1934 United States Senate election in Arizona

The 1934 United States Senate elections in Arizona took place on November 3, 1934. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Henry F. Ashurst ran for reelection to a fifth term, defeating Republican nominee Joseph Edward Thompson in the general election by a wide margin.

1934 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1928 November 3, 1934 1940 →
 
Nominee Henry F. Ashurst Joseph Edward Thompson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 67,648 24,075
Percentage 72.03% 25.63%

County results
Ashurst:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

United States Senator before election

Henry F. Ashurst
Democratic

Elected United States Senator

Henry F. Ashurst
Democratic

Thompson's candidacy came at an inopportune time, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt had just begun his first term, and with the country in the midst of the Great Depression, the Democrats were far more popular than the Republicans at the time. Additionally, Ashurst, who had served continuously as U.S. Senator since Arizona joined the union in 1912, presented an even greater challenge to anyone who would have hoped to defeat him for reelection, due to his seniority, and Thompson was fairly unknown in state politics, having never served in government prior to running for U.S. Senate.

Ashurst notably faced opposition in the Democratic primary, however, from former Secretary of State Sidney P. Osborn, who later became Governor of Arizona for several terms. This would be Ashurst's final electoral success, as he would lose the Democratic primary in 1940 to Ernest McFarland.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Primary results by county:
  Ashurst
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry F. Ashurst (incumbent) 36,646 40.7%
Democratic Sidney P. Osborn 24,065 26.7%
Democratic Renz L. Jennings 16,743 18.6%
Democratic William Coxon 8,653 9.6%
Democratic Charles H. Rutherford 4,026 4.5%
Total votes 90,133 100.0

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Joseph Edward Thompson, businessman

General election

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United States Senate election in Arizona, 1934[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Henry F. Ashurst (incumbent) 67,648 72.03% +17.78%
Republican Joseph Edward Thompson 24,075 25.63% −20.12%
Socialist Charles D. Pinkerton 1,591 1.69%
Communist Ramon Garcia 606 0.65%
Majority 43,573 46.39% +37.90%
Turnout 93,920
Democratic hold Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate - D Primary Race - Sep 11, 1934".
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate Race - Nov 06, 1934".