Kenneth Hand

Kenneth Cromwell Hand (May 6, 1899 – April 9, 1988) was an American Republican Party politician and judge who served in the New Jersey State Senate. He was a candidate for the 1953 Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey.

Hand was born on May 6, 1899 in Putnam, Connecticut, the son of Rev. Aaron W. Hand (1855–1926) and Matilda Hand (1864–1938). Hand grew up in Keyport, New Jersey, where his father relocated to take a position as a Minister. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I, and graduated from Rutgers University in 1920. He received his law degree from Columbia University in 1923.

From 1925 to 1956, Hand practiced law in Elizabeth and Newark. He resided in Roselle, New Jersey before moving to Westfield, New Jersey.

Hand was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly representing Union County in 1928, and was re-elected in 1929, 1930 and 1931.

In 1930, Hand led a revolt among legislators frustrated that party leadership were not advancing their bills for votes on the floor.

He ran again for Assemblyman in 1942, and was re-elected in 1943.

Hand served as an Assistant Union County Prosecutor, a part-time post, in 1944 and 1945.

Following the death of U.S. Rep. Ernest Robinson Ackerman in 1931, Hand became a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was defeated in a Special Primary Election by Donald H. McLean, a former Secretary to U.S. Senator John Kean. McLean, running as a supporter of Prohibition, or as a "Dry" candidate, received 8,811 votes; Hand, running as a "Wet" candidate supporting the repeal of Prohibition, received 6,707 votes. Hand beat McLean in the Union County portion of the district, but lost to him in Morris County. John E. Nicol received 4,828 votes, Wesley Stanger, a "Dry" Republican who had lost to Ackerman in 1930, finished last with 1,776 votes. The Special Primary was held on November 17, 1931, allowing Hand to successfully seek a fourth term as Assemblyman a few weeks earlier.

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