1940 United States Senate election in Montana
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The 1940 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent United States Senator Burton K. Wheeler, who was first elected to the Senate in 1922, and was re-elected in 1928 and 1934, ran for re-election. Though he faced a serious challenger in the Democratic primary, he emerged victorious, and advanced to the general election, where he faced E. K. Cheadle, a state district judge and the Republican nominee. Just like in 1934, Wheeler won re-election in a landslide, winning his fourth term in the Senate.
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November 5, 1940
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 County results Wheeler: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90–100% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Burton K. Wheeler, incumbent United States Senator
- H. J. Freebourn, Attorney General of Montana
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Burton K. Wheeler (incumbent) | 75,498 | 72.86 | |
| Democratic | H. J. Freebourn | 28,128 | 27.14 | |
| Total votes | 103,626 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- E. K. Cheadle, Tenth Judicial Circuit District Judge
- L. Ray Carroll, former State Senator
- Floyd C. Fluent
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. K. Cheadle | 22,273 | 52.13 | |
| Republican | L. Ray Carroll | 13,483 | 31.56 | |
| Republican | Floyd C. Fluent | 6,972 | 16.32 | |
| Total votes | 42,728 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Burton K. Wheeler (incumbent) | 176,753 | 73.43% | +3.29% | |
| Republican | E. K. Cheadle | 63,941 | 26.57% | −2.17% | |
| Majority | 112,812 | 46.87% | +5.47% | ||
| Turnout | 240,694 | ||||
| Democratic hold | Swing | ||||