1926 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts
November 2, 1926
 
Nominee David I. Walsh William M. Butler
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 525,303 469,989
Percentage 52.01% 46.54%
U.S. senator before election

William M. Butler
Republican

 Elected U.S. senator

David I. Walsh
Democratic

The 1926 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was held on November 2, 1926.

Former Democratic Senator David I. Walsh defeated incumbent William Morgan Butler, a Republican who was appointed after the death of Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.

Walsh returned to the U.S. Senate for a 2-year term. He had previously served in the Senate from 1919 to 1925.

Background

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, whose sixth term was set to expire in 1929, died on November 9, 1924, after suffering a stroke. On November 13, 1924, Governor of Massachusetts Channing Cox appointed William M. Butler, the chair of the Republican National Committee, to fill the vacant seat until a successor could be duly elected. The special election for the remainder of Lodge's term was scheduled for November 2, 1926, concurrent with the next general election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declined

Campaign

Butler formally announced his anticipated campaign for the special election on April 22, 1926, at a rally at Boston Symphony Hall, where he was endorsed by Governor Alvan T. Fuller, Senator Irvine Lenroot of Wisconsin, and Assistant Secretary of War Hanford MacNider.[1] Most of the speakers connected Butler's campaign to the re-election prospects of President Calvin Coolidge, a close ally of Butler.[1]

At the Republican convention on September 24, Butler was unopposed for the nomination and received the unanimous support of the delegates.[2]

Results

Senator Butler was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

1926 Republican U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Morgan Butler (incumbent) 209,836 100.0%
Write-in All others 18 0.0%
Turnout 209,854 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Walsh was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

1928 Democratic U.S. Senate primary results [4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David I. Walsh 111,083 99.95%
Write-in All others 58 0.05%
Turnout 111,141 100.0%

General election

Candidates

Results

United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1926[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic David I. Walsh 525,303 52.01% Increase5.34
Republican William M. Butler (incumbent) 469,989 46.54% Decrease1.05
Communist John J. Ballam 5,167 0.51% Increase0.51
Modification of Volstead Act Washington Cook 4,766 0.47% Decrease0.43
Socialist Alfred Baker Lewis 4,730 0.47% Decrease0.87
Total votes 1,009,955 100.0%

References

  1. 1 2 "Republicans Indorse Butler's Candidacy". The Boston Globe. April 23, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Senator Butler Accepts His Renomination". The Boston Globe. September 25, 1926. p. 4. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1926). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 123.
  4. ↑ Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1926). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 123.
  5. ↑ Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1926). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 175.


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