1914 United States Senate elections in Kentucky

The 1914 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place concurrently on November 3, 1914, alongside a special election to the same seat. Both elections were won by the Democratic candidate, with interim Senator Johnson N. Camden Jr. winning the election to complete the unexpired term of William O'Connell Bradley and former Governor J. C. W. Beckham winning the election for the next full term.

1914 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Nominee J. C. W. Beckham Augustus E. Willson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 176,605 144,758 Percentage 51.89% 42.53%

County results Beckham:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Willson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Johnson N. Camden Jr. Democratic Elected U.S. senator J. C. W. Beckham Democratic

Background

Incumbent Senator William O'Connell Bradley announced his retirement from the Senate on May 14, 1914, and suffered a fall the same day, leading to his death less than two weeks later on May 23, 1914.

Governor James B. McCreary appointed Johnson N. Camden Jr. to fill Bradley's vacant seat until a successor could be duly elected. A special election to complete the unexpired term was scheduled for November 3, concurrent with the regular election to the next term.

Special election

Candidates

• William Marshall Bullitt, former United States Solicitor General (Republican)
• Johnson N. Camden Jr., interim U.S. Senator (Democratic)
• George Nicholas (Progressive)
• Frank E. Seeds (Socialist)

Results

1914 U.S. Senate special election in Kentucky

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Johnson N. Camden Jr. (incumbent)	177,797	53.99%
	Republican	William Marshall Bullitt	133,139	40.43%
	Progressive	George Nicholas	13,641	4.14%
	Socialist	Frank E. Seeds	4,770	1.45%
Majority			44,658	13.56
Total votes			329,347	100.00
	Democratic hold

General election

Candidates

• J. C. W. Beckham, former Governor of Kentucky (Democratic)
• H. J. Robertson (Socialist)
• Burton Vance (Progressive)
• Augustus E. Willson, former Governor of Kentucky (Republican)

Results

1914 U.S. Senate election in Kentucky

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. C. W. Beckham	176,605	51.89%
	Republican	Augustus E. Willson	144,758	42.53%
	Progressive	Burton Vance	14,108	4.15%
	Socialist	H. J. Robertson	4,890	1.44%
Majority			31,847	9.36
Total votes			340,361	100.00
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1914 United States Senate elections

Bibliography

• Harrison, Lowell H.; Klotter, James C. (1997). A New History of Kentucky. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2008-X. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
• Jewell, Malcolm E. (1963). Kentucky Votes. Vol. 1. University of Kentucky Press.
• Klotter, James C. (1996). Kentucky: Portraits in Paradox, 1900–1950. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-916968-24-3. Retrieved June 26, 2009.