United States Senate election in Arizona, 1934

United States Senate election in Arizona, 1934
Arizona
November 3, 1934
 
Nominee Henry Fountain Ashurst Joseph Edward Thompson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 67,648 24,075
Percentage 72.03% 25.63%
U.S. Senator before election

Henry F. Ashurst
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Henry F. Ashurst
Democratic

The 1934 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 3, 1934. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst ran for reelection to a fifth term, defeating Republican nominee Joseph Edward Thompson in the general election by a wide margin.

Thompson's candidacy came at an inopportune time, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt had just begun his first term, and with the country in the midst of the Great Depression, the Democrats were far more popular than the Republicans at the time. Additionally, Ashurst, who had served continuously as U.S. Senator since Arizona joined the union in 1912, presented an even greater challenge to anyone who would have hoped to defeat him for reelection, due to his seniority, and Thompson was fairly unknown in state politics, having never served in government prior to running for U.S. Senate.

Ashurst notably faced opposition in the Democratic primary, however, from former Secretary of State Sidney P. Osborn, who would later go on to become Governor of Arizona for several terms. This would be Ashurst's final electoral success, as he would lose the Democratic primary in 1940 to Ernest McFarland.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry F. Ashurst 36,646 40.66%
Democratic Sidney P. Osborn 24,065 26.70%
Democratic Renz L. Jennings 16,743 18.58%
Democratic William Coxon 8,653 9.60%
Democratic Charles H. Rutherford 4,026 4.47%
Total votes 90,133 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

United States Senate election in Arizona, 1934[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Henry F. Ashurst 67,648 72.03%
Republican Joseph Edward Thompson 24,075 25.63%
Socialist Charles D. Pinkerton 1,591 1.69%
Communist Ramon Garcia 606 0.65%
Majority 43,573 46.40%
Turnout 93,920
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

See also

References

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