1940 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

The 1940 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on November 5, 1940, with Democratic incumbent David I. Walsh defeating his challengers.

1940 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

November 5, 1940

Nominee David I. Walsh Henry Parkman Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,088,838 838,122 Percentage 55.64% 42.38%

Walsh:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Parkman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Senator before election David I. Walsh Democratic Elected Senator David I. Walsh Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• David I. Walsh, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1926 (also served 1919–25) and former Governor of Massachusetts (1914–16)

Results

Senator Walsh was unopposed for renomination.

1940 Democratic U.S. Senate primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David I. Walsh (incumbent)	286,468	99.96%
	Write-in		101	0.04%
Total votes			286,569	100.00%
	None	Blank votes	103,981	–
Turnout			390,550

Republican primary

Candidates

• Henry Parkman Jr., Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston, former state senator and Boston City Councilman

Results

Parkman was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

1940 Republican U.S. Senate primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Henry Parkman Jr.	274,628	99.99%
	Write-in		30	0.01%
Total votes			274,658	100.00%
	None	Blank votes	72,707	–
Turnout			347,365

General election

Candidates

• Philip Frankfeld (Communist)
• Horace I. Hillis, perennial candidate (Socialist Labor)
• George Lyman Paine, Episcopal priest and son of philanthropist Robert Treat Paine (Socialist)
• Henry Parkman Jr., Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston, former state senator and Boston City Councilman (Republican)
• George L. Thompson, candidate for governor in 1938 (Prohibition)
• David I. Walsh, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1926 (also served 1919–25) and former governor of Massachusetts (1914–16) (Democratic)

Results

194 U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	David I. Walsh (incumbent)	1,088,838	55.64%	3.75
	Republican	Henry Parkman Jr.	838,122	42.38%	5.00
	Prohibition	George L. Thompson	9,632	0.49%	0.23
	Communist	Philip Frankfeld	9,465	0.48%	0.08
	Socialist	George Lyman Paine	6,876	0.35%	1.19
	Socialist Labor	Horace I. Hillis	4,133	0.21%	0.36
	None	Blank votes	105,192	—	—
Total votes			2,062,281	100.00%