1948 United States Senate election in Maine

The 1948 United States Senate election in Maine was held on September 13, 1948. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Wallace White did not seek a fourth term in office.

1948 United States Senate election in Maine

September 13, 1948
 
Nominee Margaret Chase Smith Adrian Scolten
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 159,182 64,074
Percentage 71.30% 28.70%

U.S. senator before election

Wallace H. White Jr.
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Margaret Chase Smith
Republican

U.S. Representative Margaret Chase Smith defeated the two most recent Governors of Maine, Horace Hildreth and Sumner Sewall, in the Republican primary. In the general election, Smith resoundingly defeated Democrat Adrian Scolten of Portland.

Smith was the first woman ever elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate without first being appointed.[lower-alpha 1] Smith's election also made her the first woman to serve in both house of the United States Congress, as well as the first woman to represent the state of Maine in the Senate.[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1948 Republican U.S. Senate primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Margaret Chase Smith 63,786 51.90%
Republican Horace Hildreth 30,949 25.18%
Republican Sumner Sewall 21,763 17.71%
Republican Albion Beverage 6,399 5.21%
Total votes 122,897 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

  • Adrian Scolten

Results

Scolten was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

1948 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adrian Scolten 15,452 100.00%
Total votes 15,452 100.00%

General election

Results

1948 U.S. Senate election in Maine[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Margaret Chase Smith (inc.) 159,182 71.30% 4.63
Democratic Adrian Scolten 64,074 28.70% 4.63
Total votes 223,256 100.00%

See also

References

Notes

  1. Hattie Caraway of Arkansas was elected to two terms in the Senate, but she had been appointed first to succeed her dead husband and was an incumbent in each of her elections. In 1938, Gladys Pyle was elected to represent South Dakota in the U.S. Senate for 55 days to complete the term of Herbert Hitchcock.
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