The 1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 3, 1942.
Incumbent
Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
George W. Norris lost re-election to a sixth term to
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
Kenneth Wherry.
Norris, a former Republican, was quoted as remarking, “I would rather go down to my political grave with a clear conscience than ride in the chariot of victory.” In part for his honesty with constituents even if it meant defeat, Norris was later featured in
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...
's Pulitzer Prize-winning ''
Profiles in Courage
''Profiles in Courage'' is a 1956 volume of short biographies describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators. The book profiles senators who defied the opinions of their party and constituents to do what they felt was ...
''.
Republican primary
Candidates
* Hugh Ashmore
* Voyle Rector
*
Kenneth Wherry
Kenneth Spicer Wherry (February 28, 1892November 29, 1951) was an American businessman, attorney, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1943 until his death in 1951; he was the minority ...
, former state senator and mayor of
Pawnee City; candidate for U.S. Senate in 1934 and governor in 1932
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
*
Terry Carpenter
Terry McGovern Carpenter (March 28, 1900 – April 27, 1978) was an American politician.Nebraska Legislature, The Official Site of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature: ''Sen. Terry Carpenter'', http://nebraskalegislature.gov/education/carpenter.p ...
, former U.S. Representative from
Scottsbluff, nominee for Senator in 1936, and perennial candidate
*
Harry B. Coffee
Harry Buffington Coffee (March 16, 1890 – October 3, 1972) was an American Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party politician.
Born near Harrison, Nebraska on March 16, 1890, a son of Samuel Buffington Coffee and May Elizabeth T ...
, U.S. Representative from
Chadron
* Foster May, radio newsman and candidate for U.S. Representative in 1936
* Lawrence Moore
* John C. Mullin
* George Olsen
* William Ritchie
Results
Independents
*
George W. Norris, incumbent senator first elected in 1912
* Albert F. Ruthven
General election
Results
See also
*
1942 United States Senate elections
The 1942 United States Senate elections were held November 3, 1942, midway through Franklin D. Roosevelt's third term as President.
Background
Although this election took place during World War II, the opposition Republican party made major g ...
References
{{US Third Party Election
1942
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1 – WWII: The Declaration by United Nations is signed by China, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and 22 other nations, in w ...
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
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 ...