1926 United States Senate election in Colorado

The 1926 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 1926. Incumbent Republican Senator Rice W. Means ran for re-election, but he was defeated in the Republican primary by Charles W. Waterman, a prominent attorney and party leader. In the general election, Waterman faced former Governor William Ellery Sweet, the Democratic nominee. Despite the nationwide Democratic trend, as well as the landslide victory for Democrats in the gubernatorial election, Waterman ended up defeating Sweet by a thin margin. Waterman would not end up serving a full term in the Senate, and died in office on August 27, 1932.

1926 United States Senate election in Colorado

← 1924 (special) November 2, 1926 1932 →
 
Nominee Charles W. Waterman William Ellery Sweet
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 149,585 138,113
Percentage 50.25% 46.39%

Results by county
Waterman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Sweet:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Rice W. Means
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Charles W. Waterman
Republican

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Dropped out

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  • Harry L. Lubers, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives[3]

Defeated at convention

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Campaign

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At the Democratic convention, a crowded slate of candidates was slightly winnowed down. Paul P. Prosser, a prominent Denver attorney who had previously been elected as the Howard County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney, placed first with 569 1/2 votes. He was followed by former Governor William Ellery Sweet with 279 1/2, former State House Speaker Harry L. Lubers with 133, and former labor leader Frank J. Hayes with 121. Attorney H. C. Fink received only 18 votes and was eliminated.[5] Shortly after the convention, Lubers dropped out, concluding that he lacked the financial resources to compete in the primary.[6] Sweet ended up defeating Prosser and Hayes by a decisive margin, though he fell just short of winning a majority.

Results

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Democratic primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William E. Sweet 26,491 49.27
Democratic Paul P. Prosser 19,583 36.42
Democratic Frank J. Hayes 7,689 14.30
Total votes 53,763 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles W. Waterman 57,537 49.82
Republican Rice W. Means (inc.) 41,721 36.12
Republican George A. Luxford 14,330 12.41
Republican Mortimer W. Spaulding 1,906 1.65
Total votes 115,494 100.00

General election

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Results

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1926 United States Senate election in Colorado[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Charles W. Waterman 149,585 50.25% +0.08%
Democratic William Ellery Sweet 138,113 46.39% +2.72%
Farmer–Labor Morton Alexander 5,829 1.96% −3.56%
Socialist Frank H. Rice 2,218 0.75% +0.11%
People's Constitutional Rights James A. Ownbey 1,091 0.37%
Communist James A. Ayres 859 0.29%
Majority 11,472 3.85% −2.64%
Turnout 297,695
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Paul P. Prosser Seeking Senatorship as Democrat Free from Factionalism". Longmont Daily Times. Longmont, Colorado. June 30, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Labor Leader Wants to Be U.S. Senator". Aspen Daily Times. Aspen, Colorado. April 12, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Harry Lubers Enters Senatorial Fight". Leadville Herald Democrat. Leadville, Colorado. May 9, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "H. C. Fink Out for U.S. Senate". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Fort Collins, Colorado. August 6, 1926. p. 7. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Democratic Candidates Designated". Longmont Daily Times. Longmont, Colorado. August 13, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Primary Election Costs". Eagle Valley Enterprise. Eagle, Colorado. August 27, 1926. p. 4. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Armstrong, Charles M. (1926). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Fourteenth Day of September, A. D. 1926 and at the General Election Held on the Second Day of November, A. D. 1926 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
  8. ^ "Challenge to Governor". Telluride Daily Journal. Telluride, Colorado. August 9, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Spaulding Wants Toga!". Aspen Daily Times. Aspen, Colorado. July 30, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.