1944 United States Senate election in North Dakota

The 1944 United States Senate election in North Dakota took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Republican Senator Gerald Nye ran for re-election to his fourth term. He faced a serious challenge to his renomination in the Republican primary, with prominent Fargo attorney Lynn Stambaugh and Congressman Usher L. Burdick running against him. He won with one-third of the vote, defeating Shambaugh, his closest opponent, by fewer than 1,000 votes. In the general election, Stambaugh continued his campaign against Nye as an independent,[1] splitting the Republican vote as Governor John Moses, the Democratic nominee, ran a strong campaign. Though Nye had benefited from crowded general elections before, he bled Republican support to Stambaugh and Moses unseated him with just 45% of the vote. However, just a few months into Moses's term, he died in office, flipping the seat back to Republican control and triggering a June 1946 special election.

1944 United States Senate election in North Dakota

← 1938 November 7, 1944 1946 (special) →
 
Nominee John Moses Gerald Nye Lynn Stambaugh
Party Democratic Republican Independent Republican
Popular vote 95,102 69,530 44,596
Percentage 45.20% 33.04% 21.19%

County results
Moses:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Nye:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%
Stambaugh:      30–40%

U.S. senator before election

Gerald Nye
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Moses
Democratic

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Moses 14,650 100.00%
Total votes 14,650 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerald Nye (inc.) 38,191 33.98%
Republican Lynn Stambaugh 37,219 33.11%
Republican Usher L. Burdick 35,687 31.75%
Republican A. C. Townley 1,300 1.16%
Total votes 112,397 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1944 United States Senate election in North Dakota[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Moses 95,102 45.20% +2.63%
Republican Gerald Nye (inc.) 69,530 33.04% −17.08%
Independent Republican Lynn Stambaugh 44,596 21.19%
Independent Bernard H. O'Laughlin 705 0.34%
Independent L. D. Harris 489 0.23%
Majority 25,572 12.15% +4.59%
Turnout 210,422
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ "Stambaugh Says Nye is Conducting Smear Campaign". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, N.D. September 13, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Primary Election 06-27-1944" (PDF). Secretary of State of North Dakota. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "Stambaugh Announces He'll Be Candidate for Senator". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, N.D. March 10, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "General Election 11-07-1944" (PDF). Secretary of State of North Dakota. Retrieved June 19, 2021.