After incumbent Republican senator Ernest W. Gibson died in office on June 20, 1940, Gov. Aiken appointed Gibson's son as an interm to the seat. After the younger Gibson decided against running in the [[special election]] that year, Aiken ran and easily won by over twenty percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=223197 VT US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1940]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> Aiken continued to be re-elected before retiring in the 1974 midterms.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=7383 Candidate - George D. Aiken]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> | After incumbent Republican senator Ernest W. Gibson died in office on June 20, 1940, Gov. Aiken appointed Gibson's son as an interm to the seat. After the younger Gibson decided against running in the [[special election]] that year, Aiken ran and easily won by over twenty percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=223197 VT US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1940]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> Aiken continued to be re-elected before retiring in the 1974 midterms.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=7383 Candidate - George D. Aiken]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> |