The 1944 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was held on November 7, 1944. Republican Governor Leverett Saltonstall was elected to finish the term of Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., who had resigned from the Senate to serve in World War II.
Incumbent U.S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. resigned February 3, 1944 to return to active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II. To fill the vacancy until a successor could be duly elected, Republican Governor Leverett Saltonstall appointed Sinclair Weeks on February 8, 1944. A special election was scheduled on November 7.
Republican primary[]
Candidates[]
Leverett Saltonstall, Governor of Massachusetts since 1939
Results[]
Governor Saltonstall was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Democratic primary[]
Candidates[]
John H. Corcoran, Mayor of Cambridge since 1942
Joseph A. Langone, Jr., former State Senator
Joseph Lee, former Boston School Committee member
Richard M. Russell, former United States Representative and Mayor of Cambridge
E. Tallmadge Root, nominee for Governor of Massachusetts in 1940 (Prohibition)
Leverett Saltonstall, Governor of Massachusetts since 1939 (Republican)
Results[]
General election
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Leverett Saltonstall
1,228,754
64.29%
11.85
Democratic
John H. Corcoran
667,086
34.90%
11.71
Socialist Labor
Bernard G. Kelly
12,296
0.64%
0.29
Prohibition
E. Tallmadge Root
3,269
0.17%
0.09
Total votes
1,911,405
100.00%
Though he was entitled to be seated immediately upon the certification of the election, Saltonstall did not take office until January 4, 1945, when his term as Governor ended.