The 1940 United States Senate special election in Illinois took place on November 5, 1940. The election was triggered by the vacancy left by the

death in office A death in office is the death of a person who was incumbent of an office-position until the time of death. Such deaths have been usually due to natural causes, but they are also caused by accidents, suicides, disease and assassinations. The dea ...

of Democrat J. Hamilton Lewis. After Lewis' death,

James M. Slattery James Michael Slattery (July 29, 1878 – August 28, 1948) was a United States senator from Illinois. Born in Chicago, he attended parochial schools and St. Ignatius College (now known as Loyola University Chicago). He was employed as a sec ...

was appointed to fill the seat in the interim period until the individual elected in the special election would be sworn-in. Slattery was the Democratic Party's nominee in the special election. He was defeated by Republican nominee

Charles W. Brooks Charles Wayland Brooks (March 8, 1897 – January 14, 1957) was a Republican U.S. Senator from Illinois from 1940 to 1949. Early life Born in West Bureau, Illinois, Brooks served in the Marines during World War I as a first lieutenant fro ...

Election information

The primaries and general election coincided with those for other federal elections (

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

and

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. Primaries were held April 9, 1940.

Democratic primary

Candidates

* Benjamin S. Adamowski, State Representative from Chicago *

, interim Senator and former chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

* C. Wayland Brooks, nominee for Governor in 1936 *

Ralph E. Church Ralph Edwin Church (May 5, 1883 – March 21, 1950) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1917 to 1932 and then represented the northern suburbs of Chicago in the United Sta ...

, U.S. Representative from Evanston

Results

General election

References

{{1940 United States elections 1940

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

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 ...

Illinois 1940 Illinois 1940 United States Senate 1940

Election information

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

See also

References