In the elections of 1952, 1954, and 1956, Washington elected six Republicans, Thomas M. Pelley, Jack Westland, Russell V. Mack, Hal Holmes, Walter F. Horan, and Thor C. Tollefson, to Congress.  In the same three elections, Washington elected a single Democrat, Don Magnuson, to Congress.

What part of Washington did Magnuson represent in those years?

Trick question.  Believe it or not, the Republicans won all six districts in those three elections.  (The map is not detailed enough for me to be sure, but it looks as though Tom Pelley represented most of Seattle, if you are wondering.)  Don Magnuson won at large.   So, in those three elections, the voters of Washington state simultaneously elected Republicans in all six districts — and a Democrat at large.

In 1958, Magnuson finally got his own district, the 7th.  It appears to have included Kitsap and the southern part of King county.  But the rest of the state again elected Republicans Pelley, Westland, Mack, Holmes, Horan, and Tollefson.  (Mack, who represented the southeast part of Washington, was replaced by Democrat Julia B. Hansen during his term.   I'm not sure just why.)

(Magnuson was thought to benefit from having the last name as another Washington politician.   Speaking of names, wouldn't you be tempted to put Thor C. Tollefson on the Armed Services committee?   I know I would be.

I found this (and much else) in a wonderful atlas by Kenneth C. Martis, Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. The atlas gives you all the winners of the Congressional elections from 1788 through 1986.   Amazon says the book is unavailable; if you see it in a used book store, grab it if you are a political junkie or even if you just know one.

If you like this puzzle, you may want to look at another I just posted here.) Posted by Jim Miller at June 12, 2005 02:54 PM | Email This