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1948 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

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1948 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1942 November 2, 1948 1954 →
 
Nominee Robert S. Kerr Ross Rizley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 441,654 265,169
Percentage 62.30% 37.40%

County results
Kerr:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Rizley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Edward H. Moore
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert S. Kerr
Democratic

The 1948 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 2, 1948. Incumbent Republican Senator Edward H. Moore declined to run for re-election. A crowded Democratic primary, including the former Governor, multiple members of Congress, and several statewide elected officials, developed; former Governor Robert S. Kerr won a slim plurality in the initial primary and then defeated former Congressman Gomer Smith by a wide margin in the runoff. On the Republican side, Congressman Ross Rizley had an easy path to the nomination. Kerr defeated Rizley in a landslide, largely similar to President Harry S. Truman's landslide victory in Oklahoma over Republican presidential nominee Thomas E. Dewey.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert S. Kerr 135,878 37.41%
Democratic Gomer Smith 73,511 20.24%
Democratic Mac Q. Williamson 48,670 13.40%
Democratic O. J. Fox 35,817 9.86
Democratic Glen D. Johnson 24,513 6.75%
Democratic Wilburn Cartwright 19,153 5.27%
Democratic James E. Berry 17,201 4.74%
Democratic Fletcher Riley 3,721 1.02%
Democratic C. A. Gentry 2,738 0.75%
Democratic L. G. Burt 2,022 0.56%
Total votes 363,224 100.00%

Runoff election results

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Democratic primary runoff[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert S. Kerr 168,861 57.56%
Democratic Gomer Smith 124,519 42.44%
Total votes 293,380 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ross Rizley 29,659 68.42%
Republican Henry J. Wallace 3,429 7.91%
Republican Frank A. Anderson 3,119 7.20%
Republican Homer Cowan 2,985 6.89%
Republican Joseph Holt 2,307 5.32%
Republican Rexford B. Cragg 1,850 4.27%
Total votes 43,349 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1948 United States Senate election in Oklahoma[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert S. Kerr 441,654 62.30% +17.54%
Republican Ross Rizley 265,169 37.40% −17.42%
Independent W. O. Pratt 2,108 0.30%
Majority 176,485 24.89% +14.82%
Turnout 708,931
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ a b "Williaimson, O. J. Fox in Senate Race". Frederick Leader. Frederick, Okla. May 1, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "1946-1950 Election Results" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 17, 2021.