James E. Murray

James Edward “Jim”^[1] 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 Dealer, a stance he maintained throughout his political career.^[2]

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.^[1] 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%,^[3] and easily defeated Republican opponent Scott Leavitt in the general election.^[4] Two years later, Murray only barely defeated a primary challenger and proceeded to win re-election for a full Senate term.^[1]

A strong supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and New Deal programs during the Great Depression, Murray stayed loyal to the president even during the 1937 court packing attempt.^[1] Unlike his Democrat colleague Burton K. Wheeler from the state's Class I seat, he never significantly broke with Roosevelt, though ultimately did vote to recommit the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill for committee.^[5]