Complex sentence: Following Rolph's death shortly before the 1934 gubernatorial election, Young again sought the Republican nomination, but lost the primary election to Rolph's successor, Frank Merriam.
Split into simpler sentences: Following Rolph's death shortly before the 1934 gubernatorial election, Young sought again the Republican nomination. Young lost in the party's primary election to Rolph's successor, Acting Governor Frank Merriam.