Jack C. Walton - Later Politics and Death

Later Politics and Death

The year following Walton’s removal from office, U.S. Senator Robert L. Owen announced his retirement and that he would not be seeking reelection. Owen had represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since it became a state in 1907, and Walton seized the opportunity to replace the popular Senator by receiving the Democratic nomination. One reason it is believed that Walton received the nomination so soon after his removal from office is that he was the only Democratic candidate to publicly criticize the Klan. However, Walton lost in the general election in a landslide 62% to 35%) to the Republican candidate, William B. Pine.

Even though Walton did not win the election, he served on the Corporation Commission from 1933 to 1939. After his service as Commissioner, Walton retired from political office to practice law. However, during his tenure as Commissioner, Walton ran in the Democratic primary for Governor in 1934 to replace William H. Murray and again in 1938 to replace Ernest W. Marland. Both efforts ended in failure with Walton not receiving the party’s nomination. Walton spent his remaining years practicing law in Oklahoma City where he died at the age of 68 on November 25, 1949. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City.