The United States Senate election of 1942 in New Jersey was held on November 3, 1942. Incumbent Democratic Senator William Smathers ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Republican businessman Albert Hawkes.
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 County results Hawkes: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Smathers: 50–60% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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As of 2024, this is the last time an incumbent U.S. Senator from New Jersey lost re-election, although in 2002 incumbent Senator Robert Torricelli dropped out in late September while trailing in the polls.[1]
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- William Smathers, incumbent Senator
Results
editSenator Smathers was unopposed for re-nomination.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Smathers (incumbent) | 170,621 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 170,621 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
editDeclared
edit- George Biehl
- Joseph A. Bower, banker and treasurer of the Republican State Committee
- Albert Hawkes, director of the United States Chamber of Commerce
- Franklin W. Kielb, attorney from North Plainfield
- George O. Pullen, candidate for Senate in 1938 and 1940
- Gill Robb Wilson, Presbyterian minister and founder of the Civil Air Patrol
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Albert W. Hawkes | 130,885 | 43.97% | |
| Republican | Gill Robb Wilson | 127,390 | 42.80% | |
| Republican | Joseph A. Bower | 16,097 | 5.41% | |
| Republican | George Biehl | 11,588 | 3.89% | |
| Republican | George O. Pullen | 6,311 | 2.12% | |
| Republican | Franklin W. Kielb | 5,384 | 1.81% | |
| Total votes | 297,655 | 100.00% | ||
General election
editCandidates
edit- Elmo L. Bateman (Prohibition)
- William L. Becker (Socialist)
- George Breitman (Socialist Workers), activist and editor of The Militant
- John C. Butterworth (Socialist Labor)
- Lorenzo Harris (Progressive Independent)
- Albert W. Hawkes (Republican), director of the United States Chamber of Commerce
- William H. Smathers (Democrat), incumbent Senator since 1937
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Albert W. Hawkes | 648,855 | 53.09% | |
| Democratic | William H. Smathers (incumbent) | 559,851 | 45.81% | |
| Socialist | William L. Becker | 6,775 | 0.55% | |
| Independent Progressive | Lorenzo Harris | 3,224 | 0.26% | |
| Prohibition | Elmo L. Bateman | 1,438 | 0.12% | |
| Socialist Labor | John C. Butterworth | 1,310 | 0.11% | |
| Socialist Workers | George Breitman | 679 | 0.06% | |
| Majority | 89,004 | 7.28% | ||
| Turnout | 1,222,132 | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "N.J. hasn't tossed an incumbent U.S. Senator in a general in 78 years". New Jersey Globe. April 22, 2020.
- ^ "1942 Primary Results" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NJ US Senate - R Primary Race - Sep 15, 1942". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1942" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
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