1920 United States Senate election in Arizona

The 1920 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 2, 1920. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Marcus A. Smith ran for reelection to a third term, but was defeated by former Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Arizona Territory Ralph H. Cameron in the general election. Cameron would become the first Republican elected to the office of U.S. Senator from Arizona since the state joined the union in 1912. The same year, Republican Governor Thomas Edward Campbell was reelected to a second term. This was the last time until 1968 that a Republican would be elected to the Class 3 Senate seat in Arizona.

1920 United States Senate election in Arizona

← 1914 November 2, 1920 1926 →

Nominee Ralph H. Cameron Marcus A. Smith Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 35,893 29,169 Percentage 55.17% 44.83%

County results Cameron:      50–60%      60–70% Smith:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Marcus A. Smith Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Ralph H. Cameron Republican

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary took place on September 8, 1920. Incumbent U.S. Senator Marcus A. Smith was the recipient of a significant challenge in the Democratic primary, notably by Maricopa County Superior Court judge Rawghlie Clement Stanford, who would go on to become Arizona's fifth Governor in 1937. Fellow lawyer Albinus A. Worsley, as well as John W. Norton also ran in the primary. Smith narrowly staved off his primary challengers and went on to compete in the general election in November.

Candidates

• Marcus A. Smith, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Rawghlie Clement Stanford, Maricopa County Superior Court
• Albinus A. Worsley, lawyer
• John W. Norton

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Marcus A. Smith (incumbent)	10,910	37.1%
	Democratic	Rawghlie Clement Stanford	8,400	28.5%
	Democratic	Albinus A. Worsley	7,474	25.4%
	Democratic	John W. Norton	2,651	9.0%
Total votes			29,435	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ralph H. Cameron, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Arizona Territory
• Elias S. Clark, Arizona Territorial Attorney General
• Thomas Maddock, Arizona State Highway Engineer
• Edward Robinson

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ralph H. Cameron	4,587	40.7%
	Republican	Elias S. Clark	3,941	34.9%
	Republican	Thomas Maddock	2,194	19.4%
	Republican	Edward Robinson	563	5.0%
Total votes			11,285	100.0

General election

United States Senate election in Arizona, 1920^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ralph H. Cameron	35,893	55.17%	+36.22%
	Democratic	Marcus A. Smith (incumbent)	29,169	44.83%	−8.40%
Majority			6,724	10.33%	−23.95%
Turnout			65,062
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1920 and 1921