1936 United States Senate special election in Iowa

The 1936 United States Senate Special Election within the State of Iowa occurred on November 3, 1936, following the death of incumbent Senator Richard Louis Murphy in an automobile accident.[1] Representative Guy Mark Gillette (D-IA) and Editor of the Chariton Herald-Patriot, Berry F. Halden(R-IA)[2] were the two major party contenders in this election. George F. Buresh (FL-IA) and two other candidates also ran. The result of this election was Gillette beating out both other candidates, and winning with 52% of the votes cast.[3]

1936 United States Senate Special Election
Tuesday, November 3, 1936
  Majority party Minority party
 
Candidate Guy M. Gillette Berry F. Halden
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 536,075 478,521
Percentage 51.91% 46.43%
County Results
Gillette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Halden:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Vacant

 Elected U.S. Senator

Guy M. Gillette
Democratic

Republican primary

Berry F. Halden won the Republican nomination at the Republican Party's State Convention on the fifth ballot, with 1,682 votes.[4] Other candidates within the primary were James R. Rhodes, a publisher for the Newton News, and Guy Linville, a lawyer from Cedar Rapids.[4]

Democratic primary

Guy M. Gillette was named the Democratic Party's Candidate at the Democratic Party's State Convention.[5] Ray Murphy, Former National Commander of the American Legion, declined to contest the Primary.[5]

Farmer-Labor primary

While the Farmer-Labor Party initially sought out and declared Former Republican Senator Smith W. Brookhart to be their nominee,[4][5] Ernest R. Quick ran as their eventual candidate for the Special Election.

General Election
1936 U.S. Senate Special election in Iowa[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Guy M. Gillette 536,075 51.91 N/A
Republican Berry F. Halden 478,521 46.43 N/A
Farmer–Labor Ernest R. Quick 16,179 1.57 N/A
Socialist Tom Johnson 1,008 0.10 N/A
Prohibition A. U. Coates 960 0.09 N/A
Total votes 1,032,743 100

See also

References
  1. "Details Page - The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa - The University of Iowa Libraries". uipress.lib.uiowa.edu. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  2. Myers, Frank D. (March 22, 2018). "The Lucas Countyan: What in the world happened to Berry F. Halden?". The Lucas Countyan. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  3. "Archived Election Results and Statistics". sos.iowa.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  4. "IOWANS NAME EDITOR FOR SENATORIAL RACE; Republicans Choose Halden to Oppose Gillette -- Farmer-Laborites Pick Brookhart". The New York Times. July 26, 1936. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  5. Jones, Rolan M. (August 9, 1936). "POLITICAL ODDITIES DEVELOPEDIN IOWA; Employer and Employe Win Nominations in Opposite Party Primaries. TWO SENATORIALCONTESTS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  6. "Election Statistics: 1920 to Present - 1936 Election Statistics". history.house.gov.
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