Carl Jeffords

Jeffords was born in Broken Bow, Nebraska, in 1888.^[1] He attended the University of Nebraska, and was a public school teacher.^[1] Jeffords served on the local school board and as a justice of the peace.^[1]

In 1942, State Senator Rufus Howard opted to run for Lieutenant Governor rather than seek re-election. Jeffords ran to succeed him in the 39th district, which was based in western Nebraska and included Arthur, Blaine, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Hooker, Keith, Logan, McPherson, and Thomas counties.^[2] In the nonpartisan primary, he faced former Ogallala Mayor C. H. Fisher, state irrigation office employee Guy Roberts, and farmer Cecil Stanley.^[3][4][5] Jeffords narrowly placed first in the primary, winning 28 percent of the vote to Roberts's 25 percent,^[6] and they advanced to the general election.^[7] Jeffords narrowly defeated Roberts in the general election, winning 53–47 percent.^[6][8]

Jeffords ran for re-election in 1944, and was challenged by businessman Russell Anderson and rancher Sy Brogan.^[9][10] Jeffords placed first in the primary, receiving 40 percent of the vote to Anderson's 34 percent and Brogan's 26 percent.^[11] Jeffords and Anderson advanced to the general election,^[12] where Jeffords won, 56–44 percent.^[11]

In 1946, Jeffords ran for a third term, and was challenged by farmer Clyde Cretsinger.^[13] Jeffords placed first over Cretsinger in the primary election by a wide margin, winning 60 percent of the vote to Cretsinger's 40 percent, but ultimately lost the general election, receiving 41 percent of the vote to Cretsinger's 59 percent.^[14][15]

Cretsinger ran for a second term in 1948, and Jeffords challenged him.^[16] Jeffords placed second in the primary, receiving 39 percent of the vote to Cretsinger's 61 percent, and lost the general election by a slightly smaller margin than his 1946 defeat, winning 42 percent to Cretsinger's 58 percent.^[17][18]