1926 United States Senate election in California

1926 United States Senate election in California

November 2, 1926
 
Nominee Samuel Morgan Shortridge John B. Elliott
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 670,128 391,599
Percentage 63.12% 36.88%

County results
Shortridge:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election

Samuel Morgan Shortridge
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Samuel Morgan Shortridge
Republican

The 1926 United States Senate election in California was held on November 2, 1926. Incumbent Republican Senator Samuel Morgan Shortridge was re-elected to a second term.

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Hiram Johnson, the state's senior senator and a progressive maverick, recruited Clarke as an opponent to his own colleague and fellow Republican. Johnson sought to unseat Shortridge in order to undermine President Calvin Coolidge, whom he opposed, and to balance the Senate delegation with a native of Southern California, in order to boost his own re-election in 1928.[1] (Johnson also supported C. C. Young for the governorship against incumbent Friend Richardson.)[1]

Shortridge ran his campaign on his support for Coolidge, protective tariffs, and proposals for a World Court.[1] The primary was bitter and considered tantamount to election, given minimal registration for the Democratic Party in the state.[1]

Results

1926 Republican Senate primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Samuel Morgan Shortridge (incumbent) 339,827 48.04%
Republican Robert M. Clarke 239,011 33.79%
Republican Walter Lineberger 128,488 18.17%
Total votes 707,326 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Elliott was endorsed by former Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo, who would win this seat himself in 1932.

Results

1926 Democratic Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John B. Elliott 77,841 60.18%
Democratic Isidore B. Dockweiler 51,507 39.82%
Total votes 129,348 100.00%

General election

Results

1926 United States Senate election in California[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Samuel Morgan Shortridge (incumbent) 670,128 63.12%
Democratic John B. Elliott 391,599 36.88%
Total votes 1,061,727 100.00%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Holman, Alfred Holman special To the New York Times by Alfred (September 2, 1926). "SHORTRIDGE WINS SWEEPING VICTORY; Coolidge Senator Defeats His Anti-World Court Opponent in California Primary. DEMOCRATIC FIGHT CLOSE But Elliott, McAdoo Candidate for the Senate. Increases His Lead Over Dockweiler. SHORTRIDGE WINS SWEEPING VICTORY". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  2. ^ "CA US Senate – R Primary, 1926". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  3. ^ "CA US Senate – D Primary, 1926". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "CA US Senate, 1926". OurCampaigns.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.