1950 United States Senate elections in Kansas
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The 1950 United States Senate elections in Kansas took place on November 7, 1950. Incumbent Republican Senator Clyde M. Reed died in office on November 8, 1949. Governor Frank Carlson appointed Harry Darby to serve out the remaining year of Reed's term. Two elections for the same Senate seat were held on the same day: one as a special election to fill the remainder of Reed's six-year term, and another to elect a Senator to serve the next six-year term. Darby did not seek re-election. Instead, Governor Carlson ran, won the Republican primary, and defeated Democratic nominee Paul Aiken, the former Assistant U.S. Postmaster General, by a wide margin.
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November 7, 1950
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 County results Carlson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Aiken: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Regular election
Candidates
- Paul Aiken, Assistant U.S. Postmaster General[1]
- Carl V. Rice, Kansas City attorney and state Democratic National Committeeman[2]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Paul Aiken | 54,857 | 57.15% | |
| Democratic | Carl V. Rice | 41,135 | 42.85% | |
| Total votes | 95,992 | 100.00% | ||
Special election
Candidates
- Paul Aiken, Assistant U.S. Postmaster General[1]
- Carl V. Rice, Kansas City attorney and state Democratic National Committeeman[2]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Paul Aiken | 47,975 | 57.75% | |
| Democratic | Carl V. Rice | 35,103 | 42.25% | |
| Total votes | 83,078 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Regular election
Candidates
- Frank Carlson, Governor of Kansas
- Harry W. Colmery, former National Commander of American Legion
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Carlson | 140,798 | 58.61% | |
| Republican | Harry W. Colmery | 99,418 | 41.39% | |
| Total votes | 240,216 | 100.00% | ||
Special election
Candidates
- Frank Carlson, Governor of Kansas
- Harry W. Colmery, former National Commander of American Legion
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Carlson | 121,020 | 57.37% | |
| Republican | Harry W. Colmery | 89,921 | 42.63% | |
| Total votes | 210,941 | 100.00% | ||
Prohibition primary
Regular election
Candidates
- Floyd M. Gurley
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | Floyd M. Gurley | 379 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 379 | 100.00% | ||
After winning the primary election, Gurley withdrew from the race, explaining, "My reason being that I have conscientious objections to the advocacy or support of a state legalizing or supporting the sale of whiskey or other forms of debauchery."[4] Gurley was replaced on the general election ballot by Verne L. Damon, a history professor at Sterling College.[5]
General election
Regular election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Carlson | 335,880 | 54.25% | −3.59% | |
| Democratic | Paul Aiken | 271,365 | 43.83% | +3.18% | |
| Prohibition | Verne L. Damon | 11,859 | 1.92% | — | |
| Majority | 64,515 | 10.42% | −6.77% | ||
| Total votes | 619,104 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Special election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Carlson | 321,718 | 55.17% | −2.67% | |
| Democratic | Paul Aiken | 261,405 | 44.83% | +4.17% | |
| Majority | 60,313 | 10.34% | −6.85% | ||
| Total votes | 583,123 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||