1950 United States Senate special election in North Carolina

1950 United States Senate special election in North Carolina

←  1948 November 7, 1950 1954 (special)  →

Nominee Willis Smith E. L. Galvin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 364,912 177,753 Percentage 66.97% 32.62%

County results Smith:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90-100% Galvin:      50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Senator before election Frank P. Graham Democratic Elected Senator Willis Smith Democratic

The 1950 United States Senate special election in North Carolina took place on November 7, 1950 in North Carolina as part of the 1950 Senate elections. The incumbent Democratic Senator J. Melville Broughton died two months into his term on March 6, 1949. Frank Porter Graham, the president of the University of North Carolina, was appointed to the vacant seat. Graham was defeated in the Democratic primary by former Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives Willis Smith, who would go on to win election by a margin of 34.4%. Smith would die on June 26, 1953, with Alton Lennon appointed to the vacancy.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Olla Ray Boyd, pig farmer and perennial candidate ^[1]
• Frank Porter Graham, the incumbent Senator
• Robert R. Reynolds, former U.S. Senator
• Willis Smith, former Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives

Campaign

Willis Smith campaign flyer

Electoral law at the time did not mandate a runoff election, with the losing candidate able to request one. Following Sweatt v. Painter , which challenged segregation in Texas, Jesse Helms led an advertising campaign through WRAL to successfully encourage Smith to call for a runoff. ^[2]

The primary runoff pitched a progressive New Deal Democrat (Graham) against a traditional pro-segregation Democrat (Smith). ^[3] Graham sought to emphasise his commitments to education and other social programmes, however Smith's relentless campaigning on issues of race ultimately prevailed. ^[2]

Results

Democratic primary ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Porter Graham (incumbent)	303,605	49.09
	Democratic	Willis Smith	250,222	40.46
	Democratic	Robert R. Reynolds	58,752	9.50
	Democratic	Olla Ray Boyd	5,900	0.95
Turnout			618,479

Democratic runoff ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Willis Smith	281,114	51.78	+11.32
	Democratic	Frank Porter Graham (incumbent)	261,789	48.22	−0.87
Majority			19,325	3.56
Turnout			542,903

Results maps

Results maps

Primary election
Smith:      40–49%     50–59%     60–69%     70–79%
Graham:      40–49%     50–59%     60–69%     70–79%

Runoff election
Smith:      50–59%     60–69%     70–79%
Graham:      50–59%     60–69%     70–79%     80–89%

General election

1950 United States Senate Special election in North Carolina ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Willis Smith	364,912	66.97	−3.73
	Republican	E. L. Galvin	177,753	32.62	+3.82
	Write-In	Frank P. Graham (incumbent)	2,259	0.41	+0.41
Majority			187,159	34.35
Turnout			544,924
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "The Pork Chop Conspiracy". New York Times. 10 October 1976. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
2. Martin, Johnathan. "The 1950 Smith-Graham Senate Race". North Carolina History Project. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
3. "Primary Source: The 1950 Senate Campaign". NCPedia. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
4. North Carolina Manual 1951. North Carolina Historical Commission. pp. 235–238. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
5. "STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 7, 1950" (PDF). Clerk of the US House of Representatives. p. 26. Retrieved 9 August 2025.