1932 United States Senate elections in Colorado

1932 United States Senate elections in Colorado
	Results by county; Adams: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%; Schuyler: 40–50% 50–60%
U.S. senator before election; Walter Walker; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Alva B. Adams; Democratic

The 1932 United States Senate elections in Colorado took place on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Republican Senator Charles W. Waterman announced that he would not seek re-election to a second term. Attorney Karl C. Schuyler won the Republican nomination to succeed Waterman and faced former Senator Alva B. Adams, the Democratic nominee, in the general election.

However, shortly before the primary elections took place, Waterman died in office. Governor Billy Adams appointed Walter Walker, the Chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, to fill the vacancy.^[1] A special election was called for the November 8, 1932, general election to fill the remaining months of Waterman's term. The state Republican Party named Schuyler as its nominee, but Adams declined to be a candidate in the special election, and Walker was named as the nominee.

The ensuing elections produced a split result. Schuyler narrowly won the special election over Walker by about 1,000 votes, and ended up serving for several months in the Senate. However, Adams handily defeated Schuyler for the full term.

Democratic primary

Regular election

Candidates

Alva B. Adams, former U.S. Senator
John T. Barnett, former Attorney General of Colorado

Results

Democratic primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Alva B. Adams	65,701	52.71
	Democratic	John T. Barnett	58,938	47.29
Total votes			124,639	100.00

Special election

Adams declined to be a candidate in the special election, and the state Democratic Party named Senator Walter Walker as its nominee.^[3]

Republican primary

Regular election

Candidates

Karl C. Schuyler, attorney
Nate C. Warren, State Senator from Larimer County^[4]

Dropped out

John Foster Symes, Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado

Campaign

Senator Waterman's announcement that he would not seek re-election triggered an open Republican contest for the nomination to replace him. Nate C. Warren emerged as a leading Republican candidate, and federal judge John Foster Symes, upon the urging of the state Republican establishment,^[5] also entered the race with the party's support.^[6] However, at the Republican convention, Denver-area Republicans encouraged Symes to drop out of the race in favor of attorney and party leader Karl C. Schuyler in an effort to defeat Warren.^[7] Both Schuyler and Warren won places on the September primary ballot, and Schuyler narrowly defeated Warren.

Results

Republican primary^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Karl C. Schuyler	66,179	58.43%
	Republican	Nate C. Warren	47,080	41.57%
Total votes			113,259	100.00%

Special election

The state Republican Party held off on naming its nominee for the special election until the primary for the regular election was settled. At that point, Schuyler was named as the nominee for the special election.^[8]

General election

Results

Regular election

1932 United States Senate election in Colorado^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Alva B. Adams	226,516	51.91%	+5.52%
	Republican	Karl C. Schuyler	198,519	45.50%	−4.75%
	Socialist	Carle Whitehead	8,632	1.98%	+1.23%
	Farmer–Labor	H. H. Marrs	1,814	0.42%	−1.54%
	Communist	Raymond D. D. Richardson	858	0.20%	−0.09%
Majority			27,997	6.42%	+2.56%
Turnout			436,339
	Democratic hold

Special election

1932 United States Senate special election in Colorado^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Karl C. Schuyler	207,540	48.76%	−1.49%
	Democratic	Walter Walker	206,475	48.51%	+2.12%
	Socialist	Carle Whitehead	11,619	2.73%	+1.98%
Majority			1,065	0.25%	−3.60%
Turnout			425,634
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

^ "Walter Walker Is Appointed U.S. Senator by Governor". Wray Rattler. Wray, Colorado. September 29, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Armstrong, Charles M. (1932). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Thirteenth Day of September, A. D. 1932 and at the General Election Held on the Eighth Day of November, A. D. 1932 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
^ "More Political "Strategy"". Palisade Tribune. Palisade, Colorado. October 14, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ "Warren in Race for Senator". Ignacio Chieftain. Ignacio, Colorado. May 27, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ "Symes Is Candidate in U. S. Senate Race". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. June 10, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ "The Politician Reports the Gossip". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. August 5, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ "Nate Warren and Karl Schuyler to Contest for Republican Party Nomination for U. S. Senator". Craig Empire Courier. Craig, Colorado. August 10, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^ "Schuyler Named as Senator Candidate for Vacancy Term". Walsenburg World. Walsenburg, Colorado. September 27, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[1] "Walter Walker Is Appointed U.S. Senator by Governor". Wray Rattler. Wray, Colorado. September 29, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[1932_election_results-2] Armstrong, Charles M. (1932). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Thirteenth Day of September, A. D. 1932 and at the General Election Held on the Eighth Day of November, A. D. 1932 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.

[3] "More Political "Strategy"". Palisade Tribune. Palisade, Colorado. October 14, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[4] "Warren in Race for Senator". Ignacio Chieftain. Ignacio, Colorado. May 27, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[5] "Symes Is Candidate in U. S. Senate Race". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. June 10, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[6] "The Politician Reports the Gossip". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. August 5, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[7] "Nate Warren and Karl Schuyler to Contest for Republican Party Nomination for U. S. Senator". Craig Empire Courier. Craig, Colorado. August 10, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

[8] "Schuyler Named as Senator Candidate for Vacancy Term". Walsenburg World. Walsenburg, Colorado. September 27, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.

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