1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska

The 1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 3, 1942.

United States Senate election in Nebraska, 1942
November 3, 1942
 
Nominee Kenneth Wherry George Norris Foster May
Party Republican Independent Democratic
Popular vote 186,207 108,899 83,763
Percentage 48.97% 28.64% 22.03%
County Results
U.S. senator before election

George W. Norris
Independent

 Elected U.S. Senator

Kenneth Wherry
Republican

Incumbent Independent U.S. Senator George W. Norris lost his bid for re-election to a sixth term to Republican Kenneth Wherry.

Norris, a former Republican, was quoted as remarking, “I would rather go down to my political grave with a clear conscience than ride in the chariot of victory.” In part for his honesty with constituents even if it meant defeat, Norris was later featured in John F. Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning Profiles in Courage.[1]

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Hugh Ashmore
  • Voyle Rector
  • Kenneth Wherry, former state senator and mayor of Pawnee City; candidate for U.S. Senate in 1934 and governor in 1932

Results
General election results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kenneth Wherry 61,915 66.29%
Republican Hugh Ashmore 20,868 22.34%
Republican Voyle Rector 10,624 11.37%

Democratic primary

Candidates
  • Terry Carpenter, former U.S. Representative from Nebraska's 5th district, Democratic candidate for governor in 1940 and 1934, lieutenant governor in 1938, and senator in 1936
  • Harry B. Coffee, incumbent U.S. Representative from Nebraska's 5th district
  • Foster May, radio newsman and candidate for U.S. Representative in 1936
  • Lawrence Moore
  • John C. Mullin
  • George Olsen
  • William Ritchie

Results
General election results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Foster May 36,684 41.10%
Democratic Harry Coffee 25,953 29.08%
Democratic Terry Carpenter 13,752 15.41%
Democratic William Ritchie 5,774 6.47%
Democratic John C. Mullen 5,211 5.84%
Democratic George W. Olsen 1,105 1.24%
Democratic Lawrence W. Moore 784 0.88%


Independents

General election

Results
General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kenneth Wherry 186,207 48.97%
Independent George W. Norris 108,899 28.64%
Democratic Foster May 83,763 22.03%
Independent Albert F. Ruthven 1,348 0.36%

See also
  • United States Senate elections, 1942

References
  1. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/George_Norris.htm
  2. "NE US Senate – R Primary, 1942". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  3. "NE US Senate – D Primary, 1942". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  4. "NE US Senate, 1942". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
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