1926 United States Senate election in Kentucky

The 1926 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 2, 1926. Republican Senator Richard P. Ernst ran for re-election to a second term in office but was defeated by Democratic U.S. Representative Alben W. Barkley, who would go on to serve for twenty-two years before ascending to become Vice President of the United States.

1926 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 1920 November 6, 1926 1932 →

Nominee Alben Barkley Richard P. Ernst Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 286,997 266,657 Percentage 51.8% 48.2%

County results Barkley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Ernst:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. senator before election Richard P. Ernst Republican Elected U.S. Senator Alben Barkley Democratic

General election

Candidates

• Alben W. Barkley, U.S. Representative from Paducah and candidate for Governor in 1923 (Democratic)
• Richard P. Ernst, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1921 (Republican)

Campaign

Barkley announced his campaign on April 26 with the support of organized labor in the state; because of his role in crafting the Railway Labor Act, the Associated Railway Labor Organizations endorsed him in advance.^[1] Since his failed 1923 gubernatorial campaign, he had distanced himself from political boss Percy Haly and promised that he would not push a national ban on parimutuel betting if elected.^[2] Consequently, he had no opposition in the primary.^[3] Congressman (and future Chief Justice of the United States) Fred M. Vinson managed his general election campaign.^[2]

President Calvin Coolidge supported Ernst, and Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover campaigned in the state on his behalf.^[4] Ernst had opposed a bonus for veterans of World War I, an unpopular position in Kentucky, and at 68 years old, his age worked against him.^[2][5] Barkley contrasted his impoverished upbringing with Ernst's affluent lifestyle as a corporate attorney and attacked him for supporting Michigan senator Truman Handy Newberry, who had resigned due to allegations of election fraud.^[4] Republican voters were angered that Ernst did not support Republican Congressman John W. Langley when Langley was charged with illegally aiding a large bootlegging operation in Louisville.^[5] Ernst tried to resurrect the issues of Barkley's support for the coal tax and opposition to parimutuel betting.^[2]

Results

1926 U.S. Senate election in Kentucky^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Alben W. Barkley	286,997	51.84%
	Republican	Richard P. Ernst (incumbent)	266,657	48.16%
Majority			20,340	3.68%
Total votes			553,654	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1926 United States Senate elections