1916 United States Senate special election in Indiana

The 1916 United States Senate special election in Indiana took place on November 7, 1916 to complete the unexpired term of Benjamin F. Shively. Interim Democratic Senator Thomas Taggart was defeated in his bid to complete the term by U.S. Representative James Eli Watson.

1916 United States Senate special election in Indiana

← 1914 November 7, 1916 1920 →
 
Nominee James E. Watson Thomas Taggart
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 335,193 325,577
Percentage 47.66% 46.29%

County results
Watson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Taggart:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Thomas Taggart
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

James E. Watson
Republican

Background

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Senator Benjamin F. Shively was re-elected in 1914 and served until his death on March 14, 1916. Governor Samuel Ralston appointed Thomas Taggart to fill the vacant seat on March 20 until a successor could be duly elected. The special election to complete the term was scheduled for November 7, 1916, concurrent with the general election for presidential electors and Indiana's other United States Senate seat.

General election

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Candidates

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  • John F. Clifford (Progressive)
  • Edward Henry (Socialist)
  • William H. Hickman (Prohibition)
  • Thomas Taggart, interim U.S. Senator and former mayor of Indianapolis (Democratic)
  • James E. Watson, former U.S. Representative from Rushville and nominee for Governor in 1908 (Republican)

Results

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1916 U.S. Senate special election in Indiana[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James E. Watson 335,193 47.66%  12.56
Democratic Thomas Taggart (incumbent) 325,577 46.29%   4.15
Socialist Edward Henry 21,626 3.08%   0.28
Prohibition William H. Hickman 16,095 2.29%   0.14
Progressive Francis J. Dillon 16,804 0.68%  16.13
Total votes 703,289 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1917). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1916" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 16.