The 1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican Governor Winfield Dunn was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Tennessee prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms at the time. Democratic nominee Ray Blanton defeated Republican opponent Lamar Alexander with 55.4% of the vote.
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results Blanton: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Alexander: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
|
With this win, Blanton flipped the state back into Democratic control, with the state state legislature also being controlled by Democrats.
Primary elections
editPrimary elections were held on August 1, 1974.[1]
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Ray Blanton, former U.S. Representative, candidate in the 1972 U.S. Senate election.
- Jake Butcher, businessman
- Thomas A. Wiseman Jr., former Tennessee State Treasurer
- Hudley Crockett, news anchor
- Franklin Haney, businessman
- Stan Snodgrass
- Ross Bass, former United States Senator
- Washington Butler
- David Pack
- James Powers
- Jonnie D. Elkins
- Charles Gordon Vick, perennial candidate
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ray Blanton | 148,062 | 22.73 | |
Democratic | Jake Butcher | 131,412 | 20.18 | |
Democratic | Thomas A. Wiseman Jr. | 89,061 | 13.67 | |
Democratic | Hudley Crockett | 86,852 | 13.34 | |
Democratic | Franklin Haney | 84,155 | 12.92 | |
Democratic | Stan Snodgrass | 40,211 | 6.17 | |
Democratic | Ross Bass | 26,091 | 4.01 | |
Democratic | Washington Butler | 15,562 | 2.39 | |
Democratic | David Pack | 13,625 | 2.09 | |
Democratic | James Powers | 13,464 | 2.07 | |
Democratic | Jonnie D. Elkins | 1,694 | 0.26 | |
Democratic | Charles Gordon Vick | 1,121 | 0.17 | |
Total votes | 651,320 | 100.00 |
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Lamar Alexander, attorney
- Nat T. Winston Jr., former Commissioner of Mental Health for Tennessee
- Dortch Oldham, businessman
- Melvin Waldron
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lamar Alexander | 120,773 | 48.48 | |
Republican | Nat T. Winston Jr. | 90,980 | 36.52 | |
Republican | Dortch Oldham | 35,683 | 14.32 | |
Republican | Melvin Waldron | 1,674 | 0.67 | |
Total votes | 249,112 | 100.00 |
General election
editCandidates
editMajor party candidates
- Ray Blanton, Democratic
- Lamar Alexander, Republican
Other candidates
- Jack Comer, Independent
- Alfred W. Taylor, Independent
- James Reesor, Independent
- Hubert David Patty, Independent
- Arnold Joseph Zandi, Independent
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ray Blanton | 576,833 | 55.43% | ||
Republican | Lamar Alexander | 455,467 | 43.77% | ||
Independent | Jack Comer | 2,431 | 0.23% | ||
Independent | Alfred W. Taylor | 2,338 | 0.23% | ||
Independent | James Reesor | 1,986 | 0.19% | ||
Independent | Hubert David Patty | 845 | 0.08% | ||
Independent | Arnold Joseph Zandi | 784 | 0.08% | ||
Majority | 121,366 | ||||
Turnout | 1,040,714 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | Swing |
References
edit- ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved January 26, 2019.