Roy Elson

Roy L. Elson (born c. 1930) is an American politician from Arizona, and a onetime aide and protege of longtime Senator Carl Hayden(D-AZ), is perhaps best known as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1964 and 1968.

During his first bid he ran for seat held by Republican Barry Goldwater, who declined to seek a third term in order to seek the Republican Presidential nomination in 1964. He would go on to lose to incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson in the now famous 1964 election. Despite Johnson's landslide victory and big gains for Democrats across the country, Elson lost to Republican Governor Paul Fannin by 51.4% - 48.6% margin.

Elson was nominated again in 1968, this time running for the seat being vacated by his boss Carl Hayden, who by then was Dean and President pro tempore of the Senate. Elson lost again, this time to Goldwater, who returned to Senate by winning the race 57.2% to 42.8%.

ee also

* United States Senate elections, 1964
* United States Senate elections, 1968
* http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/elmquist-elwyn.html