The 1920 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 2, 1920 in Missouri. The incumbent Republican Senator, Selden P. Spencer, was re-elected to a full term, having won a special election in 1918. He defeated Breckinridge Long of the Democratic Party. Spencer underperformed Republican presidential nominee Warren G. Harding, who won 54.6% of the vote in the concurrent presidential election.
 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Spencer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Long: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Charles M. Hay, former State Representative for Callaway County[1]
- John C. Higdon, lawyer[2]
- Arthur N. Lindsey, pastor[1]
- Breckinridge Long, former Assistant Secretary of State
- George H. Scruton, editor of the Sedalia Democrat[1]
- Henry Samuel Priest, former judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri[1]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Breckinridge Long | 65,825 | 37.40 | |
| Democratic | Charles M. Hay | 44,504 | 25.29 | |
| Democratic | Henry Samuel Priest | 40,637 | 23.09 | |
| Democratic | Arthur N. Lindsey | 15,631 | 8.88 | |
| Democratic | John C. Higdon | 5,998 | 3.41 | |
| Democratic | George H. Scruton | 3,407 | 1.94 | |
| Total votes | 176,002 | 100 | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Dwight F. Davis, adjutant and former Olympic tennis player
- James L. Minnis, former attorney[1]
- Selden P. Spencer, the incumbent Senator
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Selden P. Spencer | 95,867 | 49.74 | |
| Republican | Dwight F. Davis | 73,541 | 38.16 | |
| Republican | James L. Minnis | 23,341 | 12.11 | |
| Total votes | 192,729 | 100 | ||
Other candidates
editFarmer–Worker
editThe Farmer–Worker Party nominated carpenter W. J. Mallett.[4]
Socialist
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist | Elias F. Hodges | 1,515 | 100 | |
| Total votes | 1,515 | 100 | ||
Socialist Labor
editThe Socialist Labor Party nominated Andrew Trudell.
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Selden P. Spencer (Incumbent) | 711,161 | 53.65% | +1.26 | |
| Democratic | Breckinridge Long | 589,498 | 44.47% | −1.82 | |
| Socialist | Elias F. Hodges | 1,807 | 0.18% | −1.33 | |
| Farmer–Worker | W. J. Mallett | 3,158 | 0.24% | +0.24 | |
| Socialist Labor | Andrew Trudell | 1,675 | 0.13% | −0.03 | |
| Majority | 121,663 | 9.18% | |||
| Turnout | 1,325,494 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "RECORD OF CANDIDATES WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SENATORIAL HONORS". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. August 1, 1920. pp. 1B–4B. Retrieved July 23, 2023 – via State Historical Society of Missouri.
- ^ "Higdon Runs as a "Wet"". Farmington Times. Farmington, Missouri. April 23, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved July 23, 2023 – via State Historical Society of Missouri.
- ^ a b c Official Manual of the State of Missouri 1921 - 1922. Missouri Secretary of State's Office. 1922. p. 490. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ "MONETT MAN ON FARMER–LABOR TICKET". Monett Times. Monett, Missouri. August 20, 1920. p. 4. Retrieved July 23, 2023 – via State Historical Society of Missouri.
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1920" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. p. 9. Retrieved August 21, 2019.