John J. McGrath
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 8th district
In office
March 4, 1933 – March 4, 1939
Preceded byArthur M. Free
Succeeded byJack Z. Anderson
Personal details
Born
John Joseph McGrath

(1873-07-23)July 23, 1873
Limerick, Ireland
DiedAugust 25, 1952(1952-08-25) (aged 79)
San Mateo, California
Political partyDemocratic

John Joseph McGrath (July 23, 1872 – August 25, 1951) was a U.S. Representative from California for three terms from 1933 to 1939.

Biography

Born in Limerick, Ireland, he immigrated to the United States at the age of seventeen, living initially in Chicago. He studied law briefly and worked as a salesman and sales manager for many years, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1896.

In California he served as postmaster of San Mateo from 1916 to 1925, and as a justice of the peace in San Mateo County from 1928 to 1932.

Congress

In 1932 he was elected to Congress as a Democrat, defeating incumbent Arthur M. Free in the 8th district, which ran from San Mateo County south across Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties. He served three full terms from 1933 to 1939, but was defeated for reelection in 1938 by Republican Jack Z. Anderson.

Later career and death

Subsequently, he served as commissioner for immigration and naturalization in San Francisco from 1939 to 1940 before retiring. He died in 1951 in San Mateo.

Electoral history

United States House of Representatives elections, 1932[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John J. McGrath 65,455 56.9%
Republican Arthur M. Free (Incumbent) 49,487 43.1%
Total votes 114,942 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican
United States House of Representatives elections, 1934[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John J. McGrath (Incumbent) 107,325 100.0%
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 1936[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John J. McGrath (Incumbent) 78,557 57.6%
Republican Alonzo L. Baker 57,808 43.4%
Total votes 136,365 100.0%
Democratic hold
United States House of Representatives elections, 1938[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Z. Anderson 84,084 55%
Democratic John J. McGrath (Incumbent) 68,681 45%
Total votes 152,765 100%
Republican gain from Democratic
United States House of Representatives elections, 1940[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jack Z. Anderson (Incumbent) 148,180 96.7%
Communist Elizabeth Nichols 5,186 3.3%
Democratic John J. McGrath (write-in) 37 0.1%
Total votes 153,403 100.0%
Republican hold

References

  • United States Congress. "John J. McGrath (id: M000457)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


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