1944 United States Senate election in Colorado
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1944 United States Senate election in Colorado
| country = Colorado
| flag_year = 1911
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1942 United States Senate special election in Colorado
| previous_year = 1942 (special)
| next_election = 1950 United States Senate election in Colorado
| next_year = 1950
| election_date = November 7, 1944
| image_size = 150x150px
| image1 = Eugene Millikin.jpg
| nominee1 = Eugene Millikin
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 277,410
| percentage1 = 56.06%
| image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee2 = Barney L. Whatley
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 214,335
| percentage2 = 43.31%
| map_size = 250px
| map_image = 1944 United States Senate election in Colorado results map by county.svg
| map_caption = Results by county
Millikin: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#D75D5D|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
Whatley: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674DE|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Eugene Millikin
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Eugene Millikin
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsCO}}
The 1944 United States Senate special election in Colorado took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Republican senator Eugene Millikin, who was first appointed to fill Alva B. Adams's seat in 1941 and re-elected at the ensuing special election in 1942, ran for re-election to his first full term. In the general election, he faced wealthy Denver attorney Barney L. Whatley. Millikin benefited from the strong Republican performance in Colorado—Thomas E. Dewey and Governor John C. Vivian both won their respective elections by decisive margins—and cruised to a landslide victory over Whatley.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- Barney L. Whatley, Denver attorney, former chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, former District Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District{{cite news|date=November 3, 1944|title=FR's Peace Plan Chief Issue Between Senate Candidates|work=Fort Collins Coloradoan|location=Fort Collins, Colorado|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/588833374/|access-date=July 5, 2022}}
=Campaign=
Though Colorado remained competitive for both parties in state and national politics, the state Democratic Party had few candidates interested in running against Senator Millikin. Though the party had attempted to recruit James G. Patton, the president of the National Farmers Union, to run, he declined to do so. Barney L. Whatley, a prominent Denver attorney who served as district attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1913 to 1921 and more recently as chairman of the state party, initially declined to run, but ultimately accepted the nomination, saying that someone "must carry the issue of this campaign to the crossroads of the state."{{cite news|date=July 27, 1944|title=Democrats Nominate Whatley and Best|work=Steamboat Pilot|location=Steamboat Springs, Colorado|page=1|url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=STP19440727.2.22&srpos=4&e=-07-1944--08-1944--en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|access-date=July 5, 2022}}
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{cite book|last=Morrison|first=Walter F.|title=State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Twelfth Day of September, A. D. 1944 and at the General Election Held on the Seventh Day of November, A. D. 1944|url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/1900-1999/1944AbstractBook.pdf|date=1944|location=Denver, Colorado|publisher=Colorado Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Barney L. Whatley
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 31,625
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 31,625
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
- Eugene Millikin, incumbent U.S. Senator
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Eugene D. Millikin (inc.)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 40,868
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 40,868
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=1944 United States Senate election in Colorado
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Eugene Millikin (inc.)
|votes = 277,410
|percentage = 56.06%
|change = -0.07%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Barney L. Whatley
|votes = 214,335
|percentage = 43.31%
|change = +1.17%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Socialist Party (United States)
|candidate = Carle Whitehead
|votes = 3,143
|percentage = 0.64%
|change = -0.61%
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 63,075
|percentage = 12.75%
|change = -1.23%
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 494,888
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Democratic Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Colorado elections}}
{{1944 United States elections}}