The 1916 United States Senate election in Indiana took place on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and
Senate Majority Leader
The positions of majority leader and minority leader are held by two United States senators and members of the party leadership of the United States Senate. They serve as the chief spokespersons for their respective political parties holding t ...
John W. Kern ran for re-election to a second term in office, he was defeated by Republican
Harry New, a former Chairman of the
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. political committee that assists the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform, as well as assisting in fu ...
.
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
John W. Kern, incumbent Senator since 1911 and Democratic Caucus Chairman Leader since 1913
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
*
Harry Stewart New
Harry Stewart New (December 31, 1858 – May 9, 1937) was a U.S. politician, journalist, and Spanish–American War veteran. He served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee, a United States senator from Indiana, and United States P ...
, former State Senator from
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
and Chairman of the
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. political committee that assists the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform, as well as assisting in fu ...
*Arthur N. Robinson
*
James E. Watson
James Eli Watson (November 2, 1864July 29, 1948) was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Indiana. He was the Senate's second official majority leader. While an article published by the Senate (see References) gives his year of birth a ...
, former U.S. Representative from
Rushville
Results
After losing the primary, Watson ran in
the special election for Indiana's other Senate seat caused by the death of Senator
Benjamin F. Shively
Benjamin Franklin Shively (March 20, 1857 – March 14, 1916) was an United States of America, American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Representative (1884 to 1885 and 1887 to 1893) and United States Senate, Senator (190 ...
, which he won over Indiana's other Senator
Thomas Taggart
Thomas Taggart (November 17, 1856March 6, 1929) was an Irish-American politician who was the political boss of the Democratic Party in Indiana for the first quarter of the twentieth century and remained an influential political figure in local ...
. Watson would be sworn in as a U.S Senator 3 months before Senator-elect New's term began.
Progressive primary
Candidates
*John N. Dyer, candidate for U.S. Representative in 1912
Results
General election
Results
Kern died 5 months after leaving the U.S Senate.
See also
*
1916 United States Senate elections
References
{{1916 United States elections
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
1916
Events
Below, the events of the First World War have the "WWI" prefix.
January
* January 1 – The British Royal Army Medical Corps carries out the first successful blood transfusion, using blood that had been stored and cooled.
* ...
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...