1918 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Summary

The 1918 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 7, 1918. Incumbent Senator Ollie M. James sought a second term in office but died on August 18. He was replaced on the Democratic ticket by Governor Augustus Owsley Stanley, who defeated Republican Ben Bruner.

1918 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1913 November 5, 1918 1924 →
 
Nominee Augustus O. Stanley[a] Ben Bruner
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 184,385 178,797
Percentage 50.77% 49.23%

County results
Stanley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Bruner:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election

George Brown Martin
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Augustus Owsley Stanley
Democratic

General election edit

Candidates edit

Campaign edit

After Senator James died, Governor Stanley appointed George B. Martin to complete his unexpired term, set to end on March 3. Stanley was then nominated by the Democratic State Committee for the full term in office. He enjoyed the unified support of the Democratic Party, including Senator J. C. W. Beckham, who worried Stanley would challenge him for his own seat again in 1920 as he had in 1914, and President Woodrow Wilson. Bruner, a relative unknown, ran a campaign opposed to the prohibition of alcohol and in favor of a bill banning the German language, which Stanley had vetoed as Governor.[1]

Results edit

1918 U.S. Senate election in Kentucky[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Augustus Owsley Stanley 184,385 50.77%
Republican Frederic M. Sackett 178,797 49.23%
Total votes 363,182 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Incumbent Senator Ollie M. James was initially nominated for a second term in office but died on August 18.

References edit

  1. ^ Klotter, James C. (August 1996). Kentucky: Portraits in Paradox, 1900–1950. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 231. ISBN 0-916968-24-3. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
  2. ^ Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1925). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1918" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.