James Michael Curley - First Election To The U.S. House

First Election To The U.S. House

In 1910 while a member of the Boston Board of Aldermen, Curley decided to run for the 10th District U.S. congressional seat then occupied by Joseph F. O'Connell. (In the previous general election O'Connell won by a four-vote margin over his Republican opponent, ex-City Clerk J. Mitchell Galvin.) In a three-way primary among O'Connell, Curley, and O'Connell's predecessor William S. McNary, Curley defeated O'Connell and McNary. Despite the majority of the electorate being opposed to the growing Irish-American power in the district, the Irish Mob had extended its criminal corruption throughout the state and executed a major campaign at intimidating voters in marginal wards, stuffing ballot boxes, and other electoral corruption. After winning the nomination of the Democratic party Curley went on to win the general election, despite the actual number of voters, by a substantial plurality over Galvin, who was again the Republican nominee.