Theodore Arlington Bell

Theodore Arlington Bell (July 25, 1872 – September 4, 1922) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a Democratic congressman from California from 1903 to 1905.

While serving, he was a member of the House Irrigation of Arid Lands Committee. In the 1904 election, he was defeated by Republican Duncan E. McKinlay.

Later career He went on to run for Governor of California in 1906, 1910 and 1918, losing twice as a Democrat with around 38% and 40% of the vote and once as an Independent with 36%. In his closest election in 1906 he was only 2.6% behind Republican James Gillett. He was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 1905, but lost to Republican Frank P. Flint. He was a delegate to the 1908 Democratic National Convention, where he gave William Jennings Bryan's nomination speech, and the 1912 Democratic National Convention before later switching parties to become a Republican in 1921.

Death and burial On September 4, 1922, he was killed in a car crash in Marin County, California. He is interred at Odd Fellows Cemetery in St. Helena.

Electoral history