1916 United States Senate election in Indiana

Not to be confused with 1916 United States Senate special election in Indiana.

The 1916 United States Senate election in Indiana took place on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator and Senate Majority Leader John W. Kern ran for re-election to a second term in office, he was defeated by Republican Harry New, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

1916 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1911 November 7, 1916 1922 →

Nominee Harry New John W. Kern Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 337,089 325,588 Percentage 47.77% 46.14%

County results New:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Kern:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election John W. Kern Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Harry New Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John W. Kern, incumbent Senator since 1911 and Democratic Caucus Chairman Leader since 1913

Results

1916 Democratic Senate primary^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John W. Kern	151,931	100.00%
Total votes			151,931	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Harry Stewart New, former state senator from Indianapolis and Chairman of the Republican National Committee
• Arthur N. Robinson
• James E. Watson, former U.S. representative from Rushville

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party		Candidate	Round 1			Round 2
			Votes	%	Transfer	Votes	%
	Republican	Harry New	97,118	46.07%	+ 3,981	101,099	52.05%
	Republican	James Watson	89,847	42.62%	+ 3,273	93,120	47.95%
	Republican	Arthur Robinson	23,835	11.31%	- 23,835	Eliminated

After losing the primary, Watson ran in the special election for Indiana's other Senate seat caused by the death of Senator Benjamin F. Shively, which he won over Indiana's other Senator Thomas Taggart. Watson would be sworn in as a U.S Senator 3 months before Senator-elect New's term began.

Progressive primary

Candidates

• John N. Dyer, candidate for U.S. Representative in 1912

Results

1916 Progressive Senate primary^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive	John N. Dyer	7,567	100.00%
Total votes			7,567	100.00%

General election

Results

1916 U.S. Senate election in Indiana^[4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harry Stewart New	337,089	47.77%
	Democratic	John W. Kern	325,588	46.14%
	Socialist	Joseph Zimmerman	21,558	3.06%
	Prohibition	Elwood Haynes	15,598	2.21%
	Progressive	John N. Dyer	4,272	0.61%
	Socialist Labor	Ira J. Decker	1,562	0.22%
Total votes			705,667	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

Kern died 5 months after leaving the U.S Senate.

See also

• 1916 United States Senate elections