1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado

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1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado

← 1920 November 4, 1924 1926 →
 
Nominee Rice W. Means Morrison Shafroth Charles T. Philp
Party Republican Democratic Farmer–Labor
Popular vote 159,353 138,714 17,542
Percentage 50.17% 43.67% 5.52%

County results
Means:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Shafroth:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Alva B. Adams
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Rice W. Means
Republican

The 1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado took place on November 4, 1924, to fill the remainder of the term for which Samuel D. Nicholson was elected in 1920. Nicholson died in office on March 24, 1923, and Democratic Governor William Ellery Sweet appointed Alva B. Adams, a prominent Pueblo attorney, to fill the vacancy. Adams, however, declined to be a candidate in the special election, instead challenging incumbent Republican Senator Lawrence C. Phipps in the regular election the same year.

In the Republican primary, Rice W. Means, the City Attorney of Denver, defeated attorney Charles W. Waterman and state prison official Charles T. Moynihan, reportedly aided in part by furtive help from the state's Ku Klux Klan organization.[1] Meanwhile, attorney Morrison Shafroth, the son of John F. Shafroth, defeated former Congressman Benjamin C. Hilliard in the Democratic primary, advancing to the general election. Aided by President Calvin Coolidge's landslide victory in the state, Means, as well as most of the rest of the state Republican ticket, won handily.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Morrison Shafroth 34,478 72.48
Democratic Benjamin C. Hilliard 13,089 27.52
Total votes 47,567 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rice W. Means 48,778 43.04
Republican Charles W. Waterman 38,903 34.33
Republican Charles T. Moynihan 25,655 22.64
Total votes 113,336 100.00

General election

Results

1924 United States Senate special election in Colorado[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rice W. Means 159,353 50.17% −4.35%
Democratic Morrison Shafroth 138,714 43.67% +4.37%
Farmer–Labor Charles T. Philp 17,542 5.52% +2.37%
Socialist Clyde Robinson 2,012 0.63%
Majority 20,639 6.50% −8.71%
Turnout 317,621
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. ^ Quillen, Ed (May 22, 2003). "Welcome to Kolorado, Klan Kountry". Colorado Springs Independent. Colorado Springs, Colorado. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "Sweet May Prefer to Run for Governor". Leadville Herald Democrat. Leadville, Colorado. January 6, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Milliken, Carl S. (1924). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Ninth Day of September, A. D. 1924 and at the General Election Held on the Fourth Day of November, A. D. 1924 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
  4. ^ "Waterman Candidate for Short Term". Brush Tribune. Brush, Colorado. July 18, 1924. p. 3. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Challenge to Governor". Leadville Herald Democrat. Leadville, Colorado. May 24, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2022.