The Pittsburgh Press (June 28, 1941)
JOHNSON LEADS IN EARLY TEXAS ELECTION RETURNS
Dallas, Tex. June 28 (UP) –
First returns to the Texas Election Board in the state’s special senatorial election tonight indicated an unusually heavy vote had been cast.
Returns from 123 of the state’s 254 counties gave:
| Rep. Lyndon Johnson | 65,885 |
| Gov. W. Lee O’Daniel | 53,447 |
| State Attorney General Gerald Mann | 52,237 |
| Rep. Martin Dies | 25,970 |
The Pittsburgh Press (July 1, 1941)
O’DANIEL NOW LEADS TEXAS SENATE RACE
Dallas, Tex., July 1 (UP) –
With only four counties still incomplete, Gov. W. Lee O’Daniel had built up a lead of 379 votes today over U.S. Rep. Lyndon Johnson in Texas’ special senatorial election.
The one-time flour salesman had been gaining on Mr. Johnson since Sunday and the early returns today passed him for the first time with a 12-vote lead. Mr. Johnson has the endorsement of the Roosevelt administration.
Latest totals:
| O’Daniel | 174,350 |
| Johnson | 173,971 |
Most of the 1,000 uncounted ballots were from rural areas where Mr. O’Daniel admittedly holds his chief strength.
The Pittsburgh Press (July 14, 1941)
O’DANIEL DECLARED SENATE RACE VICTOR
Austin, Tex. July 14 (UP) –
The State Canvassing Board today declared W. Lee O’Daniel officially elected to the United States Senate to fill the unexpired term of the late Morris Sheppard.
Mr. O’Daniel, present Governor of Texas and exponent of the hillbilly band technique of electioneering, was only 1,057 votes ahead of Rep. Lyndon Johnson in unofficial returns from the June 28 special election.
Mr. Johnson, running with the endorsement of the Roosevelt administration, was the only one of 24 other candidates who came close to beating Mr. O’Daniel.
Mr. O’Daniel increased his victory margin to 1,311 votes under the official tabulation which gave him 175,590 to 174,279 for Mr. Johnson.
Mr. O’Daniel will be succeeded as Governor by Lt. Gov. Coke R. Stevenson, a 52-year-old rancher.