1962 United States Senate special election in New Hampshire

The 1962 United States Senate special election in New Hampshire took place on November 6, 1962, to elect a U.S. Senator to complete the unexpired term of Senator Styles Bridges, who died on November 26, 1961. New Hampshire Attorney General Maurice J. Murphy Jr. was appointed on December 7, 1961 by Governor Wesley Powell to fill the vacancy until a special election could be held.

1962 United States Senate special election in New Hampshire

← 1960 November 6, 1962 1966 →

Nominee Thomas J. McIntyre Perkins Bass Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 117,612 107,199 Percentage 52.32% 47.68%

County results McIntyre:      50–60%      60–70% Bass:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Maurice J. Murphy Jr. Republican Elected U.S. Senator Thomas J. McIntyre Democratic

Murphy was defeated in the Republican primary by Congressman Perkins Bass, who went on to be defeated in the general election by Democratic nominee former Mayor of Laconia, Thomas J. McIntyre. Democrats won this seat for the first time since 1912.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 11, 1962.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Thomas J. McIntyre, former Mayor of Laconia, New Hampshire and Democratic nominee for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district in 1954

Results

Democratic primary results^[1][2][3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas J. McIntyre	24,885	100.00
Total votes			24,885	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Perkins Bass, incumbent U.S. Representative
• Doloris Bridges, widow of Styles Bridges
• Chester Earl Merrow, incumbent U.S. Representative
• Maurice J. Murphy Jr., incumbent United States Senator

Results

Republican primary results^[1][2][3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Perkins Bass	31,037	31.35
	Republican	Doloris Bridges	29,345	29.64
	Republican	Maurice J. Murphy Jr. (Incumbent)	24,204	24.45
	Republican	Chester Earl Merrow	14,417	14.56
Total votes			99,003	100.00

General election

Results

1962 United States Senate special election in New Hampshire^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas J. McIntyre	117,612	52.32
	Republican	Perkins Bass	107,199	47.68
Majority			10,413	4.64
Turnout			224,811
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 1962 United States Senate elections