1944 Texas gubernatorial election

The 1944 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944.

1944 Texas gubernatorial election

← 1942 November 7, 1944 1946 →
 
Nominee Coke R. Stevenson B. J. Peasley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,007,826 100,287
Percentage 90.95% 9.05%

County results
Stevenson:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election

Coke R. Stevenson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Coke R. Stevenson
Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Governor Coke R. Stevenson defeated Republican nominee B. J. Peasley with 90.95% of the vote.

Nominations edit

Democratic primary edit

The Democratic primary election was held on July 22, 1944. By winning over 50% of the vote, Stevenson avoided a run-off which would have been held on August 26, 1944.

Candidates edit

  • Edward L. Carey, real estate agent[1]
  • Minnie Fisher Cunningham, farmer,[2] political activist, unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator in 1928
  • Alex M. Ferguson, businessman[3] and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for governor in 1942
  • William F. Grimes, attorney[3]
  • Martin Jones, farmer[3]
  • Herbert E. Mills, dentist[1]
  • W. J. Minton, newspaper editor[1]
  • Gene S. Porter, businessman[3] and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for governor in 1942
  • Coke R. Stevenson, incumbent Governor

Results edit

Democratic primary results[4][5][6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Coke R. Stevenson (incumbent) 669,586 84.59
Democratic Minnie Fisher Cunningham 48,039 5.83
Democratic Martin Jones 21,379 2.60
Democratic Gene S. Porter 15,243 1.85
Democratic Alex M. Ferguson 12,649 1.54
Democratic William F. Grimes 9,443 1.15
Democratic W. J. Minton 8,537 1.04
Democratic Herbert E. Mills 6,640 0.81
Democratic Edward L. Carey 4,633 0.56
Total votes 823,460 100.00

Republican nomination edit

The Republicans nominated B. J. Peasley, railroadman, at their state convention at Dallas on August 8, 1944.[7][8]

General election edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

1944 Texas gubernatorial election[9][10][6][11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Coke R. Stevenson (incumbent) 1,007,826 90.95%
Republican B. J. Peasley 100,287 9.05%
Majority 907,539 81.90%
Turnout 1,108,113 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "9 Candidates Open Drive For Governor". The Orange Leader. Orange, Tex. June 15, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Mrs. Cunningham in Governors Race". Breckenridge American. Breckenridge, Tex. May 31, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "State Democratic Ticket Released; Nine Candidates Out for Governor and Four for Lieutenant Governor". The Comanche Chief. Comanche, Tex. June 16, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  4. ^ "TX Governor, 1944 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  5. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 145.
  6. ^ a b Texas Almanac & 1954-1955, p. 348.
  7. ^ "Peasley To Head Texas GOP Slate". Lubbock Morning Avalanche. Lubbock, Texas. August 9, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  8. ^ "GOPs Name Candidate in 17fh District". Abilene Reporter-News. Abilene, Texas. August 9, 1944. p. 23. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "TX Governor, 1944". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 82.
  11. ^ Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Forty-Ninth Legislature (PDF). Austin, Texas. 1945. p. 51.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7864-7034-1.

Bibliography edit