The 1920 United States Senate election in Illinois took place on November 2, 1920.
Incumbent
Republican senator
Lawrence Yates Sherman
Lawrence Yates Sherman (November 8, 1858 – September 15, 1939) was a Republican politician from the State of Illinois. He served as United States Senator, the 28th Lieutenant Governor, and as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representativ ...
opted to retire rather than seeking reelection. Fellow Republican
William B. McKinley
William Brown McKinley (September 5, 1856December 7, 1926) was a U.S. Representative (1905–1913, 1915–1921) and United States Senator (1921–1926) from the State of Illinois. A member of the Republican Party, he was born near Petersburg, I ...
was elected to succeed him in office.
Election information
The primaries and general election coincided with those for
House
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
and those for state elections, but not those for
president.
Primaries were held September 15, 1920.
The
1920 United States Senate elections
The 1920 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with the presidential election of Warren G. Harding. Democrat Woodrow Wilson's unpopularity allowed Republicans to win races across the country, wi ...
were the first to be held since the
Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution granted national
women's suffrage. This was the first Illinois U.S. Senate election in which women could vote.
Background
In 1916, incumbent
Lawrence Yates Sherman
Lawrence Yates Sherman (November 8, 1858 – September 15, 1939) was a Republican politician from the State of Illinois. He served as United States Senator, the 28th Lieutenant Governor, and as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representativ ...
made the decision to retire from politics and to not seek reelection in 1920, due to his failing hearing, which prevented him from hearing what was said on the Senate floor.
Democratic primary
Candidates
*Robert Emmet Burke
*Peter A. Waller,
Kewanee glove manufacturer
Campaign
Burke, known as "O.K. Bobby" by supporters, stood on a platform opposed to the
League of Nations and ratification of the
Treaty of Versailles. He was also opposed to
Prohibition and critical of President Wilson.
[ Waller had the support of the Democratic establishment.][ Neither ran an active campaign.][
]
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
* Burnett M. Chiperfield, former U.S. Representative at-large (from Canton
Canton may refer to:
Administrative division terminology
* Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries, notably Switzerland
* Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French
Arts and ent ...
)
*William B. McKinley
William Brown McKinley (September 5, 1856December 7, 1926) was a U.S. Representative (1905–1913, 1915–1921) and United States Senator (1921–1926) from the State of Illinois. A member of the Republican Party, he was born near Petersburg, I ...
, U.S. Representative from Champaign
*Frank L. Smith
Frank Leslie Smith (November 24, 1867 – August 30, 1950) was an Illinois politician.
Biography
Smith was born in Dwight, Illinois, in Livingston County He served as a United States Congressman from 1919 to 1921.
Career
Smith first ran f ...
, U.S. Representative from Dwight Dwight may refer to:
People
* Dwight (given name)
* Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), 34th president of the United States and former military officer
*New England Dwight family of American educators, military and political leaders, and authors
* ...
Results
Socialist primary
Candidates
*Gustave T. Fraenckel
Results
General election
Candidates
*George Dodd Carrington Jr. ( Single Tax)
* John Fitzpatrick, trade union leader
*Gustave T. Fraenckel (Socialist)
*William B. McKinley (Democratic), U.S. congressman
*Joseph B. Moody (Socialist Labor
The Socialist Labor Party (SLP)"The name of this organization shall be Socialist Labor Party". Art. I, Sec. 1 of thadopted at the Eleventh National Convention (New York, July 1904; amended at the National Conventions 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1924 ...
)
*Peter A. Waller (Republican)
*Frank B. Vennum (Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party (PRO) is a political party in the United States known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages and as an integral part of the temperance movement. It is the oldest existing third party ...
), activist, capitalist, philanthropist, 1912 candidate for Illinois treasurer, 1918
This year is noted for the end of the First World War, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as well as for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50–100 million people worldwide.
Events
Below, the events ...
U.S. Senate candidate
Results
See also
*1920 United States Senate elections
The 1920 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with the presidential election of Warren G. Harding. Democrat Woodrow Wilson's unpopularity allowed Republicans to win races across the country, wi ...
References
{{1920 United States elections
1920
Events January
* January 1
** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20.
** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own ma ...
Illinois
United States Senate