1902 United States Senate election in Kentucky

The 1902 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on January 21, 1902, after an initial election on January 14, 1902. Democratic candidate James B. McCreary was elected by the Kentucky General Assembly to the United States Senate, defeating incumbent Republican senator William J. Deboe. The election was held twice due to ambiguity in the law setting the election date.

The Democratic Party chose to select its candidate by legislative caucus. Former governor and congressman James B. McCreary was nominated on January 9, 1902, defeating judge James E. Cantrill. Congressmen David Highbaugh Smith and Charles K. Wheeler, who had been campaigning for the nomination, withdrew from the contest the afternoon before the caucus was held.

• James E. Cantrill, judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and lieutenant governor of Kentucky (1879–1883)
• James B. McCreary, governor of Kentucky (1875–1879) and U.S. representative for Kentucky's 8th congressional district (1885–1897)
• David Highbaugh Smith, U.S. representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district (1897–1907) (withdrew January 9, 1902)
• Charles K. Wheeler, U.S. representative for Kentucky's 1st congressional district (1897–1903) (withdrew January 9, 1902)

The Republican Party chose to select its candidate by legislative caucus, with incumbent senator William J. Deboe winning the nomination unanimously on January 8, 1902. Governor William O. Bradley and congressman Vincent Boreing, who had been suggested as alternatives, were not put forth as alternative candidates.^[2]

• William J. Deboe, U.S. senator (1897–1903)

• 1902–03 United States Senate elections

• "Journal of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1902". Journals of the Kentucky General Assembly. Frankfort, Kentucky – via HathiTrust.