1918 United States Senate election in Kansas

The 1918 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on November 5, 1918. Incumbent Democratic Senator William H. Thompson ran for re-election to a second term in the first popular election for this seat after the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment. Thompson was challenged by Governor Arthur Capper, the Republican nominee. Amid a nationwide Republican wave, Thompson lost to Capper in a landslide, winning just 34% of the vote to Capper's 64%.

1918 United States Senate election in Kansas

← 1913 November 5, 1918 1924 →

Nominee Arthur Capper William H. Thompson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 281,931 149,300 Percentage 63.69% 33.73%

Results by county Capper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Thompson:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election William H. Thompson Democratic Elected U.S. senator Arthur Capper Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William H. Thompson, incumbent U.S. Senator
• George W. Marble, publisher of the Fort Scott Tribune-Monitor^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William H. Thompson (inc.)	29,080	75.36%
	Democratic	George W. Marble	9,510	24.64%
Total votes			38,590	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Arthur Capper, Governor of Kansas
• Walter R. Stubbs, former Governor of Kansas
• Charles F. Scott, U.S. Representative from Kansas's 2nd congressional district
• Joseph L. Bristow, former U.S. Senator

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arthur Capper	103,120	59.45%
	Republican	Walter R. Stubbs	31,614	18.22%
	Republican	Charles F. Scott	24,826	14.31%
	Republican	Joseph L. Bristow	13,911	8.02%
Total votes			173,471	100.00%

Socialist primary

Candidates

• Eva Harding, physician^[3]

Results

Socialist primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	Eva Harding	1,245	100.00%
Total votes			1,245	100.00%

General election

Results

1918 United States Senate election in Kansas^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arthur Capper	281,931	63.69%
	Democratic	William H. Thompson (inc.)	149,300	33.73%
	Socialist	Eva Harding	11,429	2.58%
	Write-in		4	0.00%
Majority			132,631	29.96%
Total votes			442,664	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

See also

• 1918 United States Senate elections