United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1936

United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1936

November 1936

Nominee Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. James Michael Curley Thomas C. O'Brien Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 875,160 739,751 134,245 Percentage 48.53% 41.02% 7.44%

Senator before election Marcus A. Coolidge Democratic Elected Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Republican

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The Massachusetts United States Senate election of 1936 coincided with the landslide re-election of Democratic incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt over Republican candidate Alf Landon (who won just two states against Roosevelt's 46).

The same year Democrats won six United States Senate seats from the Republicans, which gave them one of the largest Senate majorities ever. The Republicans retained just 16 seats.

The Massachusetts election was notable because this was the only state in which Republicans won a seat from Democrats in this election.

Democratic one-term incumbent Marcus A. Coolidge decided not to seek re-election, which left the contest open.

Candidates

Republican

• Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Grandson of former Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
• Alonzo B. Cook, Massachusetts Auditor from 1915-1931. Ran in the general election as an Economy candidate.
• Guy M. Gray, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Ran in the general election as a Social Justice candidate.
• Thomas C. O'Brien, Former District Attorney of Suffolk County. Also ran in the Democratic party. Ran in the general election as a member of the Union Party. Was also the Union Party's candidate for Vice President.

Democratic

• James Michael Curley, Governor of Massachusetts since 1935. Former Mayor of Boston (1914–1918, 1922–1926, 1930–1934) and member of the United States House of Representatives (1911–1914).
• Robert E. Greenwood, Mayor of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
• Thomas C. O'Brien, Former District Attorney of Suffolk County. Also ran in the Republican party. Ran in the general election as a member of the Union Party. Was also the Union Party's candidate for Vice President.

Results

Primaries

The Republican nominee was Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., grandson of Henry Cabot Lodge, a former Massachusetts Senator and the first Senate Majority Leader.

Despite his lack of experience Lodge, a moderate-to-liberal Republican, was viewed as a better choice to defeat a Democrat than a more conservative candidate.

The Democratic nominee was Governor and former (and future) Mayor of Boston James Michael Curley. President Franklin Roosevelt declined to endorse Curley, which may have affected the final results.

General election

References