The 1926 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was held on November 2, 1926. Former Democratic Senator

David I. Walsh David Ignatius Walsh (November 11, 1872June 11, 1947) was an American politician from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 46th Governor of Massachusetts before serving several terms in the Unite ...

defeated incumbent

William Morgan Butler William Morgan Butler (January 29, 1861March 29, 1937) was a lawyer and legislator for the State of Massachusetts, and a United States Senator. Biography Butler was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he attended the public school and stud ...

, a Republican who was appointed after the death of Republican Senator

Henry Cabot Lodge Henry Cabot Lodge (May 12, 1850 November 9, 1924) was an American Republican politician, historian, and statesman from Massachusetts. He served in the United States Senate from 1893 to 1924 and is best known for his positions on foreign policy. ...

. Walsh returned to the U.S. Senate for a 2-year term. He had previously served in the Senate from 1919 to 1925.

Background

Senator

, whose sixth term was set to expire in 1929, died on November 9, 1924, after suffering a stroke. On November 13, 1924, Governor of Massachusetts

Channing Cox Channing Harris Cox (October 28, 1879August 20, 1968) was an American Republican politician, lawyer, and businessman from Massachusetts. He served as the 49th Governor of Massachusetts, from 1921 to 1925. He attended Dartmouth College and serv ...

appointed William M. Butler, the chair of the

Republican National Committee The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. political committee that assists the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform, as well as assisting in fu ...

, to fill the vacant seat until a successor could be duly elected. The special election for the remainder of Lodge's term was scheduled for November 2, 1926, concurrent with the next general election.

Republican primary

Candidates

* William M. Butler, incumbent Senator and chairman of the

Declined

, former Governor of Massachusetts

Campaign

Butler formally announced his anticipated campaign for the special election on April 22, 1926, at a rally at Boston Symphony Hall, where he was endorsed by Governor

Alvan T. Fuller Alvan Tufts Fuller (February 27, 1878 – April 30, 1958) was an American businessman, politician, art collector, and philanthropist from Massachusetts. He opened one of the first automobile dealerships in Massachusetts, which in 1920 was recogniz ...

, Senator

Irvine Lenroot Irvine Luther Lenroot (January 31, 1869 – January 26, 1949) was a United States representative and United States senator from Wisconsin and an associate judge of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Education and career ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

, and Assistant Secretary of War

Hanford MacNider Lieutenant General Hanford MacNider (October 2, 1889 – February 18, 1968) was a senior officer of the United States Army who fought in both world wars. He also served as a diplomat, the Assistant Secretary of War of the United States from 192 ...

. Most of the speakers connected Butler's campaign to the re-election prospects of President

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a History of the Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer ...

, a close ally of Butler. At the Republican convention on September 24, Butler was unopposed for the nomination and received the unanimous support of the delegates.

Results

Senator Butler was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Democratic primary

Candidates

, former Senator

Results

Walsh was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

General election

Candidates

John J. Ballam John J. "Johnny" Ballam (June 9, 1882 – September 26, 1954) was an American Marxist political activist and trade union organizer. He is best remembered as a founding member and one of the pioneer leaders of the Communist Party of America and as ...

, founding member of the Communist Party of America (Workers') * William M. Butler, incumbent Senator (Republican) * Washington Cook, Republican Executive Councillor and independent candidate for Senate in 1922 (Modification of Volstead Act) * Alfred Baker Lewis, attorney, union organizer, and activist (Socialist) *

, former U.S. Senator (Democratic)

Results

References

1926 Events January * January 3 – Theodoros Pangalos declares himself dictator in Greece. * January 8 **Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud is crowned King of Hejaz. ** Crown Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thuy ascends the throne, the last monarch of V ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

1926 Massachusetts elections Massachusetts 1926

United States Senate 1926 {{Massachusetts-election-stub