1946 United States Senate election in Mississippi
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The 1946 United States Senate election in Mississippi was held on November 3, 1946. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Theodore G. Bilbo won re-election to his third term.
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July 2, 1946
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 County results Bilbo: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Ellis: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Because Bilbo was unopposed in the general election, his victory in the July 2 primary was tantamount to election. He defeated a field of candidates with 51% of the vote.
However, the United States Senate, with a Republican majority and at the request of liberal Democratic Senator Glen H. Taylor of Idaho, refused to seat Bilbo based on his adamant opposition to voting rights for black Americans anywhere in the country, incitement of violence against those blacks who tried to vote, and history of accepting bribes. While his re-entry to the Senate was being contested in 1947, Bilbo died of oral cancer.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Theodore G. Bilbo, incumbent Senator since 1935
- Ross A. Collins, former U.S. Representative from Meridian and candidate for Senate in 1934[1]
- Tom Ellis, clerk of the Mississippi Supreme Court[1]
- Frank "Peachtree" Harper, hitchhiker, folk hero, and former state legislator from Hattiesburg[1]
- Nelson T. Levings, investment banker and Navy Lieutenant Commander during World War II[1]
Withdrew
- Douglas Smith, landscaper and greenhouse operator from Jackson[1]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Theodore G. Bilbo (incumbent) | 97,820 | 51.00% | |
| Democratic | Tom Ellis | 58,005 | 30.24% | |
| Democratic | Ross A. Collins | 18,875 | 9.84% | |
| Democratic | Nelson T. Levings | 15,720 | 8.20% | |
| Democratic | Frank H. Harper | 1,386 | 0.72% | |
| Total votes | 191,806 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Theodore G. Bilbo (incumbent) | 46,747 | 100.00% |  | |
| Total votes | 46,747 | 100.00% | |||
