The 1944 United States Senate election in North Dakota took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Republican Senator Gerald Nye ran for re-election to his fourth term. He faced a serious challenge to his renomination in the Republican primary, with prominent Fargo attorney Lynn Stambaugh and Congressman Usher L. Burdick running against him. He won with one-third of the vote, defeating Shambaugh, his closest opponent, by fewer than 1,000 votes. In the general election, Stambaugh continued his campaign against Nye as an independent,[1] splitting the Republican vote as Governor John Moses, the Democratic nominee, ran a strong campaign. Though Nye had benefited from crowded general elections before, he bled Republican support to Stambaugh and Moses unseated him with just 45% of the vote. However, just a few months into Moses's term, he died in office, flipping the seat back to Republican control and triggering a June 1946 special election.
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 County results Moses: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Nye: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% Stambaugh: 30–40% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- John Moses, Governor of North Dakota
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Moses | 14,650 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 14,650 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Gerald Nye, incumbent U.S. Senator
- Lynn Stambaugh, Fargo attorney, former national commander of the American Legion[3]
- Usher L. Burdick, U.S. Congressman from North Dakota's at-large congressional district
- A. C. Townley
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gerald Nye (inc.) | 38,191 | 33.98% | |
| Republican | Lynn Stambaugh | 37,219 | 33.11% | |
| Republican | Usher L. Burdick | 35,687 | 31.75% | |
| Republican | A. C. Townley | 1,300 | 1.16% | |
| Total votes | 112,397 | 100.00% | ||
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Moses | 95,102 | 45.20% | +2.63% | |
| Republican | Gerald Nye (inc.) | 69,530 | 33.04% | −17.08% | |
| Independent Republican | Lynn Stambaugh | 44,596 | 21.19% | — | |
| Independent | Bernard H. O'Laughlin | 705 | 0.34% | — | |
| Independent | L. D. Harris | 489 | 0.23% | — | |
| Majority | 25,572 | 12.15% | +4.59% | ||
| Turnout | 210,422 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
References
edit- ^ "Stambaugh Says Nye is Conducting Smear Campaign". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, N.D. September 13, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "Primary Election 06-27-1944" (PDF). Secretary of State of North Dakota. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Stambaugh Announces He'll Be Candidate for Senator". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, N.D. March 10, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "General Election 11-07-1944" (PDF). Secretary of State of North Dakota. Retrieved June 19, 2021.