1941 United States Senate special election in Texas

The 1941 United States Senate special election in Texas was held on June 28, 1941 to complete the unexpired term of Senator Morris Sheppard, who died in office on April 9. Interim Senator Andrew Jackson Houston did not run for re-election and died only two days before the election. The race was won by Governor Pappy O'Daniel with a plurality of the vote; no majority was required.

1941 United States Senate special election in Texas

← 1936 June 28, 1941 1942 →
 
Nominee Pappy O'Daniel Lyndon B. Johnson
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 175,590 174,279
Percentage 30.49% 30.26%

 
Nominee Gerald Mann Martin Dies Jr.
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 140,807 80,653
Percentage 24.45% 14.01%

O'Daniel:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%

Johnson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
Mann:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%

Dies:      20–30%      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Andrew Jackson Houston
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Pappy O'Daniel
Democratic

O'Daniel very narrowly defeated U.S. Representative Lyndon B. Johnson, who won the seat after O'Daniel's retirement in 1948.

Background

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In April 1941, incumbent Senator Morris Sheppard died in office. Governor Pappy O'Daniel appointed Andrew Jackson Houston to fill the seat until a successor could be duly elected, with the election scheduled for June 28. The winner finished Sheppard's term ending in 1943.

Houston did not run to complete the term, only serving as a placeholder for Governor O'Daniel. He died in office only two days before the election.

Candidates

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Major candidates

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Minor candidates

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None of these candidates received more than 0.30% of the popular vote.

  • Joseph C. Bean
  • John R. Brinkley
  • Homer Brooks
  • E. A. Calvin
  • Arlon Barton "Cyclone" Davis
  • Politte Elvins
  • Guy B. Fisher
  • Enoch Fletcher
  • W. E. Gilliland
  • A. E. Harding
  • Basil Muse Hatfield
  • Robert Grammer Head
  • O.F. Heath Sr.
  • Bubba Hicks
  • W. R. Jones
  • W. W. "Cap" King
  • Starl G. Newsome Jr.
  • Floyd E. Ryan
  • Walter A. Schulz
  • Charles L. Somerville
  • Joe Thompson
  • Edwin Waller III
  • W. C. Welch
  • John C. Williams

All of these candidates were Democrats except Evans (Republican), Fletcher (Republican), Jones (Independent), and Brooks (Communist).

Results

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1941 U.S. Senate special election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pappy O'Daniel 175,590 30.49%
Democratic Lyndon B. Johnson 174,279 30.26%
Democratic Gerald Mann 140,807 24.45%
Democratic Martin Dies Jr. 80,653 14.01%
Various Minor candidates 4,548 0.79%
Total votes 575,877 100.00%

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Among the top 4 candidates

References

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  1. ^ Texas State Historical Association (1943). "Texas Almanac, 1943-1944". The Portal to Texas History. The Dallas Morning News. pp. 259–260. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Let Conscience Be Your Guide!". Friends of Gerald C. Mann. Corpus Christi Caller-Times. June 25, 1941. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "TX US Senate – Special Election". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved December 1, 2020.