1938 United States Senate election in Georgia

The 1938 United States Senate election in Georgia took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Walter F. George was re-elected to a third term in office, holding off a primary challenge from Eugene Talmadge and Lawrence Camp.

1938 U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Georgia

September 14, 1938

Nominee Walter F. George Eugene Talmadge Lawrence Camp Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Electoral vote 246 148 16 Popular vote 141,235 103,075 122,152 Percentage 43.96% 32.08% 19.69%

U.S. senator before election Walter F. George Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Walter F. George Democratic

At this time, Georgia was a one-party state. George's victory in the September 14 primary was tantamount to election, and he had only nominal opposition in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Lawrence S. Camp
• Walter F. George, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1922
• W. G. McRae
• Eugene Talmadge, former Governor of Georgia

Results

1938 Democratic U.S. Senate primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Walter F. George (inc.)	141,235	43.96%
	Democratic	Eugene Talmadge	103,075	32.08%
	Democratic	Lawrence S. Camp	76,778	23.90%
	Democratic	W. G. McRae	223	0.07%
Total votes			321,311	100.00%

At the time, Georgia Democrats used a modified primary system based on "county units." 400 county units were distributed among the counties of Georgia. In the county unit totals, George won 246 to Talmadge's 148. Camp took the remaining 16.

General election

Results

1938 United States Senate election in Georgia[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Walter F. George	66,987	95.11%	0.03
	Independent	Charles A. Jiles	3,442	4.89%	N/A
Total votes			70,429	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1938 United States Senate elections

References

1. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=377215
2. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=254000