1944 United States Senate special election in New Jersey

The 1944 United States Senate special election in New Jersey was held on November 7, 1944.

The election was held to fill the unexpired term of W. Warren Barbour, who died in November 1943. H. Alexander Smith was elected to the open seat over Democratic U.S. Representative Elmer H. Wene.

The incumbent Democratic appointee, Arthur Walsh, did not run.

Background
Incumbent Senator W. Warren Barbour was elected in 1940 to a six-year term set to expire in 1947. He died on November 22, 1943, of a cerebral hemorrhage.

On November 26, Governor of New Jersey Charles Edison appointed Arthur Walsh to fill the vacant seat until a successor could be duly elected.

A special election to complete the remainder of Barbour's unexpired term was scheduled for November 7, 1944, concurrent with the general election for presidential electors and U.S. House of Representatives.

Candidates

 * Elmer H. Wene, U.S. Representative from Vineland

Declined

 * Arthur Walsh, interim Senator

Candidates

 * H. Alexander Smith, Princeton attorney and member of the Republican National Committee
 * Andrew O. Wittreich, Tenafly resident

Candidates

 * John C. Butterworth (Socialist Labor)
 * George W. Ridout (Prohibition), Methodist minister
 * Morris Riger (Socialist)
 * H. Alexander Smith (Republican), Princeton attorney and member of the Republican National Committee
 * Elmer H. Wene (Democratic), U.S. Representative from Vineland