1940 United States Senate election in Nebraska
{{short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1940 United States Senate election in Nebraska
| country = Nebraska
| flag_year = 1925
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1934 United States Senate elections in Nebraska
| previous_year = 1934
| next_election = 1946 United States Senate election in Nebraska
| next_year = 1946
| election_date = November 5, 1940
| image_size = x155px
| image1 = BUTLER, Hugh Alfred,.jpg
| nominee1 = Hugh A. Butler
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 340,250
| percentage1 = 57.00%
| image2 = Gov. Roy L. Cochran.jpg
| nominee2 = Robert Leroy Cochran
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 247,659
| percentage2 = 41.49%
| map_image = 1940 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = County results
Butler: {{legend0|#ffb2b2 |40–50%}} {{legend0|#e38080 |50–60%}} {{legend0|#d85d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d82b2c|70–80%}}
Cochran: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Edward R. Burke
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Hugh A. Butler
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{ElectionsNE}}
The 1940 United States Senate election in Nebraska took place on November 5, 1940. Hugh A. Butler was elected for the first time, defeating Governor Robert Leroy Cochran. Edward R. Burke, the incumbent Senator, was defeated by Cochran in the primary. Butler performed on par with Wendell Willkie, who won the state with 57.2% in the presidential election.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- Edward R. Burke, incumbent Senator
- Robert Leroy Cochran, Governor of Nebraska
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{Cite book |last=Swanson |first=Harry R.|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board: Primary Election, April 9th 1940, General Election, November 5th, 1940|year=1940|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1940prim_gen.pdf}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Robert Leroy Cochran
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 84,869
| percentage = 58.42%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Edward R. Burke (inc.)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 60,400
| percentage = 41.58%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 145,269
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
- Hugh A. Butler, Republican National committeeman for Nebraska{{cite web |title=BUTLER, Hugh Alfred |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B001177 |website=bioguide.congress.gov |access-date=13 August 2021}}
- Albert W. Jefferis, former Representative for {{ushr|NE|2}}
- Adam McMullen, former Governor of Nebraska
- Arthur J. Weaver, former Governor of Nebraska
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Hugh A. Butler
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 61,756
| percentage = 37.15%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Arthur J. Weaver
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 56,331
| percentage = 33.89%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John H. Miller
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 17,016
| percentage = 10.24%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Adam McMullen
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 16,359
| percentage = 9.84%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Albert W. Jefferis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 14,765
| percentage = 8.88%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 166,227
| percentage= 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Results
{{Election box begin | title=1940 United States Senate election in Nebraska
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Hugh A. Butler
|votes = 340,250
|percentage = 57.00%
|change = +14.14%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert Leroy Cochran
|votes = 247,659
|percentage = 41.49%
|change = -13.81%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Albert F. Ruthven
|votes = 8,982
|percentage = 1.50%
|change = —
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 92,591
|percentage = 15.51%
|change = +3.07%
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 596,891
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing|
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Democratic Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}