1950 United States Senate special election in North Carolina

1950 United States Senate special election in North Carolina
November 7, 1950
 
Nominee Willis Smith E. L. Galvin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 364,912 177,753
Percentage 66.97% 32.62%
County results
Smith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90-100%
Galvin:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Senator before election

Frank P. Graham
Democratic

Elected Senator

Willis Smith
Democratic

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The 1950 United States Senate special election in North Carolina took place on November 7, 1950 in North Carolina as part of the 1950 Senate elections. The incumbent Democratic Senator J. Melville Broughton died two months into his term on March 6, 1949. Frank Porter Graham, the president of the University of North Carolina, was appointed to the vacant seat. Graham was defeated in the Democratic primary by former Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives Willis Smith, who would go on to win election by a margin of 34.4%. Smith would die on June 26, 1953, with Alton Lennon appointed to the vacancy.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Willis Smith campaign flyer

Electoral law at the time did not mandate a runoff election, with the losing candidate able to request one. Following Sweatt v. Painter, which challenged segregation in Texas, Jesse Helms led an advertising campaign through WRAL to successfully encourage Smith to call for a runoff.[2]

The primary runoff pitched a progressive New Deal Democrat (Graham) against a traditional pro-segregation Democrat (Smith).[3] Graham sought to emphasise his commitments to education and other social programmes, however Smith's relentless campaigning on issues of race ultimately prevailed.[2]

Results

Democratic primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank Porter Graham (incumbent) 303,605 49.09
Democratic Willis Smith 250,222 40.46
Democratic Robert R. Reynolds 58,752 9.50
Democratic Olla Ray Boyd 5,900 0.95
Turnout 618,479
Democratic runoff[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Willis Smith 281,114 51.78 +11.32
Democratic Frank Porter Graham (incumbent) 261,789 48.22 −0.87
Majority 19,325 3.56
Turnout 542,903

Results maps

Results maps
Primary election
Smith:      40–49%      50–59%      60–69%      70–79%
Graham:      40–49%      50–59%      60–69%      70–79%
Runoff election
Smith:      50–59%      60–69%      70–79%
Graham:      50–59%      60–69%      70–79%      80–89%

General election

1950 United States Senate Special election in North Carolina[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Willis Smith 364,912 66.97 −3.73
Republican E. L. Galvin 177,753 32.62 +3.82
Write-In Frank P. Graham (incumbent) 2,259 0.41 +0.41
Majority 187,159 34.35
Turnout 544,924
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "The Pork Chop Conspiracy". New York Times. 10 October 1976. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b Martin, Johnathan. "The 1950 Smith-Graham Senate Race". North Carolina History Project. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Primary Source: The 1950 Senate Campaign". NCPedia. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b North Carolina Manual 1951. North Carolina Historical Commission. pp. 235–238. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  5. ^ "STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 7, 1950" (PDF). Clerk of the US House of Representatives. p. 26. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
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