1916 California's 10th congressional district special election

none February 2026 September 2023 1916 California's 10th congressional district special election California by-election no 1916 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 10 1916 1916 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 10 November 1916 November 7, 1916 115px Henry S. Benedict Progressive Party (United States, 1912) 19,032 62.8% Joy Clark Independent (United States) 7,147 23.6% U.S. Representative William Stephens Progressive Party (United States, 1912) Henry S. Benedict Progressive Party (United States, 1912) On July 22, 1916, Progressive William Stephens, a U.S. Representative in California's 10th congressional district, resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of California, an appointment he accepted after former Lieutenant Governor John M. Eshleman died in office. To fill the vacancy created by Stephens' resignation, a special election was held for the remainder of the term. It was scheduled for November 7, 1916, the same day as the general election for the full term beginning March 4, 1917. Campaign California State Senator Henry S. Benedict announced his candidacy for the congressional seat on July 28, 1916, entering the race for both the short term and the full term. As a state senator, he had helped pass or authored several bills regarding land use, support of public libraries, and financial controls.Senator Benedict Runs for Congress https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19160728.2.23 1 February 2024 255 San Pedro News Pilot 28 July 1916 8 Benedict also supported tax relief for Southern California's growing film industry, comparing its impact to the citrus industry that was booming in the Los Angeles area at the time.Pledges Protection to Film Industry https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19160826.2.144 1 February 2024 XLII 257 Los Angeles Herald 26 August 1916 On August 2, 1916, Benedict received the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Stephens.STEPHENS FOR BENEDICT. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19160802.2.17 1 February 2024 178 San Pedro Daily News 2 August 1916 13 In a speech at the Fraternal Brotherhood Hall on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles, Benedict told a large audience of his platform, and was mentioned in a Los Angeles Herald news article that stated,He strongly favors the election of [Charles Evans] Hughes and [Charles W.] Fairbanks, a protective tariff, national woman's suffrage, a national child labor law and workmen's compensation act, adequate [World War I] preparedness and proper protection for the Pacific coast.PLAN L. A. RECEPTIONS FOR HUGHES AND WILSON https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19160810.2.103 1 February 2024 XLII 243 Los Angeles Herald 10 August 1916 Benedict's campaign had some difficulties leading up to the special and regular primaries on August 29, 1916. He had been campaigning for the Republican and Progressive nominations in both elections, and assuming that the Progressive nominations were all but secured he decided to campaign more heavily for the Republican nomination for the full term. After the results came in, Republican Henry Z. Osborne secured the nomination of his party for the full term, denying Benedict that nomination, but he secured the Progressive nomination in that race. The issues arose when the Progressive returns in the special primary came in and it was not apparent that Benedict was the winner. Voters had written in Benedict's name 23 different ways, and California's Secretary of State, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and other Los Angeles County officials had to decide if these votes would count for Benedict.Benedict Election Case Is Assigned https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19160915.2.534 1 February 2024 XLII 274 Los Angeles Herald 15 September 1916BENEDICT MAY NOT GET PLACE ON THE TICKET https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19160914.2.41 1 February 2024 295 San Pedro News Pilot 14 September 1916 3 The matter was referred to the California Supreme Court, which decided that Benedict could run in the November special election as a Progressive. This ruling also affected other candidates, allowing anyone who won a party's nomination to appear on the ballot.BENEDICT'S NAME STAYS ON BALLOT Supreme Court Upholds Candidacy of Los Angeles Attorney for Congress Seat. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU19160930.2.134 1 February 2024 30 Sacramento Daily Union 30 September 1916 191 After the Supreme Court's decision, the Republican State Central Committee spent considerable time and money urging voters to elect Osborne (who had not run in the special primary) to the full term in the 10th District, while Benedict's name should be written in for the short term.URGE WRITING IN OF BENEDICT'S NAME https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19161104.2.615 1 February 2024 XLII 3 Los Angeles Herald 4 November 1916Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19161104.2.26.2 1 February 2024 262 San Pedro Daily News 4 November 1916 13 This decision by the Republican Party angered some voters; one, John C. Wray, decided to enter the race, writing in a news article that TO THE PUBLIC: October 23 I made public announcement of my intention to request my friends to write my name (John C. Wray) in on the vacant space on the official ballot which will be on November 7th for Member of Congress for the Unexpired Term, or Short Term of Congress in the 10th District, in which I have rented for 31 years. I am an uncontrolled Republican. Now comes Henry Stanley Benedict, who was defeated by H. Z. Osborne at the Primary Election, and asks that his name be written in for the short term, notwithstanding the act that the name of Henry Stanley Benedict is printed on the Official Ballot as a candidate for the Long Term, and naturally he (Benedict) will secure thousands of votes, which in all decency, and In fair play, should be cast for Henry Z. Osborne. I deny the right of any man to deliver my vote in advance of the day of, or on the day of election. I am an American citizen. I am acting as my own Manager, paying my own expenses, and only solicit the free and uncontrollable votes of the electors of the Tenth Congressional District, who like myself will refuse to be delivered like a band of sheep on November 7th. Signed, JOHN C. WRAY.SAYS HIS VOTE IS UNCONTROLLABLE https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPDN19161104.2.23 1 February 2024 262 San Pedro Daily News 4 November 1916 13 Just two days prior to the election, prominent Los Angeles businessman Joy Clark entered the race as a write-in candidate with many supporters flocking to his cause.JOY CLARK ENTERS RACE FOR CONGRESS https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19161106.2.367 1 February 2024 XLII 4 Los Angeles Herald 6 November 1916 A native of Omaha, Nebraska and a graduate of the University of Chicago, Clark was married to Florence Wood, daughter of prominent vocalist Charles Modini Wood.MODINI WOOD'S DAUGHTER GETS LICENSE TO WED https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19130825.2.14 1 February 2024 XXXIX 281 Los Angeles Herald 25 August 1913 Results Henry S. Benedict was elected on November 7, 1916, as a Progressive, to finish the term. Joy Clark finished second, and John C. Wray finished seventh and last. Henry Z. Osborne was elected the same day as a Republican to the full term beginning March 4, 1917. Benedict, the Progressive nominee in that race, withdrew in favor of Osborne. 1916 10th congressional district special electionCA District 10 - Special Election https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=114906 Our Campaigns 23 January 2022 Progressive Party (United States, 1912) Henry S. Benedict (write-in) 19,062 62.82 Independent (US) Joy Clark (write-in) 7,149 23.59 Prohibition Party Henry Clay Needham (write-in) 1,310 4.32 Unknown George Clark (write-in) 1,073 3.54 Socialist Party of America James H. Ryckman (write-in) 911 3.01 Democratic Party (United States) Rufus V. Bowden (write-in) 553 1.83 Unknown John C. Wray (write-in) 270 0.89 30,328 100.0 Progressive Party (United States, 1912) See also 1916 United States House of Representatives elections References California 1916 10 California 1916 10 1916 10 Special California 10 Special United States House of Representatives 10 Special