1960 United States Senate elections in Oregon

The 1960 United States Senate elections in Oregon took place on November 8, 1960.

1960 United States Senate elections in Oregon

← 1954 November 8, 1960 1966 →

Nominee Maurine Neuberger Elmo Smith Party Democratic Republican Regular election 412,757 54.61% 343,009 45.38% Special election 422,024 54.98% 345,464 45.01%

Regular/special election county results[a] Neuberger:      50–60%      60–70% Smith:      50-60%

U.S. senator before election Hall S. Lusk Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Maurine Neuberger Democratic

First-term Democrat Richard L. Neuberger had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1958 that became terminal by 1960 — but was kept from the public. Neuberger remained at home in early 1960, reportedly battling the flu. Though still publicly seeking re-election, he told his campaign chair, attorney Jack Beatty, "Remember, there's always another Neuberger," referring to his wife. The comment, combined with Neuberger's reluctance to meet in public and weak voice on the phone, led Beatty to believe that Neuberger's condition was grave, a suspicion confirmed by the Senator's physician shortly before Neuberger died at Good Samaritan Hospital on March 9, 1960.^[1][2]

Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court Hall S. Lusk was appointed on March 16, 1960, by Republican governor Mark Hatfield to fill the vacancy until a special election could be held.^[3][4]

Hatfield stated that he intended to have appointed Neuberger, but that he wanted to appoint someone who would be focused on completing the remaining eight months of the term and not running in the regular-term Senate election as Neuberger had announced she would.^[5] Some observers noted that Hatfield, a Republican, though required by state law to appoint someone of the same political party as the late Senator Neuberger, did not want to give the other party the political advantage of incumbency.^[5][6]

Two elections for the Class 2 Senate seat were held on the same day; one as a special election to fill the remainder of Neuberger's original six-year term, and another to select a Senator to serve the next six-year term. Senator Lusk did not run for election.

Neuberger's widow Maurine Brown Neuberger was elected on November 8, 1960, both to finish the term and to the next term. Democrats would not win this seat again until 2008.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 20, 1960.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Roscoe Imrie Conn
• Daniel N. Cox
• Harry C. Fowler, judge^[7]
• Fred O. Like
• William B. Murphy, radio station owner^[7]
• Maurine B. Neuberger, former State Representative, widow of former U.S. Senator Richard L. Neuberger

Maurine Neuberger was the only candidate for the special election to finish Richard Neuberger's term. Cox was ineligible for the nomination as he had not properly registered in time as a voter.^[8]

Results

Regular election

Democratic primary results^[9][10][11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maurine Neuberger	211,961	77.88%
	Democratic	Harry C. Fowler	28,032	10.30%
	Democratic	William B. Murphy	16,245	5.97%
	Democratic	Roscoe Imrie Conn	7,164	2.63%
	Democratic	Fred O. Like	5,352	1.97%
	Democratic	Daniel N. Cox	3,142	1.15%
	Write-in		283	0.10%
Total votes			272,179

Special election

Democratic primary results^[9][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maurine Neuberger	244,865	99.49%
	Write-in		1,249	0.51%
Total votes			246,114

Republican primary

Candidates

• Elmo Smith, former Governor of Oregon
• (Herbert) George Altvater, public works inspector,^[7] unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1956
• R. F. Cook, turkey grower,^[7] unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Oregon's 1st congressional district in 1956
• Thomas Killam, real estate dealer^[7]

Cook and Killam were not candidates for the special election to finish Neuberger's term.

Results

Regular election

Republican primary results^[9][10][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Elmo Smith	179,575	76.53%
	Republican	George Altvater	20,438	8.71%
	Republican	R. F. Cook	19,443	8.29%
	Republican	Thomas Killam	14,490	6.18%
	Write-in		701	0.30%
Total votes			234,647

Special election

Republican primary results^[9][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Elmo Smith	201,024	85.52%
	Republican	George Altvater	33,022	14.05%
	Write-in		1,013	0.43%
Total votes			235,059

General election

Results

Regular election

1960 United States Senate election in Oregon^{[13][14][15][16]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Maurine Neuberger	412,757	54.61%
	Republican	Elmo Smith	343,009	45.38%
	Write-in		109	0.01%
Majority			69,748	9.23%
Turnout			755,875
	Democratic hold

Special election

1960 United States Senate special election in Oregon^{[13][14][17][18]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Maurine Neuberger	422,024	54.98%
	Republican	Elmo Smith	345,464	45.01%
	Write-in		93	0.01%
Majority			76,560	9.97%
Turnout			767,581
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1960 United States Senate elections

Notes

1. While there were some slight differences in the particular percentages, the county results for the regular and special elections, both in their winners and percent ranges, were identical.

References

1. Beatty, Jack (2010). The Politics of Public Virtue. pp. 261–268.
2. "Sen. Neuberger, Jewish Member of U.S. Senate, Dies; Was 47 Years Old". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. March 10, 1960.
3. "Lusk Meets President, Takes Oath as Senator". Evening star. Washington, D.C. March 23, 1960. p. A-5. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
4. Byrd, Robert C. (October 1, 1993). Wolff, Wendy (ed.). The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992. United States Senate Historical Office. Vol. Four. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 157. ISBN 9780160632563.
5. "Oregon Justice, Democrat, gets Neuberger's seat in U. S. Senate" (PDF). The New York Times. March 16, 1960. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
6. "Women in Congress: Maurine B. Neuberger, Senator from Oregon". United States Congress. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
7. "Neuberger's Widow Faces 4 in Primary". Evening star. Washington, D.C. March 12, 1960. p. A-2. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
8. "14 Contests, One Measure on Ballot for Oregon Voters Friday". Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. May 19, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 147.
10. Oregon Primary Returns 1960, p. 16.
11. "OR US Senate, 1960 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
12. "OR US Senate, 1960 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
13. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 95.
14. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1961). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1960" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
15. Oregon General Election Returns 1960, p. 6.
16. "OR US Senate, 1960". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
17. Oregon General Election Returns 1960, p. 5.
18. "OR US Senate, 1960 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved October 19, 2022.

Bibliography

• Congressional Elections, 1946-1996. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-248-4.
• Appling, Jr., Howell. Official Abstract of Votes. Primary Nominating Election, May 20, 1960. State of Oregon.
• Appling, Jr., Howell. Official Abstract of Votes. General Election, November 8, 1960. State of Oregon.