United States Senate special election in North Dakota, 1960
Encyclopedia
The 1960 Special U.S. Senate election for the state of North Dakota was held June 28, 1960 to fill the United States Senate
seat vacated by the late William Langer
. Langer died in office on November 8, 1959, and Clarence Norman Brunsdale
, a former Governor of North Dakota
, was temporarily appointed to the seat on November 19 of that year until the special election was held. North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Quentin N. Burdick
faced Republican
John E. Davis for election to the seat. Davis had been serving as Governor of the state since 1957.
Davis had been very popular during his tenure as Governor of the state, and Burdick had been serving in North Dakota's At-large congressional district
for the past two years. His father, Usher L. Burdick
, who represented North Dakota
for twenty years in the United States House of Representatives
, died during the campaign. This race between two popular candidates made for the second closest race in the history of North Dakota's U.S. Senate elections, with Burdick being determined the winner by just over 1,100 votes.
Two independent candidates, Eugene Van Der Hoeven and Clarence Haggard, also filed before the deadline and could have played a factor in determining the outcome since their total votes were more than double that of the 1,100 votes that made Burdick the winner. Haggard would later try again for one of the state's senate seats in 1976 (see election).
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat vacated by the late William Langer
William Langer
William "Wild Bill" Langer was a prominent US politician from North Dakota. Langer is one of the most colorful characters in North Dakota history, most famously bouncing back from a scandal that forced him out of the governor's office and into prison. He served as the 17th and 21st Governor of...
. Langer died in office on November 8, 1959, and Clarence Norman Brunsdale
Clarence Norman Brunsdale
Clarence Norman Brunsdale was the 24th Governor of North Dakota and United States Senator of the state of North Dakota.-Biography:...
, a former Governor of North Dakota
Governor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
, was temporarily appointed to the seat on November 19 of that year until the special election was held. North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Quentin N. Burdick
Quentin N. Burdick
Quentin Northrup Burdick was a United States Senator from North Dakota from August 8, 1960 until his death in 1992. Prior to that he had served in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1959 to August 8, 1960. He was the son of NPL North Dakota Congressman Usher L...
faced Republican
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
John E. Davis for election to the seat. Davis had been serving as Governor of the state since 1957.
Davis had been very popular during his tenure as Governor of the state, and Burdick had been serving in North Dakota's At-large congressional district
North Dakota's At-large congressional district
North Dakota's At-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of North Dakota. All of North Dakota is contained within one at large Congressional District making it the eighth largest district in the nation.- History:...
for the past two years. His father, Usher L. Burdick
Usher L. Burdick
Usher Lloyd Burdick was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota. He was the father of Quentin N. Burdick.-Early life and career:...
, who represented North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
for twenty years in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, died during the campaign. This race between two popular candidates made for the second closest race in the history of North Dakota's U.S. Senate elections, with Burdick being determined the winner by just over 1,100 votes.
Two independent candidates, Eugene Van Der Hoeven and Clarence Haggard, also filed before the deadline and could have played a factor in determining the outcome since their total votes were more than double that of the 1,100 votes that made Burdick the winner. Haggard would later try again for one of the state's senate seats in 1976 (see election).