1930 United States Senate election in Nebraska

The 1930 United States Senate election in Nebraska took place on November 4, 1930. The incumbent Republican, George W. Norris, was re-elected to a fourth term. He defeated Gilbert Hitchcock, the former Senator for the Class 1 seat. The anti-Norris Republican Beatrice Fenton Craig ran by petition.

1930 United States Senate election in Nebraska

← 1924 November 4, 1930 1936 →

Nominee George W. Norris Gilbert Hitchcock Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 247,118 172,795 Percentage 56.84% 39.74%

County results Norris:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hitchcock:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election George W. Norris Republican Elected U.S. Senator George W. Norris Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

• George W. Norris, the incumbent Senator
• W. M. Stebbins, Nebraska Treasurer^[1]

Results

Republican primary^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George W. Norris (incumbent)	108,471	57.26
	Republican	W. M. Stebbins	74,486	39.32
	Republican	Aaron C. Read	6,458	3.41
	Republican	Scattering	5	<0.01
Total votes			189,420	100

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Gilbert Hitchcock, former U.S. Senator

Results

Democratic primary^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gilbert Hitchcock	60,346	78.51
	Democratic	Jennie Mather Callras	16,417	21.36
	Democratic	Scattering	105	0.14
Total votes			147,486	100

General election

Candidates

• Beatrice Fenton Craig (Independent Republican)
• Gilbert Hitchcock, former U.S. Senator (Democratic)
• George W. Norris, incumbent Senator since 1913 (Republican)

Beatrice Fenton Craig had filed as a candidate for the Republican primary, however she stood aside in the hope that W. H. Stebbins would defeat Norris. When this failed, Craig accepted a petition by her friends to appear on the ballot.^[3] Craig did not see Norris as a true Republican, claiming he used the label "only when seeking his own election, or when it contributes to his own personal or fractional political power."^[4]

Results

1930 United States Senate election in Nebraska^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George W. Norris (incumbent)	247,118	56.84	−5.72
	Democratic	Gilbert Hitchcock	172,795	39.74	+2.30
	By Petition	Beatrice Fenton Craig	14,884	3.42	N/A
	N/A	Scattering	7	<0.01	N/A
Majority			74,323	17.10	−8.02
Turnout			434,804
	Republican hold

References

1. "Will the Governor Run?". History Nebraska. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
2. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska (primary election). Available at: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/previous-elections
3. "Lady Candidate Here". The Plattsmouth Journal. September 29, 1930. p. 1.
4. "Woman Enters Nebraska Race". The Frontier. September 18, 1930. p. 2.
5. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska (general election). Available at: https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/previous-elections