1962 United States Senate special election in Idaho explained

Election Name:	1962 United States Senate special election in Idaho
Country:	Idaho
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1960 United States Senate election in Idaho
Previous Year:	1960
Next Election:	1966 United States Senate election in Idaho
Next Year:	1966
Election Date:	November 6, 1962
Image1:	File:Lenjordan.jpg
Nominee1:	Leonard B. Jordan
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	131,279
Percentage1:	50.95%
Nominee2:	Gracie Pfost
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	126,398
Percentage2:	49.05%
Map Size:	250px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:	Leonard B. Jordan
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Leonard B. Jordan
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 1962 United States Senate special election in Idaho took place on November 6, 1962, to elect a U.S. Senator to complete the unexpired term of Senator Henry Dworshak, who died on July 23, 1962.

Following his nomination for the special election by the Republican state committee, former Governor of Idaho Len Jordan was appointed on August 6, 1962 by Governor Robert E. Smylie to fill the vacancy until a special election could be held.

Jordan won the special election, narrowly defeating Democratic nominee Gracie Pfost.

Nominations

As the vacancy occurred after the primary elections for the ordinary 1962 elections were held, the candidates were selected by the state central committees.

Democratic nomination

Candidate

• Gracie Pfost, incumbent Congresswoman for Idaho's 1st congressional district

Results

The Democratic state committee met at Boise on August 18. They nominated Gracie Pfost unanimously by voice vote.^{[1] [2]}

Republican primary

Candidates

• Hamer Budge, former U.S. Representative
• Len Jordan, former Governor
• A. W. Naegle, president pro tempore of the Idaho Senate
• George V. Hansen, Pocatello city commissioner
• John C. Sanborn, former U.S. Representative
• Dick Smith, Rexburg
• Sid Smith, Kootenai County
• Dr. Raymond L. White, Boise

Results

The Republican state committee met at Pocatello on August 4.^[3] They nominated Len Jordan unanimously on the second ballot.^{[4] [5]}

The unofficial results of the first ballot were as follows:

General election

Results

See also

• 1962 United States Senate elections

Bibliography

• Book: Congressional Elections, 1946-1996 . 1998 . Washington, D.C. . Congressional Quarterly Inc. . 1998 . 1-56802-248-4 . .
• Book: Scammon . Richard M. . America Votes 5: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1962 . 1964 . Washington, D.C. . Governmental Affairs Institute . 1964 . .

Notes and References

1. News: . August 19, 1962 . Idaho Democrats Pick Mrs. Pfost . Evening star . Washington, D.C. . A-2 . 1 October 2022 .
2. News: . August 19, 1962 . Demos Shout Their Approval of Mrs. Pfost for Senator . Times News . Twin Falls, Idaho . 1 . 1 October 2022 .
3. News: . August 5, 1962 . Idaho G. O. P. Picks Jordan . Evening star . Washington, D.C. . A-10 . 1 October 2022 .
4. News: . August 5, 1962 . Len Jordan Nominated On First Ballot as GOP's Candidate for Senator . Times News . Twin Falls, Idaho . 1 . 1 October 2022 .
5. Lewis . William O. . June 1963 . The 1962 Election in Idaho . The Western Political Quarterly . 16 . 2 . 432–438 . University of Utah on behalf of the Western Political Science Association . 10.2307/444956. 444956 . 1 October 2022 .