John C. Sanborn

John Carfield Sanborn (September 28, 1885 – May 16, 1968), Idaho) was a congressman from southern Idaho. Sanborn served as a Republican in the House for two terms, from 1947 to 1951.

John C. Sanborn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1951
Preceded by	Henry Dworshak
Succeeded by	Hamer H. Budge
Member of the Idaho Senate
In office 1939–1941
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
In office 1921–1929
Personal details
Born	John Carfield Sanborn September 28, 1885 Chenoa, Illinois
Died	May 16, 1968(1968-05-16) (aged 82) Boise, Idaho
Resting place	Hagerman Cemetery Hagerman, Idaho
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Jessie Margaret McNabb Sanborn (1887–1955) (m. 1912–1955, her death)
Parent(s)	Orville D. Sanborn Frances (Carfield) Sanborn
Residence	Hagerman
Alma mater	Oberlin College, 1908 Columbia Law School, 1912
Profession	Agriculture

Born in Chenoa, Illinois, Sanborn was the son of Orville D. Sanborn and Frances (Carfield) Sanborn. He graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1908 and the Columbia Law School in New York City in 1912.

Sanborn moved west and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Hagerman, Idaho. He was a trustee of the local school district and served in both houses of the state legislature: house (1921–1929) and senate (1939–1941). Following World War II, he ran for Congress and was elected to the open seat in the state's 2nd district in 1946 and re-elected in 1948. He was a candidate for the United States Senate in 1950 and 1956 but was defeated both times in the Republican primary by Herman Welker. He also entered the 1954 gubernatorial primary,^[1] won by Robert Smylie. At age 76, he ran for the 2nd district seat again in 1962,^[2] but lost a runoff in the GOP primary to Orval Hansen.^[3][4]

A Methodist, Sanborn was the last non-Mormon to represent Idaho's 2nd district in Congress. The successor to his open seat, Republican Hamer H. Budge, was the first Mormon to represent Idaho in either house of Congress. For 35 consecutive elections, 1950 through 2020, the 2nd district winner has been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

U.S. House elections (Idaho's 2nd district): Results 1946–1948

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1946		Pete Leguiniche	41,231	39.3%		John Sanborn	63,692	60.7%
1948		Asael Lyman	59,006	48.5%		John Sanborn (inc.)	61,690	50.7%		C.W. "Babe" Dill	Progressive	954	0.8%

Sanborn died in Boise in 1968 at age 82 and was buried in Hagerman.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

1. "John Sanborn". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (advertisement). July 28, 1954. p. 1-sec.2.
2. "Hansen-Sanborn runoff set Tuesday". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. June 25, 1962. p. 4.
3. "Orval Hansen defeats Sanborn in Second District runoff". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. June 27, 1962. p. 1.
4. "Hansen snares congressional runoff in Idaho". Deseret News. UPI. June 27, 1962. p. A5.

External links

• United States Congress. "John C. Sanborn (id: S000029)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• John C. Sanborn at Find a Grave
• Political Graveyard – Sanborn

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Henry Dworshak	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 2nd congressional district January 3, 1947–January 3, 1951	Succeeded by Hamer H. Budge