1962 United States Senate special election in Idaho

The 1962 United States Senate special election in Idaho took place on November 6, 1962, to elect a U.S. Senator to complete the unexpired term of Senator Henry Dworshak, who died on July 23, 1962.

1962 United States Senate special election in Idaho

← 1960 November 6, 1962 1966 →
 
Nominee Leonard B. Jordan Gracie Pfost
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 131,279 126,398
Percentage 50.95% 49.05%

County results
Jordan:      50–60%      60–70%
Pfost:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Leonard B. Jordan
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Leonard B. Jordan
Republican

Following his nomination for the special election by the Republican state committee, former Governor of Idaho Len Jordan was appointed on August 6, 1962 by Governor Robert E. Smylie to fill the vacancy until a special election could be held.

Jordan won the special election, narrowly defeating Democratic nominee Gracie Pfost.

Nominations

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As the vacancy occurred after the primary elections for the ordinary 1962 elections were held, the candidates were selected by the state central committees.

Democratic nomination

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Candidate

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Results

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The Democratic state committee met at Boise on August 18. They nominated Gracie Pfost unanimously by voice vote.[1][2]

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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The Republican state committee met at Pocatello on August 4.[3] They nominated Len Jordan unanimously on the second ballot.[4][5]

The unofficial results of the first ballot were as follows:

Republican nomination, 1st ballot[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Len Jordan (Incumbent) 61 46.2
Republican Hamer Budge 31 23.5
Republican A. W. Naegle 13 9.8
Republican George V. Hansen 12 9.1
Republican Raymond L. White 7 5.3
Republican Dick Smith 4 3.0
Republican Sid Smith 4 3.0
Republican John C. Sanborn 0 0.0
Total votes 132 100.00

General election

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Results

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1962 United States Senate election in Idaho[6][7][8][9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Len Jordan (Incumbent) 131,279 50.95
Democratic Gracie Pfost 126,398 49.05
Majority 4,881 1.90
Turnout 257,677
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Idaho Democrats Pick Mrs. Pfost". Evening star. Washington, D.C. August 19, 1962. p. A-2. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  2. ^ "Demos Shout Their Approval of Mrs. Pfost for Senator". Times News. Twin Falls, Idaho. August 19, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Idaho G. O. P. Picks Jordan". Evening star. Washington, D.C. August 5, 1962. p. A-10. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Len Jordan Nominated On First Ballot as GOP's Candidate for Senator". Times News. Twin Falls, Idaho. August 5, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Lewis, William O. (June 1963). "The 1962 Election in Idaho". The Western Political Quarterly. 16 (2). University of Utah on behalf of the Western Political Science Association: 432–438. doi:10.2307/444956. JSTOR 444956. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 85.
  7. ^ America Votes 5, p. 99.
  8. ^ "ID US Senate, 1962 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (March 16, 1963). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1962" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.

Bibliography

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