The 1922 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania was held on November 7, 1922. Incumbent
Republican Senator
George Pepper, who had been appointed to the seat by
GovernorWilliam Sproul following the death of
Boies Penrose, was elected to fill the remaining four years on the term to which Penrose had been elected in
1920. Pepper comfortably defeated five other candidates, including Democratic nominee Fred Kerr of
Clearfield County.[1]
Background
Incumbent Senator
Boies Penrose, who had been elected in 1920 for a term expiring in 1927, died on December 31, 1921. Governor of Pennsylvania
William Cameron Sproul appointed
George W. Pepper to fill Penrose's seat until a successor could be duly elected. The special election for the remainder of Penrose's term was scheduled for November 7, simultaneous with the general election.
Primary elections were held on May 16.[2] Pepper was a candidate to complete the term.
Republican primary
Candidates
William J. Burke, U.S. Representative from Pittsburgh (representing Pennsylvania at-large)
After losing the Republican primary, Burke campaigned as the Progressive nominee in
the regularly scheduled election for Pennsylvania's other U.S. Senate seat.
General election
Candidates
Fred Kerr,
Clearfield businessman and U.S. Army veteran (Democratic)[3]
Frank Lewis (Prohibition)
George Wharton Pepper, former University of Pennsylvania Law School professor and interim U.S. Senator[4] (Republican)