1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska

none March 2026 September 2023 1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska Nebraska presidential no 1936 United States Senate election in Nebraska 1936 1948 United States Senate election in Nebraska 1948 November 3, 1942 150x150px Ken Wherry crop.jpg Kenneth Wherry Republican Party (US) 186,207 48.98% GeorgeWNorris.jpg George Norris Independent 108,899 28.63% 3x4.svg Foster May Democratic Party (US) 83,763 22.03% 1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg 300px County resultsWherry: #FFC8CD 30–40% #FFB2B2 40–50% #e38080 50–60% #d85d5d 60–70% #d82b2c 70–80%Norris: #E6E6E6 30–40% #D9D9D9 40–50%May: #BDD3FF 30–40% U.S. Senator George W. Norris Independent Kenneth Wherry Republican Party (US) The 1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska was held on November 3, 1942. Incumbent George W. Norris, who was re-elected to his fifth term in 1936 as an independent, ran for a sixth term. He was challenged by Kenneth S. Wherry, the Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, and Democratic nominee Foster May, a prominent radio announcer. While Norris relied on Democratic support in his previous campaign, he did not receive it in 1942, and unlike in 1936, his Republican opponent largely consolidated the conservative vote. As a result, Norris lost re-election in a landslide, receiving just 29% of the vote to Wherry's 49%. In defeat, Norris remarks, "I would rather go down to my political grave with a clear conscience than ride in the chariot of victory." In part for his honesty with constituents even if it meant defeat. Norris was later featured in John F. Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning Profiles in Courage.John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage 1956 Harper & Brothers New York City 186 https://archive.org/details/profilesincourag0000unse_l1f9/page/186/mode/2up February 23, 2025 Republican primary Candidates Kenneth S. Wherry, Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, Mayor of Pawnee City Hugh Ashmore, former State SenatorHugh Ashmore candidate for U. S. Senate Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska February 21, 1942 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166634738/ February 24, 2025 Voyle Rector, businessmanVoyle Rector In U.S. Senate Race Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska July 2, 1942 5 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/166634823/ February 24, 2025 Results Republican primary resultsMarsh Frank Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board 1942 https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1942prim_gen.pdf Republican Party (United States) Kenneth Wherry 61,915 66.29% Republican Party (United States) Hugh Ashmore 20,868 22.34% Republican Party (United States) Voyle Rector 10,624 11.37% 93,407 100.00% Democratic primary Candidates Foster May, Omaha radio announcerIngoldsby Tom Foster May to Oppose Coffee? Nebraska Daily News-Press Nebraska City, Nebraska June 24, 1942 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nebraska-daily-news-press/166634976/ February 24, 2025 Harry B. Coffee, U.S. Representative from NE 5 Terry Carpenter, former U.S. Representative from NE 5, 1936 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate William Ritchie, Omaha attorney, 1932 Democratic candidate for GovernorRitchie Reported in Senate Race Omaha World-Herald Omaha, Nebraska April 15, 1942 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/166635065/ February 24, 2025 John C. Mullen, former Falls City AttorneyJohn C. Mullen seeks post in the senate Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska July 1, 1942 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/166635144/ February 24, 2025 George W. Olsen, 1940 Democratic candidate for NE 2Olsen In Demo Race for Senate Lincoln Star Lincoln, Nebraska June 2, 1942 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/166635271/ February 24, 2025 Lawrence W. Moore, Omaha attorneyOmahan Files for Senate Post Grand Island Independent Grand Island, Nebraska June 29, 1942 2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent/166635366/ February 24, 2025 Results Democratic primary results Democratic Party (United States) Foster May 36,684 41.10% Democratic Party (United States) Harry Coffee 25,953 29.08% Democratic Party (United States) Terry Carpenter 13,752 15.41% Democratic Party (United States) William Ritchie 5,774 6.47% Democratic Party (United States) John C. Mullen 5,211 5.84% Democratic Party (United States) George W. Olsen 1,105 1.24% Democratic Party (United States) Lawrence W. Moore 784 0.88% 89,263 100.00% General election Candidates Results 1942 United States Senate election in Nebraska Republican Party (United States) Kenneth S. Wherry 186,207 48.98% +11.16% Independent (politician) George W. Norris (inc.) 108,851 28.63% -15.19% Democratic Party (United States) Foster May 108,391 22.03% +3.67% Independent (politician) Albert F. Ruthven 1,348 0.35% — 77,356 20.35% +14.35% 380,169 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Independent (politician) See also 1942 United States Senate elections References 1942 Nebraska United States Senate