1911 United States Senate election in New Jersey
← 1905 January 24–25, 1911 1916 →
Resolution of the New Jersey Legislature
 
Nominee James E. Martine Edward C. Stokes John W. Griggs
Party Democratic Republican Republican
Electoral vote 47 21 5
Percentage 59.5% 26.6% 6.3%
Senator before election

John Kean
Republican

Elected Senator

James Edgar Martine
Democratic

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The 1911 United States Senate election in New Jersey was held on January 24–25, 1911. Republican incumbent John Kean did not run for re-election to a third term. The open seat was won by Democrat James Edgar Martine with Republican former Governor Edward C. Stokes as the runner-up.

Prior to passage of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, New Jersey elected United States senators by a resolution of the New Jersey Legislature.

On September 13, 1910, direct "advisory" primaries were held. Martine defeated John McDermitt of Newark for the Democratic nomination, while Stokes narrowly won a three-way Republican primary against former Governor Franklin Murphy and U.S. Representative Charles N. Fowler.[1] Thus, Martine or Stokes stood likely to be elected Senator if their respective party won the 1910 fall legislative elections.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declined

Results

1910 Republican U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edward C. Stokes 39,781 34.63%
Republican Charles N. Fowler 38,853 33.82%
Republican Franklin Murphy 36,252 31.55%
Total votes 114,886 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Martine carried every county, though no Democratic vote was reported in Ocean County or Cape May.[1]

1910 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 48,458 75.68%
Democratic Frank M. McDermit 15,575 24.32%
Total votes 64,033 100.00%

Aftermath

Despite Martine's victory, the primary was non-binding. Former Senator James Smith Jr., who broke his alliance with Martine and Woodrow Wilson, pledged to challenge him in the January legislative election.[citation needed]

Results

The Senate was unable to reach a choice on January 24, so both houses met in joint session on January 25 to elect Martine.

Senate

1911 U.S. Senate election in the New Jersey Senate[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 9 45.00%
Republican Edward C. Stokes 9 45.00%
Republican J. Franklin Fort 1 5.00%
Republican John Kean 1 5.00%
Total votes 20 100.00%

Assembly

1911 U.S. Senate election in the New Jersey Assembly[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 31 51.67%
Republican Edward C. Stokes 13 21.67%
Democratic James Smith Jr. 10 16.67%
Republican John W. Griggs 5 8.33%
Democratic James A. Hamill 1 1.67%
Total votes 60 100.00%

Joint session

1911 U.S. Senate election in the New Jersey Legislature[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Martine 47 59.49%
Republican Edward C. Stokes 21 26.58%
Republican John W. Griggs 5 6.33%
Democratic James Smith Jr. 3 3.80%
Republican J. Franklin Fort 1 1.27%
Republican John Kean 1 1.27%
Republican Mahlon Pitney 1 1.27%
Total votes 79 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey". Newark, N.J.: M.R. Dennis & Co. 1911. p. 132.
  2. ^ a b c Rhoades, Henry Eckford; McPherson, Edward; Schem, A. J.; Ottarson, F. J.; Cleveland, John F.; Greeley, Horace (1912). "United States Senators Chosen, 1911". The Tribune Almanac and Political Register 1912. New York: The Tribune Association. p. 457. hdl:2027/hvd.32044015182322 – via Hathi Trust Digital Library.
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