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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> Two years later, Murray only barely defeated a primary challenger and proceeded to win re-election for a full Senate term.<ref name=knoxvillefocus/>