. 9. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.