The 1944 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Democratic Senator Elmer Thomas ran for re-election to a fourth term. Thomas once again faced a stiff challenge in the Democratic primary, this time from Congressman Wesley E. Disney and Lieutenant Governor James E. Berry. As was the case in 1938, Thomas won renomination only with a narrow plurality. In the general election, he faced former State Senator William J. Otjen, the 1942 Republican nominee for Governor. Though Thomas's performance was much reduced compared to six years prior, he still defeated Otjen by a wide margin.
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 County results Thomas: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Otjen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Elmer Thomas, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Wesley E. Disney, U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma's 1st congressional district
- James E. Berry, Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
- Elmer Fraker
- Fletcher S. Riley
- A. F. Shaw
- Dan Nelson
- Charles West
- Lily Allen Lasley
- Lattie Hughes
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Elmer Thomas (inc.) | 85,672 | 36.30% | |
| Democratic | Wesley E. Disney | 64,322 | 33.75% | |
| Democratic | James E. Berry | 62,244 | 26.37% | |
| Democratic | Elmer Fraker | 5,810 | 2.46% | |
| Democratic | Fletcher S. Riley | 4,835 | 2.05% | |
| Democratic | A. F. Shaw | 4,786 | 2.03% | |
| Democratic | Dan Nelson | 2,725 | 1.15% | |
| Democratic | Charles West | 2,304 | 0.98% | |
| Democratic | Lily Allen Lasley | 1,963 | 0.83% | |
| Democratic | Lattie Hughes | 138 | 0.57% | |
| Total votes | 235,999 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- William J. Otjen, former State Senator, 1942 Republican nominee for Governor[2]
- Pat W. Murphy, Cushing clergyman[2]
- Harry O. Glasser, former State Senator, 1938 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate[3]
- O. O. Owens
- Frank A. Anderson
- Fred E. Pickard
- John M. Claypool
- S. M. Stauffer
- Sim L. Liles
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William J. Otjen | 21,970 | 50.53% | |
| Republican | Pat W. Murphy | 7,340 | 16.88% | |
| Republican | Harry O. Glasser | 6,169 | 14.19% | |
| Republican | O. O. Owens | 2,791 | 6.42% | |
| Republican | Frank A. Anderson | 2,009 | 4.62% | |
| Republican | Fred E. Pickard | 1,137 | 2.61% | |
| Republican | John M. Claypool | 887 | 2.04% | |
| Republican | S. M. Stauffer | 811 | 1.87% | |
| Republican | Sim L. Liles | 368 | 0.85% | |
| Total votes | 43,482 | 100.00% | ||
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Elmer Thomas (inc.) | 390,851 | 55.65% | −9.72% | |
| Republican | William J. Otjen | 309,222 | 44.02% | +10.11% | |
| Independent | Paul V. Beck | 1,128 | 0.16% | — | |
| Independent | T. B. Williams | 674 | 0.10% | — | |
| Independent | Paul R. Nagle | 519 | 0.07% | — | |
| Majority | 81,629 | 11.62% | −19.84% | ||
| Turnout | 702,394 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b c "1934-1938 Election Results" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ a b "GOP Senatorial Scramble Seen: Lew Wentz Leaves Field Wide Open". Okmulgee Daily Times. Okmulgee, Okla. February 10, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ "Glasser First GOP Candidate". Okmulgee Daily Times. Okmulgee, Okla. February 17, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
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