1932 United States Senate election in Indiana

The 1932 United States Senate election in Indiana took place on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Republican Senator and Senate Majority Leader James E. Watson ran for a third term in office, but was defeated by Frederick Van Nuys in a landslide.

1932 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1926 November 8, 1932 1938 →
 
Nominee Frederick Van Nuys James E. Watson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 870,053 661,750
Percentage 55.57% 42.26%

County results
Van Nuys:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Watson:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

James E. Watson
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Frederick Van Nuys
Democratic

This marked the first time in history that a Senate leader lost re-election, and the only time they were a Republican.

General election

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Candidates

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  • Evartt E. Bailey (Socialist Labor)
  • Ralph Green (National)
  • William Townsend (Communist)
  • Frederick Van Nuys, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Indiana and State Senator (Democratic)
  • Forrest Wallace (Socialist)
  • James E. Watson, incumbent Senator since 1916 and Senate Majority Leader (Republican)
  • Alson E. Wrentmore (Prohibition)

Results

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1932 United States Senate election in Indiana[1][2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Frederick Van Nuys 870,053 55.57%  6.62
Republican James E. Watson (incumbent) 783,189 42.26%  7.78
Socialist Forrest Wallace 18,724 1.20%  0.71
Prohibition Alson E. Wrentmore 9,406 0.60%  0.08
Communist William Townsend 2,123 0.14% N/A
National Miles Blansett 1,869 0.12% N/A
Socialist Labor Evartt E. Bailey 1,825 0.12% N/A
Total votes 1,687,189 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1932".
  2. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (March 1, 1945). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1932" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 16.