1916 California's 10th congressional district special election

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On July 22, 1916 William Stephens (Progressive) resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of California, after the former Lieutenant Governor died in office. In order to fill the gap left in his absence, a special election was held to fill the position for the duration of the term.

Campaign

Henry Stanley Benedict announced his campaign for the congressional seat on July 28, 1916. Prior to this announcement, he was a state senator, who helped pass or author several bills regarding land use, support of public libraries, and financial controls.^[1] On August 2, 1916, Benedict received the endorsement of William Stephens, the previous holder of the seat, and at the time was California's lieutenant governor.^[2] In a speech held at the Fraternal Brotherhood Hall on Figueroa Street, Benedict told a large audience of his platform, and was recalled in a Los Angeles Herald news article which stated that,

He strongly favors the election of Hughes and Fairbanks, a protective tariff, national woman's suffrage, national child labor law and workmen's compensation act, adequate preparedness and proper protection for the Pacific coast.^[3]

Henry S. Benedict also supported tax relief for Southern California's growing film industry, comparing its impact to the citrus industry that was booming in the Los Angeles area at the time.^[4] Benedict's campaign went through some difficulties during the primary elections, that were held on August 29, 1916. Benedict had been campaigning for both the Republican and Progressive nominations, and assuming that the Progressive nomination was all but secured he decided to campaign more heavily for the Republican nomination. After the results came in, Republican Henry Zenas Osborne secured the nomination of his party, eliminating Benedict from that race. The issues came when the Progressive Party's ballot returns came and it was not apparent that Benedict was the winner. Voters had written Benedict's name 23 different ways, and the Secretary of State, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and other Los Angeles County officials had to decide whether these votes would count towards Benedict.^[5]^[6]

After a decision from the California Supreme Court, it was decided that Benedict could run for the congressional seat, as a Progressive. This Supreme Court ruling also affected other candidates, allowing anyone who won a party's nomination to appear on the ballot.^[7] After the Supreme Court's decision, the Republican State Central Committee spent a considerable amount of time, advertising in newspapers, and sending out information to urge voters that Henry Z. Osborne should be elected to the full term congressional seat in the 10th District, while Benedict's name should be written in for the short term congressional seat.^[8]^[9] This decision from the Republican Party angered some voters, with one named John C. Wray deciding to enter the election writing in a news article that

TO THE PUBLIC: October 23 I made public announcement of my intention to request my friends to write my name (John C. Wray) in on the vacant space on the official ballot which will be on November 7th for Member of Congress for the Unexpired Term, or Short Term of Congress in the 10th District, in which I have rented for 31 years. I am an uncontrolled Republican. Now comes Henry Stanley Benedict, who was defeated by H. Z. Osborne at the Primary Election, and asks that his name be written in for the short term, notwithstanding the act that the name of Henry Stanley Benedict is printed on the Official Ballot as a candidate for the Long Term, and naturally he (Benclict) will secure thousands of votes, which in all decency, and In fair play, should be cast for Henry Z. Osborne. I deny the right of any man to deliver my vote in advance of the day of, or on the day of election. I am an American citizen. I am acting as my own Manager, paying my own expenses, and only solicit the free and uncontrollable votes of the electors of the Tenth Congressional District, who like myself will refuse to be delivered like a band of sheep on November 7th. Signed, JOHN C. WRAY.^[10]

Just two days prior to the election, candidate Joy Clark, a prominent Los Angeles businessman entered the race as a write-in candidate with many supporters flocking to his cause.^[11] Joy Clark was born in Omaha, Nebraska and later moved to Chicago, where he went to school at the University of Chicago. After graduating, he left for Europe and later returned to the United States, where he would marry Florence Wood, the daughter of prominent vocalist, Charles Modini Wood.^[12]

Results

Henry S. Benedict (Republican) was elected on November 7, 1916, to finish the term.

1916 10th congressional district special election^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive	Henry S. Benedict (write-in)	19,062	62.82
	Independent	Joy Clark (write-in)	7,149	23.59
	Prohibition	Henry Clay Needham (write-in)	1,310	4.32
	Unknown	George Clark (write-in)	1,073	3.54
	Socialist	James H. Ryckman (write-in)	911	3.01
	Democratic	Rufus V. Bowden (write-in)	553	1.83
	Unknown	John C. Wray (write-in)	270	0.89
Total votes			30,328	100.0
Turnout
	Progressive hold

Benedict was also nominated as a Progressive for the next term, but withdrew in favor of the Republican.

References

^ "Senator Benedict Runs for Congress". Vol. 8, no. 255. San Pedro News Pilot. July 28, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "STEPHENS FOR BENEDICT". Vol. 13, no. 178. San Pedro Daily News. August 2, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "PLAN L. A. RECEPTIONS FOR HUGHES AND WILSON". Vol. XLII, no. 243. Los Angeles Herald. August 10, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "Pledges Protection to Film Industry". Vol. XLII, no. 257. Los Angeles Herald. August 26, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "Benedict Election Case Is Assigned". Vol. XLII, no. 274. Los Angeles Herald. September 15, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "BENEDICT MAY NOT GET PLACE ON THE TICKET". Vol. 3, no. 295. San Pedro News Pilot. September 14, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "BENEDICT'S NAME STAYS ON BALLOT Supreme Court Upholds Candidacy of Los Angeles Attorney for Congress Seat". Vol. 191, no. 30. Sacramento Daily Union. September 30, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "URGE WRITING IN OF BENEDICT'S NAME". Vol. XLII, no. 3. Los Angeles Herald. November 4, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "Page 4 Advertisements Column 2". Vol. 13, no. 262. San Pedro Daily News. November 4, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "SAYS HIS VOTE IS UNCONTROLLABLE". Vol. 13, no. 262. San Pedro Daily News. November 4, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "JOY CLARK ENTERS RACE FOR CONGRESS". Vol. XLII, no. 4. Los Angeles Herald. November 6, 1916. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "MODINI WOOD'S DAUGHTER GETS LICENSE TO WED". Vol. XXXIX, no. 281. Los Angeles Herald. August 25, 1913. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "CA District 10 - Special Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 23, 2022.