1911 United States Senate election in New Jersey

The 1911 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on January 24–25, 1911. Republican incumbent John Kean did not run for re-election to a third term. The open seat was won by Democrat James Edgar Martine with Republican former Governor Edward C. Stokes as the runner-up.

1911 United States Senate election in New Jersey

← 1905 January 24–25, 1911 1916 →

Resolution of the New Jersey Legislature
 
Nominee James E. Martine Edward C. Stokes John W. Griggs
Party Democratic Republican Republican
Electoral vote 47 21 5
Percentage 59.5% 26.6% 6.3%

Senator before election

John Kean
Republican

Elected Senator

James Edgar Martine
Democratic

Prior to passage of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, New Jersey elected United States senators by a resolution of the New Jersey Legislature.

On September 13, 1910, direct "advisory" primaries were held. Martine defeated John McDermitt of Newark for the Democratic nomination, while Stokes narrowly won a three-way Republican primary against former Governor Franklin Murphy and U.S. Representative Charles N. Fowler.[1] Thus, Martine or Stokes stood likely to be elected Senator if their respective party won the 1910 fall legislative elections.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declined

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Results

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1910 Republican U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edward C. Stokes 39,781 34.63%
Republican Charles N. Fowler 38,853 33.82%
Republican Franklin Murphy 36,252 31.55%
Total votes 114,886 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Martine carried every county, though no Democratic vote was reported in Ocean County or Cape May.[1]

1910 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 48,458 75.68%
Democratic Frank M. McDermit 15,575 24.32%
Total votes 64,033 100.00%

Aftermath

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Despite Martine's victory, the primary was non-binding. Former Senator James Smith Jr., who broke his alliance with Martine and Woodrow Wilson, pledged to challenge him in the January legislative election.[citation needed]

Results

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The Senate was unable to reach a choice on January 24, so both houses met in joint session on January 25 to elect Martine.

Senate

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1911 U.S. Senate election in the New Jersey Senate[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 9 45.00%
Republican Edward C. Stokes 9 45.00%
Republican J. Franklin Fort 1 5.00%
Republican John Kean 1 5.00%
Total votes 20 100.00%

Assembly

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1911 U.S. Senate election in the New Jersey Assembly[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 31 51.67%
Republican Edward C. Stokes 13 21.67%
Democratic James Smith Jr. 10 16.67%
Republican John W. Griggs 5 8.33%
Democratic James A. Hamill 1 1.67%
Total votes 60 100.00%

Joint session

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1911 U.S. Senate election in the New Jersey Legislature[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 47 59.49%
Republican Edward C. Stokes 21 26.58%
Republican John W. Griggs 5 6.33%
Democratic James Smith Jr. 3 3.80%
Republican J. Franklin Fort 1 1.27%
Republican John Kean 1 1.27%
Republican Mahlon Pitney 1 1.27%
Total votes 79 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey". Newark, N.J.: M.R. Dennis & Co. 1911. p. 132.
  2. ^ a b c Rhoades, Henry Eckford; McPherson, Edward; Schem, A. J.; Ottarson, F. J.; Cleveland, John F.; Greeley, Horace (1912). "United States Senators Chosen, 1911". The Tribune Almanac and Political Register 1912. New York: The Tribune Association. p. 457. hdl:2027/hvd.32044015182322 – via Hathi Trust Digital Library.