1940 United States Senate election in Montana

The 1940 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent United States Senator Burton K. Wheeler, who was first elected to the Senate in 1922, and was re-elected in 1928 and 1934, ran for re-election. Though he faced a serious challenger in the Democratic primary, he emerged victorious, and advanced to the general election, where he faced E. K. Cheadle, a state district judge and the Republican nominee. Just like in 1934, Wheeler won re-election in a landslide, winning his fourth term in the Senate.

1940 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1934November 5, 19401946 →
 
NomineeBurton K. WheelerE. K. Cheadle
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Popular vote176,75363,941
Percentage73.43%26.57%

County results
Wheeler:     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%

U.S. senator before election

Burton K. Wheeler
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Burton K. Wheeler
Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticBurton K. Wheeler (inc.) 75,498 72.86
DemocraticH. J. Freebourn28,12827.14
Total votes103,626 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

  • E. K. Cheadle, Tenth Judicial Circuit District Judge
  • L. Ray Carroll, former State Senator
  • Floyd C. Fluent

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanH. K. Cheadle 22,273 52.13
RepublicanL. Ray Carroll13,48331.56
RepublicanFloyd C. Fluent6,97216.32
Total votes42,728 100.00

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Montana, 1940[2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticBurton K. Wheeler (inc.) 176,753 73.43% +3.29%
RepublicanE. K. Cheadle63,94126.57%-2.17%
Majority112,81246.87%+5.47%
Turnout240,694
Democratic holdSwing

References