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1950 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

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1950 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

← 1944 November 7, 1950 1956 →
 
Nominee Mike Monroney Bill Alexander
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 345,953 285,224
Percentage 54.81% 45.19%

County results
Monroney:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Alexander:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Elmer Thomas
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Mike Monroney
Democratic

The 1950 United States Senate election in Oklahoma took place on November 7, 1950. Incumbent Democratic Senator Elmer Thomas ran for re-election to a fifth term. However, though he had successfully beat back primary challengers in past elections, he was ultimately defeated by Congressman Mike Monroney. Monroney advanced to the general election, where he faced Reverend Bill Alexander, the Republican nominee. Despite the national Republican landslide, Monroney defeated Alexander by a wide margin, holding the seat for the Democratic Party.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Monroney 210,557 46.54%
Democratic Elmer Thomas (inc.) 195,904 43.30%
Democratic Joe B. Thompson 16,094 3.56%
Democratic Bill Edwards 10,571 2.34%
Democratic C. A. Gentry 8,318 1.84%
Democratic J. R. Champ Clarke 6,462 1.43%
Democratic Robert Teeter 4,509 1.00%
Total votes 452,415 100.00%

Runoff election results

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Democratic primary runoff[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Monroney 240,432 52.95%
Democratic Elmer Thomas (inc.) 213,665 47.05%
Total votes 454,097 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Bill Alexander, pastor of First Christian Church of Oklahoma[2]
  • Raymond H. Fields, newspaperman[3]
  • George T. Balch
  • Forrest Van Pelt

Results

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Republican primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Alexander 37,655 64.90%
Republican Raymond H. Fields 13,398 23.09%
Republican George T. Balch 4,746 8.18%
Republican Forrest Van Pelt 2,220 3.83%
Total votes 58,079 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1950 United States Senate election in Oklahoma[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike Monroney 345,953 54.81% −0.83%
Republican Bill Alexander 285,224 45.19% +1.17%
Majority 60,729 9.62% −2.00%
Turnout 631,177
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "1946-1950 Election Results" (PDF). Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rev. Bill Alexander Ponders Decision In Senate Campaign". Sapulpa Daily Herald. Sapulpa, Okla. January 6, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Raymond Fields May Enter GOP Race for Senate". Norman Transcript. Norman, Okla. April 9, 1950. p. 5. Retrieved June 14, 2021.