1928 United States Senate election in Texas explained

Election Name:1928 United States Senate election in Texas
Country:Texas
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1922 United States Senate election in Texas
Previous Year:1922
Next Election:1934 United States Senate election in Texas
Next Year:1934
Election Date:November 6, 1928
Nominee1:Tom Connally
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:566,139
Percentage1:81.24%
Nominee2:T. M. Kennerly
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:129,910
Percentage2:18.64%
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Earle Mayfield
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Tom Connally
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1928 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 6, 1928. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Earle Mayfield ran for re-election to a second term.

Mayfield drew several primary challengers, including former governor Oscar Branch Colquitt and U.S. Representatives Tom Connally and Thomas L. Blanton.[1] [2] The candidates ran on issues such as public utilities, transportation infrastructure, immigration, and agriculture, as well as several of the candidates' records in the House and Senate.[3] [4] The number of high-profile candidates in the race made a runoff almost certain. Mayfield campaigned very little prior to the runoff, which he was confident he would make, as to not alienate the supporters of the candidates who might be eliminated in the first round.[5] Mayfield won a plurality of the vote in the first round, but he failed to win a majority, forcing him into a runoff with the second place finisher, Tom Connally.[6]

Mayfield, who in his previous race had been supported by the Ku Klux Klan, was very ideologically similar to Connally. Despite having been defeated by him in the Democratic primary six years prior, former Governor Pa Ferguson endorsed Mayfield against Connally, considering him to be the lesser of two evils.[7] Despite this endorsement, Connally defeated Mayfield in the primary.[8] The Texas Republican Party nominated attorney Thomas M. Kennerly to run against him.[9] Connally easily defeated Kennerly in the general election, despite Republican Herbert Hoover carrying the state in the concurrent presidential election.[10] [11] [12]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Runoff

General election

Results

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: January 18, 1928 . BLANTON, COLQUITT FOR SENATE: 2 ANNOUNCE THEY OPPOSE MAYFIELD . 1 . The Austin Statesman . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  2. News: January 20, 1928 . WET PLANNING RACE AGAINST MAYFIELD . 1 . The Austin Statesman . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  3. News: Shearer . Gordon K . January 31, 1928 . MAYFIELD READY FOR HOT RACE FOR SENATE . 9 . The Austin Statesman . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  4. News: February 19, 1928 . Texas Senatorial Race to Thresh National Issues: Immigration and Utility Fight Enliven Race For Mayfield's Job . 1 . The Austin American . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  5. News: February 26, 1928 . Mayfield to Let Others Fight In First Primaries: Earle Avoids Alienating Any Opponent's Run-Off Votes . 1 . The Austin American . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  6. News: July 30, 1928 . Connally Vote Near Mayfield's In Texas Race: Run-Off for Senator Sure Moody Renominated and Smith Enemies Defeated . 12 . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  7. News: August 4, 1928 . FERGUSON BACKS MAYFIELD: EARLE PICKED AS LESSER OF 2 EVILS . 1 . The Austin Statesman . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  8. News: August 27, 1928 . Connally Beats Mayfield in Texas Primary; Wins Senate Seat Choice; Leading by 50,000 . en-US . 3 . The New York Times . April 28, 2023 . 0362-4331.
  9. News: August 15, 1928 . Kennerly Named by Texas G.O.P. to Run for Senate: Holmes Nominated to Oppose Moody for Governor . 4 . The Christian Science Monitor . April 28, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  10. News: November 11, 1928 . REPUBLICAN GRIP ON CONGRESS FIRM . en-US . 33–34 . . April 28, 2023 . 0362-4331.
  11. News: November 30, 1928 . CONNALLY REPORTS INEXPENSIVE RACE . 1 . The Austin Statesman . May 3, 2023 . . ProQuest.
  12. News: November 7, 1928 . Texas Gives Hoover Lead in Early Returns: With 132 Counties of 253 In, His Vote Is 95,158 to 95,020 for Smith Moody Wins by 300,000 Close Race for President First in State's History . 2 . New York Herald Tribune . May 3, 2023 . . ProQuest.