1932 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1926

November 8, 1932

1938 →


Nominee	Elmer Thomas	Wirt Franklin
Party	Democratic	Republican
Popular vote	426,130	218,854
Percentage	65.51%	33.70%

U.S. senator before election

Elmer Thomas
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Elmer Thomas
Democratic

Elections in Oklahoma

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Government

The 1932 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Democratic Senator Elmer Thomas ran for re-election to a second term. Thomas faced a crowded path to renomination, and only won the Democratic primary following a runoff election with attorney Gomer Smith. On the Republican side, oil magnate Wirt Franklin similarly won the Republican nomination in a runoff election. Thomas overwhelmingly defeated Franklin to win re-election, aided by Democratic presidential nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt's landslide win in Oklahoma over Republican President Herbert Hoover.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Elmer Thomas, incumbent U.S. Senator
Gomer Smith, attorney^[1]
R. M. McCool, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party^[2]
Albert C. Hunt, former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice^[3]
Lee Wade, Duncan contractor^[4]
Moses E. Harris
D. O. Witmer, Cardin salesman, druggist^[5]

Results

Democratic primary^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Elmer Thomas (inc.)	145,452	42.07%
	Democratic	Gomer Smith	76,249	22.06%
	Democratic	R. M. McCool	54,934	15.89%
	Democratic	Albert C. Hunt	31,440	9.09%
	Democratic	Lee Wade	18,050	5.22%
	Democratic	Moses E. Harris	12,977	3.75%
	Democratic	D. O. Witmer	6,618	1.91%
Total votes			345,720	100.00%

Runoff election results

Democratic primary runoff^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Elmer Thomas (inc.)	251,248	60.86%
	Democratic	Gomer Smith	161,594	39.14%
Total votes			412,842	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Wirt Franklin, oil producer^[7]
James A. Harris, former Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party^[8]
Ulysses S. Stone, former U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma's 5th congressional district^[8]
R. F. Bingham
Rexford B. Cragg

Results

Republican primary^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Wirt Franklin	30,586	40.96%
	Republican	James A. Harris	17,298	23.17%
	Republican	Ulysses S. Stone	15,427	20.66%
	Republican	R. F. Bingham	6,349	8.50%
	Republican	Rexford B. Cragg	5,006	6.70%
Total votes			74,666	100.00%

Runoff election results

Republican primary runoff^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Wirt Franklin	42,090	59.04%
	Republican	James A. Harris	29,195	40.96%
Total votes			71,285	100.00%

General election

Results

1932 United States Senate election in Oklahoma^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Elmer Thomas (inc.)	426,130	65.51%	+10.83%
	Republican	Wirt Franklin	218,854	33.70%	-10.98%
	Farmer–Labor	James I. Whidden	1,395	0.21%	-0.01%
	Independent	J. W. Houchin	1,245	0.19%	—
	Independent	John Franing	1,061	0.16%	—
	Independent	Thomas P. Hopley	819	0.13%	—
Majority			207,276	31.91%	+21.81%
Turnout			649,504
	Democratic hold

References

^ "Alignments of Democrats Are Assuming Form". Cushing Daily Citizen. Cushing, Okla. January 21, 1932. p. 5. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ "Will Run Again". Pawnee Courier-Dispatch. Pawnee, Okla. January 7, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ "Hunt May Try Senate Race". Miami News-Record. Miami, Okla. April 20, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ "Duncan Man Will Oppose Thomas in Race for Senate". Cotton County News. Devol, Okla. March 3, 1932. p. 5. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ "1932 Campaign in State is Opened: Filing Period Open For State Offices". Mangum Daily Star. Mangum, Okla. March 28, 1932. p. 4. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "1928-1932 Election Results" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ "Oil Man Enters Race for Senate". Okmulgee Daily Times. Okmulgee, Okla. April 26, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Mabel Bassett Leads Field in Congress Race". Henryetta Daily Free-Lance. Henryetta, Okla. July 7, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved June 14, 2021.

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