The 1916 United States Senate special election in Indiana took place on November 7, 1916 to complete the unexpired term of
Benjamin F. Shively. Interim Democratic 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 loca ...
was defeated in his bid to complete the term by U.S. Representative
James Eli 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 as ...
.
Background
Senator Benjamin F. Shively was re-elected in 1914 and served until his death on March 14, 1916. Governor Samuel Ralston appointed Thomas Taggart to fill the vacant seat on March 20 until a successor could be duly elected. The special election to complete the term was scheduled for November 7, 1916, concurrent with the general election for presidential electors and
Indiana's other United States Senate seat.
General election
Candidates
*John F. Clifford (Progressive)
*Edward Henry (Socialist)
*William H. Hickman (Prohibition)
*
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 loca ...
, interim U.S. Senator and former mayor of Indianapolis (Democratic)
*
James E. Watson, former U.S. Representative from
Rushville and nominee for Governor in 1908 (Republican)
Results
See also
*
1916 United States Senate elections
References
{{1916 United States elections
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.
* J ...
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 ...
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 ...
Indiana 1916
Indiana 1916
United States Senate 1916