1936 United States Senate special election in Louisiana
United States Senate election
The 1936 United States Senate special election in Louisiana took place on April 21, 1936, to fill the remainder of the late former Senator Huey Long's six-year term. Long was first elected to the Senate in 1930 and was assassinated on September 10, 1935.
Governor Oscar K. Allen won the Democratic primary, but died of a brain hemorrhage one week after the primary win. Following Allen's death, his successor as Governor, James A. Noe, appointed Long's widow, Rose McConnell Long to the Senate to fill the vacancy and the state Democratic Party named Long as its replacement nominee in the special election. Long was unopposed in the general election and won 100% of the vote, and served the final year of Long's term. She was not a candidate for re-election to a full term and was succeeded by State House Speaker Allen J. Ellender. Long was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Louisiana.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Oscar K. Allen, incumbent Governor of Louisiana
Frank J. Looney, Shreveport attorney
Irving Ward-Steinman, Alexandria sociologist
Results
On January 28, 1936, one week after Allen's victory in the Democratic primary, he died of a brain hemorrhage. Huey Long's widow, former First Lady Rose McConnell Long, was unanimously named by the Louisiana Democratic Party as its replacement nominee. Shortly thereafter, Governor James A. Noe appointed Long to fill the Senate vacancy.
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