1916 United States Senate election in Indiana

The 1916 United States Senate election in Indiana took place on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader John W. Kern ran for re-election to a second term in office, he was defeated by Republican Harry New, a former Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

1916 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1911 November 7, 1916 1922 →
 
Nominee Harry New John W. Kern
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 337,089 325,588
Percentage 47.77% 46.14%

County results
New:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Kern:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

John W. Kern
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Harry New
Republican

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

  • John W. Kern, incumbent Senator since 1911 and Democratic Caucus Chairman Leader since 1913

Results edit

1916 Democratic Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John W. Kern 151,931 100.00%
Total votes 151,931 100.00%

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Round 1 Round 2
Votes % Transfer Votes %
Republican Harry New 97,118 46.07% + 3,981 101,099 52.05%
Republican James Watson 89,847 42.62% + 3,273 93,120 47.95%
Republican Arthur Robinson 23,835 11.31% - 23,835 Eliminated

After losing the primary, Watson ran in the special election for Indiana's other Senate seat caused by the death of Senator Benjamin F. Shively, which he won over Indiana's other Senator Thomas Taggart. Watson would be sworn in as a U.S Senator 3 months before Senator-elect New's term began.

Progressive primary edit

Candidates edit

  • John N. Dyer, candidate for U.S. Representative in 1912

Results edit

1916 Progressive Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressive John N. Dyer 7,567 100.00%
Total votes 7,567 100.00%

General election edit

Results edit

1916 U.S. Senate election in Indiana[4][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harry Stewart New 337,089 47.77%
Democratic John W. Kern 325,588 46.14%
Socialist Joseph Zimmerman 21,558 3.06%
Prohibition Elwood Haynes 15,598 2.21%
Progressive John N. Dyer 4,272 0.61%
Socialist Labor Ira J. Decker 1,562 0.22%
Total votes 705,667 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Kern died 5 months after leaving the U.S Senate.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN US Senate - D Primary Race - Mar 07, 1916".
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN US Senate - R Primary Race - Mar 07, 1916".
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - IN US Senate - PRG Primary Race - Mar 07, 1916".
  4. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1917). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1916" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
  5. ^ "Our Campaigns – IN US Senate Race – Nov 06, 1916". www.ourcampaigns.com.