1942 United States Senate election in Montana

The 1942 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 3, 1942. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, ran for re-election. Following his victory in a competitive Democratic primary, Murray advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by former United States Attorney for the District of Montana Wellington D. Rankin, the Republican nominee and brother of representative Jeannette Rankin. In a closely fought election, Murray narrowly defeated Rankin to win re-election to his third term and his second full term in the Senate.

1942 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1936 November 3, 1942 1948 →
 
Nominee James E. Murray Wellington D. Rankin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 83,673 82,461
Percentage 49.07% 48.36%

County results
Murray:      40–50%      50–60%
Rankin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

James E. Murray
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

James E. Murray
Democratic

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Murray (incumbent) 47,826 62.49%
Democratic Joseph P. Monaghan 28,709 37.51%
Total votes 76,535 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wellington D. Rankin 24,677 58.83%
Republican Charles R. Dawley 9,267 22.09%
Republican Jacob Thorkelson 7,999 19.07%
Total votes 41,943 100.00%

General election

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Results

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United States Senate election in Montana, 1942[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James E. Murray (incumbent) 83,673 49.07% −5.91%
Republican Wellington D. Rankin 82,461 48.36% +21.25%
Prohibition Charles R. Miller 2,711 1.59%
Socialist E. H. Helterbran 1,669 0.98%
Majority 1,212 0.71% −27.16%
Turnout 170,514
Democratic hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, July 21, 1942" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1942" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.