1932 United States Senate election in New Hampshire
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Brown: 50–60% Moses: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1932 United States Senate election in New Hampshire took place on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Republican Senator George H. Moses ran for re-election to a third full term but was defeated by Democratic former governor Fred H. Brown. Although the state voted for incumbent Republicans Herbert Hoover and John G. Winant in the concurrent presidential election and gubernatorial election, respectively, Moses ran significantly behind the top of the ticket and was narrowly defeated by Brown.[1] The result was attributed to Brown's personal popularity and Moses's age.[1]
Background
Incumbent Senator George H. Moses was first elected in 1918 to fill the unexpired term of Jacob H. Gallinger and re-elected in 1920 and 1926. Entering 1932, he pledged to retire at the expiration of the next term and referred to this race as his "sunset campaign."[1]
As a Senator, Moses was noted for biting remarks which had alienated the progressive wing of his own party, whom he referred to in a Senate speech as "sons of the wild jackass."[1] By contrast, Brown had a strong public profile as a former player for the Boston Braves and governor from 1923 to 1925. He had been put forward as a candidate for the presidential nomination of at the 1924 Democratic National Convention.[1] In January 1932, Democratic Party supporters from Strafford County began recruiting Brown to oppose Moses.[2] He defeated two lesser candidates for the Democratic nomination in September.[3][4]
Republican primary
Candidates
- George H. Moses, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1918
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George H. Moses (incumbent) | 45,443 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 45,443 | 100.00% | ||
| Blank ballots | 16,257 | 26.35% | ||
| Turnout | 61,700 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Fred H. Brown, former Governor of New Hampshire
- Joseph A. Coutremarsh, Lebanon dentist[6]
- Timothy F. O'Connor, Manchester attorney
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Fred H. Brown | 14,598 | 57.13% | |
| Democratic | Timothy F. O'Connor | 8,239 | 32.24% | |
| Democratic | Joseph A. Coutremarsh | 2,715 | 10.63% | |
| Total votes | 25,552 | 100.00% | ||
| Blank ballots | 4,701 | 15.54% | ||
| Turnout | 30,253 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Fred H. Brown, former Governor of New Hampshire (Democratic)
- Fred B. Chase (Independent)
- Charles W. Greene (Independent)
- George H. Moses, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1918 (Republican)
Results
The Manchester Union, which supported Moses, conceded his defeat on November 9. Brown's largest margin came from his home town of Somersworth, which he had won by a margin of roughly 1,900 votes and had presided over for a decade as mayor.[1]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Fred H. Brown | 98,766 | 50.35% | 12.67 | |
| Republican | George H. Moses (incumbent) | 96,649 | 49.27% | 13.05 | |
| Independent | Charles W. Greene | 533 | 0.27% | N/A | |
| Independent | Fred B. Chase | 228 | 0.12% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 196,176 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ a b c d e f "MOSES IS DEFEATED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE; Senator Loses to Ex-Gov. Brown as Hoover and Gov. Winant Carry the State". The New York Times. November 9, 1932. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Ex-Democratic Governor Boomed For U.S. Senate". The Journal. Associated Press. January 19, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved March 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Political Spotlight of Week Focused on State Primaries". The Times Dispatch. September 11, 1932. p. 15. Retrieved March 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Davidson is Defeated By Chas. W. Tobey". The Caledonian-Record. Associated Press. September 14, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Manual for the General Court. Concord, N.H.: Department of State. 1933. p. 174.
- ^ "National Affairs: First Primary". TIME. 23 March 1936. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives (1933). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1932" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.