1916 United States Senate election in Tennessee

The 1916 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Democratic Senator Luke Lea ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated for the Democratic nomination by U.S. Representative Kenneth McKellar. McKellar won the general election against Republican Governor of Tennessee Ben W. Hooper.[1]

1916 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 1911 November 7, 1916 1922 →
 
Nominee Kenneth McKellar Ben W. Hooper
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 143,718 118,174
Percentage 54.42% 44.75%

County results
McKellar:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Hooper:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election

Luke Lea
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Kenneth McKellar
Democratic

This was the first popular election for U.S. Senator held in Tennessee, following the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. McKellar would go on to serve six terms in the Senate, becoming one of the longest serving members of either house of Congress.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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In the initial primary, held in November 1915, McKellar finished first, carrying both East and West Tennessee. His support in East Tennessee came on the back of Senator John Knight Shields, who controlled federal patronage in the state and assigned federal employees to campaign on McKellar's behalf. Patterson finished second, carrying Central Tennessee. Senator Lea was eliminated.[2]

In a runoff, McKellar increased his margin over Patterson.[2]

General election

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Candidates

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Results

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1916 U.S. Senate election in Tennessee[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kenneth McKellar 143,718 54.42%
Republican Ben W. Hooper 118,174 44.75%
Socialist H. H. Magnum 2,193 0.83%
Total votes 264,085 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - TN US Senate Race - Nov 07, 1916". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hill, Ray. "A Feudin' Son of Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar, Chapter 4". The Knoxville Focus.
  3. ^ "TN US Senate". OurCampaigns. Retrieved February 14, 2021.