1942 United States Senate election in Arkansas

The 1942 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 2, 1942. Incumbent Senator John E. Miller was appointed to a federal judgeship by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and his appointed replacement Lloyd Spencer rejoined the Navy rather than run for re-election.

1942 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Arkansas

August 11, 1942

Nominee John L. McClellan Jack Holt Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 134,277 83,516 Percentage 61.65% 31.35%

U.S. senator before election Lloyd Spencer Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John L. McClellan Democratic

After a highly-competitive four-way primary, U.S. Representative John L. McClellan defeated Arkansas Attorney General Jack Holt in a run-off election.

Because the Republican Party (or any other party) did not field a candidate in the general election, McClellan's primary victory was tantamount to election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Clyde T. Ellis, U.S. Representative from Bentonville
• Jack Holt, Arkansas Attorney General
• John L. McClellan, U.S. Representative from Camden
• David D. Terry, U.S. Representative from Little Rock

Results

1942 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack Holt	54,185	32.05%
	Democratic	John L. McClellan	53,729	31.78%
	Democratic	Clyde Ellis	34,264	20.26%
	Democratic	David D. Terry	26,911	15.92%
Total votes			169,089	100.00%

Runoff

1942 Democratic U.S. Senate runoff[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John L. McClellan	134,277	61.65%
	Democratic	Jack Holt	83,516	38.35%
Total votes			217,793	100.00%

General election

Results

McClellan was unopposed in the general election.

1942 Democratic U.S. Senate election[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John L. McClellan (inc.)	99,124	100.00%
Total votes			99,124	100.00%

See also

• 1942 United States Senate elections

References

1. Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin (2018). "Historical Report of the Secretary of State" (PDF). p. 357.
2. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1943). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8`, 1942" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.