Attorney Karl C. Schuyler won the Republican nomination to succeed Waterman and faced former Senator Alva B. Adams, the Democratic nominee, in the general election.

Governor Billy Adams appointed Walter Walker, the Chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, to fill the vacancy.

Schuyler narrowly won the special election over Walker by about 1,000 votes, and ended up serving for several months in the Senate.

Adams declined to be a candidate in the special election, and the state Democratic Party named Senator Walter Walker as its nominee.

[3] Senator Waterman's announcement that he would not seek re-election triggered an open Republican contest for the nomination to replace him.