1926 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

The 1926 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 2, 1926. Incumbent Republican George W. Pepper, who was appointed following the death of Boies Penrose, was defeated for re-nomination by William Scott Vare.[1] Vare won the election, defeating Democratic opponent William Bauchop Wilson. He was not permitted to assume office, however, until an investigation was conducted into possible election fraud and corruption. Vare was ultimately unseated in December 1929 by the Senate, following charges of corruption.[2]

1926 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1922 (special) November 2, 1926 1930 (special) →
 
Nominee William Scott Vare William Bauchop Wilson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 822,187 648,680
Percentage 54.64% 43.11%

County results
Vare:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Wilson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

George W. Pepper
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

William Scott Vare[a]
Republican

Despite Wilson's loss, this is the last time that the following counties have voted Democratic: Bradford, Cameron, Huntingdon, Lebanon, McKean, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1926 Republican U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William Scott Vare 596,928 41.12%
Republican George W. Pepper (incumbent) 515,502 35.51%
Republican Gifford Pinchot 339,127 23.36%
Write-in 20 0.00%
Total votes 1,451,577 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1926 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William Bauchop Wilson 153,750 98.03%
Republican Gifford Pinchot (write-in) 1,382 0.88%
Republican William Scott Vare (write-in) 781 0.50%
Republican George W. Pepper (write-in) 329 0.21%
Write-in 592 0.38%
Total votes 156,834 100.00%

Prohibition primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1926 Prohibition U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Prohibition Elisha Kent Kane 2,908 55.36%
Prohibition Gifford Pinchot 2,036 38.76%
Write-in 309 5.88%
Total votes 5,253 100.00%

Socialist primary

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Candidates

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  • Cora M. Bixler

Results

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1926 Socialist U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Socialist Cora Bixler 1,761 86.03%
Write-in 286 13.97%
Total votes 2,047 100.00%

Labor primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1926 Labor U.S. Senate primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labor Gifford Pinchot 521 50.68%
Labor William Scott Vare 348 33.85%
Labor George W. Pepper (incumbent) 120 11.67%
Write-in 39 3.79%
Total votes 1,028 100.00%

General election

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Results

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General election results[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William Scott Vare 822,187 54.64%  2.96
Democratic William B. Wilson 648,680 43.11%  10.19
Prohibition Elisha K. Kane 19,523 1.30%  1.10
Socialist George W. Snyder 9,869 0.66%  2.03
Workers A. J. Carey 3,094 0.21% N/A
Commonwealth Land Robert Colvin Macauley, Jr. 1,053 0.07% N/A
Write-in 290 0.02% N/A
Total votes 1,504,696 100.00%

Notes

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  1. ^ Not seated

References

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  1. ^ a b c "PEPPER, George Wharton, (1867 - 1961)". Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  2. ^ "VARE, William Scott, (1867 - 1934)". Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Pennsylvania Manual". 1927. p. 441. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1926" (PDF). Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House. Retrieved July 8, 2014.