1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election

1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 1946 November 2, 1948 1950 →
 
Nominee Sid McMath Charles R. Black
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 222,801 26,500
Percentage 89.37% 10.63%

County results
McMath:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%

Governor before election

Benjamin Travis Laney
Democratic

Elected Governor

Sid McMath
Democratic

The 1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1948.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Benjamin Travis Laney did not seek a third term.[1]

Democratic nominee Sid McMath defeated Republican nominee Charles R. Black with 89.37% of the vote.

Democratic primary

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The Democratic primary election was held on July 27, 1948, with the runoff held on August 10, 1948.

Candidates

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Withdrew

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  • Bob Ed Loftin (endorsed McMath)[5]
  • Jim Merritt, attorney (endorsed Holt)[6]

Results

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Results map of the Democratic primary by county.
McMath:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Holt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Democratic primary results[7][8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sid McMath 87,829 34.07
Democratic Jack Holt 60,313 23.40
Democratic James MacKrell 57,030 22.12
Democratic Horace Thompson 48,674 18.88
Democratic C. A. Fleming 1,661 0.64
Democratic John Lonsdale, Jr. 1,267 0.49
Democratic William Jennings 668 0.27
Democratic Jim Merritt 218 0.09
Democratic Bob Ed Loftin 96 0.04
Total votes 257,776 100.00
Democratic primary runoff results[9][8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sid McMath 157,137 51.69
Democratic Jack Holt 146,880 48.31
Total votes 304,017 100.00

General election

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Candidates

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  • Sid McMath, Democratic
  • Charles R. Black, Republican, lumber manufacturer[10]

Results

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1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election[11][12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Sid McMath 222,801[a] 89.37% +5.23%
Republican Charles R. Black 26,500 10.63% −5.23%
Majority 196,301 78.74%
Turnout 249,301 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ Dillard, Tom (November 25, 2012). "Here's to Business Ben". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock, AR. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "Lonsdale weds Texarkana law student". Hope Star. Hope, Arkansas. January 26, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "McMath and Holt reach Arkansas Governor runoff". Evening star. Washington, D.C. July 28, 1948. p. A-4. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "Sid McMath (1912–2003)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Malone … in favor of Sid McMath". The Camden News. Camden, Arkansas. June 30, 1948. p. 4. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "State Politics Speed Eastward To Philadelphia". The Camden News. Camden, Arkansas. July 9, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "AR Governor, 1948 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 99.
  9. ^ "AR Governor, 1948 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "Republicans nominate lumberman". Hope Star. Hope, Arkansas. September 3, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "AR Governor, 1948". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  12. ^ Glashan 1979, pp. 22–23.
  13. ^ "Act Two Loses By Small Margin Final Count Shows". The Baxter Bulletin. Mountain Home, Arkansas. November 19, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  14. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
  15. ^ Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7864-7034-1.

Notes

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  1. ^ Some sources state McMath's total was 217,771.[14][15]

Bibliography

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  • Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
  • Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.