1934 United States Senate election in Missouri explained

Election Name:1934 United States Senate election in Missouri
Country:Missouri
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1928 United States Senate election in Missouri
Previous Year:1928
Next Election:1940 United States Senate election in Missouri
Next Year:1940
Election Date:November 6, 1934
Image1:Harry S. Truman LCCN2016890263 Crop.jpg
Nominee1:Harry S. Truman
Party1:Democratic Party (US)
Popular Vote1:787,110
Percentage1:59.55%
Nominee2:Roscoe C. Patterson
Party2:Republican Party (US)
Popular Vote2:524,954
Percentage2:39.71%
Map Size:250px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Roscoe C. Patterson
Before Party:Republican Party (US)
After Election:Harry S. Truman
After Party:Democratic Party (US)

The 1934 United States Senate election in Missouri was held on November 6, 1934. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Roscoe Patterson, first elected in 1928, sought reelection to a second term. He was defeated by the Democratic candidate, future Vice President and President of the United States Harry Truman.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Harry Truman, having served as a judge, expressed an interest in running for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1934, but political boss Tom Pendergast had already selected another candidate for that race. After four other potential candidates had declined to run, Pendergast ultimately approached Truman to discuss a possible run for the United States Senate, to Truman's surprise. Truman, with backing from Pendergast, entered the Senate race. Truman said he would not, if elected, dictate to anyone, to the dismay of anti-Pendergast U.S. Senator Bennett Champ Clark.[4]

Truman waged a statewide campaign and eventually won the largely three-way Democratic primary on August 7, 1934, by a significant margin, defeating U.S. Representatives John Cochran and Jacob Milligan.[2]

Results

Nearly half of Truman's vote (137,529) came from Jackson County alone, where he received 92.8%. Likewise, Cochran received over half of his overall vote (121,048) from St. Louis and St. Louis County, where he led with 90.5% and 77.9%, respectively.

General election

Results

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dubin, Michael J.. United States congressional elections, 1788-1997 : the official results of the elections of the 1st through 105th congresses. 1998. McFarland. Jefferson, NC [u.a.]. 0786402830.
  2. Web site: MO US Senate - D Primary. OurCampaigns. 13 June 2012.
  3. Web site: TRUMAN, Harry S., (1884 - 1972). Biographical Directory of the U.S Congress. 13 June 2012.
  4. Web site: Harry S. Truman, 34th Vice President (1945). United States Senate. 13 June 2012.