The 1940 United States Senate special election in Kentucky took place on November 5, 1940, to complete the unexpired term of

M. M. Logan Marvel Mills Logan (January 7, 1874October 3, 1939) was an American politician and attorney who served as a member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and the Attorney General of Kentucky. Early life and education Logan was born on a far ...

. Interim appointee Happy Chandler was re-elected to complete the term, defeating Republican Walter B. Smith.

Background

Senator

died on October 3, 1939. Governor of Kentucky Happy Chandler, whose term was set to expire in 1940, resigned his office so that Lieutenant Governor (and Democratic nominee for Governor)

Keen Johnson Keen Johnson (January 12, 1896February 7, 1970) was an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1939 to 1943; being the only journalist to have held that office.Odgen, p. 178 After serving in World War I, Jo ...

could appoint him to the Senate. Johnson appointed Chandler to fill the vacant seat until a successor could be duly elected, and the special election was scheduled for November 5, 1940, concurrent with the general election.

General election

Candidates

* Happy Chandler, Governor of Kentucky and candidate for Senate in 1938 (Democratic) *Walter B. Smith (Republican)

Results

Notes

References

{{1940 United States elections

1940 A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * Januar ...

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

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 ...