The 1911 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on December 12, 1911, for the post of the first elected Governor of Arizona. The Democratic nominee George W. P. Hunt defeated the Republican nominee Edmund W. Wells. Hunt and Wells were both members of the Constitutional Convention, Hunt being chosen President and leading the way for much of the drafting. Wells refused to sign the Constitution, considering aspects like the initiative, referendum, and especially judicial recall to be too radical.
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 County results Hunt: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Wells: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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These fears proved prophetic when it was originally rejected by fellow Republican, former judge, and incumbent President William Howard Taft. Wells' refusal to sign, and Taft's veto of, the state constitution hurt but did not cripple his electoral chances, as he only lost by less than 2,000 votes out of about 21,000 cast. [1]
George W. P. Hunt was sworn in as Arizona's first elected Governor on February 12, 1912.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- George W. P. Hunt, President of the Arizona Constitutional Convention, former President of the Legislative Council, and businessman.
- Thomas F. Weedin, editor of the Blade-Tribune.
- Henry A. Hughes, physician.
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | George W. P. Hunt | 5,241 | 53.85% | |
| Democratic | Thomas Weedin | 3,532 | 36.29% | |
| Democratic | Henry A. Hughes | 960 | 9.86% | |
| Total votes | 9,733 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Edmund W. Wells, former Associate Justice of Arizona Territorial Supreme Court and former Attorney General of Arizona Territory
- George U. Young
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Edmund W. Wells | 3,051 | 60.58% | |
| Republican | George U. Young | 1,985 | 39.42% | |
| Total votes | 5,036 | 100.00% | ||
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | George W. P. Hunt | 11,123 | 51.46% | ||
| Republican | Edmund W. Wells | 9,166 | 42.41% | ||
| Socialist | P. W. Gallentine | 1,247 | 5.77% | ||
| Prohibition | T. W. Otis | 79 | 0.36% | ||
| Majority | 1,957 | 9.05% | |||
| Total votes | 21,615 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
Results by county
edit| County | George W. P. Hunt Democratic |
Edmund W. Wells Republican |
P. W. Gallentine Socialist |
T. W. Otis Prohibition |
Margin | Total votes cast[3] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Apache | 265 | 41.93% | 358 | 56.65% | 8 | 1.27% | 1 | 0.16% | -93 | -14.72% | 632 |
| Cochise | 2,017 | 53.96% | 1,458 | 39.00% | 250 | 6.69% | 13 | 0.35% | 559 | 14.95% | 3,738 |
| Coconino | 284 | 40.34% | 403 | 57.24% | 15 | 2.13% | 2 | 0.28% | -119 | -16.90% | 704 |
| Gila | 1,068 | 58.23% | 545 | 29.72% | 218 | 11.89% | 3 | 0.16% | 523 | 28.52% | 1,834 |
| Graham | 645 | 55.65% | 403 | 34.77% | 111 | 9.58% | 0 | 0.00% | 242 | 20.88% | 1,159 |
| Greenlee | 600 | 53.38% | 464 | 41.28% | 60 | 5.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 136 | 12.10% | 1,124 |
| Maricopa | 2,272 | 51.38% | 1,969 | 44.53% | 142 | 3.21% | 39 | 0.88% | 303 | 6.85% | 4,422 |
| Mohave | 359 | 56.71% | 152 | 24.01% | 120 | 18.96% | 2 | 0.32% | 207 | 32.70% | 633 |
| Navajo | 333 | 45.99% | 385 | 53.18% | 5 | 0.69% | 1 | 0.14% | -52 | -7.18% | 724 |
| Pima | 879 | 48.19% | 911 | 49.95% | 29 | 1.59% | 5 | 0.27% | -32 | -1.75% | 1,824 |
| Pinal | 364 | 48.02% | 353 | 46.57% | 39 | 5.15% | 2 | 0.26% | 11 | 1.45% | 758 |
| Santa Cruz | 307 | 54.14% | 237 | 41.80% | 23 | 4.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 70 | 12.35% | 567 |
| Yavapai | 1,084 | 44.68% | 1,175 | 48.43% | 157 | 6.47% | 10 | 0.41% | -91 | -3.75% | 2,426 |
| Yuma | 646 | 60.37% | 353 | 32.99% | 70 | 6.54% | 1 | 0.09% | 293 | 27.38% | 1,070 |
| Totals | 11,123 | 51.46% | 9,166 | 42.41% | 1,247 | 5.77% | 79 | 0.37% | 1,957 | 9.05% | 21,615 |
References
edit- ^ Goff 1973, p. 48.
- ^ a b "Official Returns of Primary Election, October 24, 1911". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b "Official Returns for General Election, December 12, 1911". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Official Vote On State Officers". Chronicling America. The Coconino Sun. February 9, 1912. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Goff, John S. (1973). "Creation of the State of Arizona". George W. P. Hunt and his Arizona. Phoenix: Socio-Technical Publications. p. 48.