Wesley A. D'Ewart | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMontana's2nd district | |
| In office June 5, 1945 – January 3, 1955 | |
| Preceded by | James F. O'Connor |
| Succeeded by | Orvin B. Fjare |
| Member of theMontana Senate | |
| In office 1941–1945 | |
| Member of theMontana House of Representatives | |
| In office 1937–1939 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1889-10-01)October 1, 1889 |
| Died | September 2, 1973(1973-09-02) (aged 83) |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Washington State College at Pullman |
Wesley Abner D'Ewart (October 1, 1889 – September 2, 1973) was aU.S.Republicanpolitician who served in theUnited States House of Representatives fromMontana's 2nd congressional district from June 5, 1945, to January 3, 1955.
Wesley D'Ewart was born inWorcester,Massachusetts to William John D'Ewart and Mary Elizabeth Barnard.[1] He attendedWashington State College at Pullman. In 1910, D'Ewart moved to Wilsall,Montana, where he settled inPark County. Before entering politics, D'Ewart worked in ranching and for the Forest Service.[2]
Throughout his career, D’Ewart was a staunch member of the Republican Party.[2] In 1936, D’Ewart was elected to theMontana House of Representatives. He served there for three years, then was elected to theMontana Senate in 1940. D’Ewart served in the Senate from 1941 to 1945.[1]
When United States CongressmanJames F. O'Connor, who representedMontana's 2nd congressional district died on January 15, 1945, a special election was held to replace him, which D'Ewart won.[3] He was re-elected in1946 againstDemocratic nominee John J. Holmes by a wide margin, and in1948, he defeated Willard E. Fraser to narrowly win re-election. D'Ewart was re-elected in1950 and1952 against John J. Holmes.
Rather than seek re-election, D'Ewart ran for theUnited States Senate against incumbent Democratic SenatorJames E. Murray in1954. Following a close and contentious election, Murray narrowly defeated D'Ewart to win his final term in the Senate.[4]
D'Ewart served as an assistant to theUnited States Secretary of Agriculture from January 1955 to September 1955. He was in charge of lands and reclamation.[5] He was Assistant Secretary of theDepartment of the Interior from October 1955 to July 1956. From August 1956 to October 1958 he was a special representative for the Secretary of Agriculture.
When incumbent GovernorJ. Hugo Aronson declined to seek reelection asGovernor of Montana in1960, D'Ewart ran to succeed him, and lost to formerState SenatorDonald Grant Nutter in theRepublican primary by fewer than five hundred votes. (Nutter went on to win the general election.)[6][7]
D'Ewart's 1954 election committee also publishedSenator Murray and the Red Web Over Congress.[8]
D’Ewart retired from politics and lived in Wilsall, Montana. During his retirement, D’Ewart remained active in the Republican Party. He followed Montana elections closely and worked as an activist and strategist.[1] D'Ewart was a director of the National Water Resources Association,[2] and he served on the Western States Water Council from 1966 to 1969.[citation needed] He died inLivingston, Montana, on September 2, 1973. D'Ewart was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Livingston.[9] His papers are now held by theMontana State University Library's Archives and Special Collections.
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Tom J. Davis | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromMontana (Class 2) 1954 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | United States Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Montana 1945–1955 | Succeeded by |
| Territorial (1865–1889) |
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| Oneat-large seat (1889–1913) |
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| Two at-large seats (1913–1919) |
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| Districts (1919–1993) |
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| One at-large seat (1993–2023) |
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| Districts (2023–present) |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
