'''James Edward “Jim”'''<ref name=knoxvillefocus>Hill, Ray (August 17, 2014). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/senator-james-e-murray-montana/ Senator James E. Murray of Montana]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 2, 2021.</ref> '''Murray''' (May 3, 1876 – March 23, 1961) was a [[Democrat]] from [[Montana]] who was the state's Class II U.S senator from 1934 until his retirement in 1961. He was elected as a [[liberal]] and staunch [[New Deal]]er, a stance he maintained throughout his political career.<ref>March 24, 1961. [https://www.nytimes.com/1961/03/24/archives/james-e-murray-exsenator-dies-montana-democrat-stanch-supporter-of.html JAMES E. MURRAY, EX-SENATOR, DIES; Montana Democrat, Stanch Supporter of New Deal, Served From '35 to '61]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 2, 2021.</ref>
==U.S. Senate==
Following the death of incumbent senator Thomas Walsh, Montana governor John Erickson resigned and was appointed by his successor as an interim to the seat.<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> Erickson faced outrage from constituents who suspected cronyism, and Murray was encouraged to run for the seat in the 1934 special election. In an upset, he won the primary in a field of six candidates with a plurality of 25%,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=501302 MT US Senate - D Primary Race - Jul 17, 1934]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 2, 2021.</ref> and easily defeated [[Republican]] opponent Scott Leavitt in the general election.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=267909 MT US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 06, 1934]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 2, 2021.</ref>
==References==