Gubernatorial elections
United States elections · 1938 · held
State gubernatorial races held in this midterm year. Each governor is elected separately; there is no combined national percentage.
State races and results map
Each race has its own denominator. Missing counts are blank. The interactive map uses modern state outlines as navigation references.
Alabama — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Dixon | Democratic | — | 87.52% | Elected |
| W. A. Clardy | Republican | — | 12.48% | — |
Term-limited, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Arizona — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Taylor Jones | Democratic | — | 68.57% | Elected |
| Jerrie W. Lee | Republican | — | 27.33% | — |
| James H. Kerby | Independent Democrat | — | 4.11% | — |
Retired, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl E. Bailey | Democratic | — | 86.32% | Elected |
| Charles F. Cole | Independent | — | 8.78% | — |
| Walter S. McNutt | Republican | — | 4.89% | — |
Re-elected, 86.32%
Sources & further reading
California — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culbert Olson | Democratic | — | 52.49% | Elected |
| Raymond L. Haight | Progressive | — | 2.43% | — |
| Robert Noble | Commonwealth | — | 0.90% | — |
Defeated, 44.17%
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Lawrence Carr | Republican | — | 59.50% | Elected |
| Jack R. White | National Union | — | 0.25% | — |
| Harvey L. Mayfield | Royal Way | — | 0.23% | — |
Defeated, 40.02%
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond E. Baldwin | Republican | — | 36.43% | Elected |
| Jasper McLevy | Socialist | — | 26.30% | — |
| Joseph C. Borden Jr. | Socialist Labor | — | 1.15% | — |
| Devere Allen | Labor | — | 0.12% | — |
Defeated, 36.00%
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurith D. Rivers | Democratic | — | 94.28% | Elected |
| E. S. Fuller | Independent | — | 2.70% | — |
| L. P. Glass | Prohibition | — | 1.92% | — |
| Alexander Stephens Mitchell | Independent | — | 1.11% | — |
Re-elected, 94.28%
Sources & further reading
Idaho — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. A. Bottolfsen | Republican | — | 57.30% | Elected |
| C. Ben Ross | Democratic | — | 41.89% | — |
| R. B. Wilson | National Progressive | — | 0.81% | — |
Defeated in Democratic primary, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George A. Wilson | Republican | — | 52.71% | Elected |
| Wallace M. Short | Farmer Labor | — | 1.20% | — |
| John F. Wirds | Progressive | — | 0.25% | — |
| J. Alvin Mitchell | Prohibition | — | 0.13% | — |
Defeated, 45.72%
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payne Ratner | Republican | — | 52.10% | Elected |
| Jonathan M. Davis | Independent | — | 1.99% | — |
| C. Floyd Hester | Prohibition | — | 0.57% | — |
| Ida A. Beloof | Socialist | — | 0.20% | — |
Defeated, 45.13%
Sources & further reading
Maine — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis O. Barrows | Republican | — | 52.89% | Elected |
| Louis J. Brann | Democratic | — | 47.02% | — |
| Winfred Tabbutt | Communist | — | 0.10% | — |
Re-elected, 52.89%
Sources & further reading
Maryland — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbert O'Conor | Democratic | — | 54.62% | Elected |
| Herbert Brune | Independent | — | 1.33% | — |
| Joshua C. Gwin | Union | — | 0.75% | — |
| David W. Eyman | Socialist | — | 0.17% | — |
| Robert Kadish | Labor | — | 0.13% | — |
| Samuel Gordon | Communist | — | 0.11% | — |
Defeated, 42.88%
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverett Saltonstall | Republican | — | 53.32% | Elected |
| James Michael Curley | Democratic | — | 44.96% | — |
| William McMasters | Townsend Party | — | 0.41% | — |
| Jeffrey W. Campbell | Socialist | — | 0.32% | — |
| Henning A. Blomen | Socialist Labor | — | 0.22% | — |
| Otis Archer Hood | Communist | — | 0.20% | — |
| Roland S. Bruneau | Independent | — | 0.19% | — |
Defeated in Democratic primary, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Fitzgerald | Republican | — | 52.78% | Elected |
| Nahum Burnett | Socialist | — | 0.18% | — |
| Clayton O’Donohue | Socialist Labor | — | 0.03% | — |
Defeated, 46.96%
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold Stassen | Republican | — | 59.92% | Elected |
| Thomas F. Gallagher | Democratic | — | 5.82% | — |
| John William Castle | Industrial | — | 0.08% | — |
Defeated, 34.18%
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Cochran | Democratic | — | 44.03% | Elected |
| Charles J. Warner | Republican | — | 40.63% | — |
| Charles W. Bryan | Independent | — | 15.35% | — |
Re-elected, 44.03%
Sources & further reading
Nevada — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward P. Carville | Democratic | — | 61.86% | Elected |
| John A. Fulton | Republican | — | 38.14% | — |
Retired, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis P. Murphy | Republican | — | 57.08% | Elected |
| John L. Sullivan | Democratic | — | 42.79% | — |
| Elba K. Chase | Communist | — | 0.13% | — |
Re-elected, 57.08%
Sources & further reading
New Mexico — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John E. Miles | Democratic | — | 52.24% | Elected |
| Albert K. Mitchell | Republican | — | 47.59% | — |
| J. D. Shuster | Independent | — | 0.17% | — |
Term-limited, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
New York — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbert H. Lehman | Democratic | — | 50.38% | Elected |
| Thomas E. Dewey | Republican | — | 49.02% | — |
| Norman M. Thomas | Socialist | — | 0.53% | — |
| Aaron M. Orange | Industrial Government | — | 0.07% | — |
Re-elected, 50.38%
Sources & further reading
North Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Moses | Democratic | — | 52.47% | Elected |
| John N. Hagan | Republican | — | 47.53% | — |
Retired to run for U.S. Senate, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John W. Bricker | Republican | — | 52.45% | Elected |
| Charles Sawyer | Democratic | — | 47.55% | — |
Defeated in Democratic primary, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Oklahoma — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leon C. Phillips | Democratic | — | 70.03% | Elected |
| Ross Rizley | Republican | — | 29.31% | — |
| John Wesley Lanham | Prohibition | — | 0.51% | — |
| John Franing | Independent | — | 0.15% | — |
Term-limited, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Oregon — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles A. Sprague | Republican | — | 57.40% | Elected |
| Henry L. Hess | Democratic | — | 42.59% | — |
Defeated in Democratic primary, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Pennsylvania — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur James | Republican | — | 53.39% | Elected |
| Charles Alvin Jones | Democratic | — | 46.07% | — |
| Jesse H. Holmes | Socialist | — | 0.33% | — |
| Robert G. Burnham | Prohibition | — | 0.17% | — |
| Ella Reeve Bloor Omholt | Communist | — | 0.03% | — |
Term-limited, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Henry Vanderbilt III | Republican | — | 54.17% | Elected |
| Walter E. O'Hara | Square Deal | — | 4.08% | — |
| Morris Kominsky | Communist | — | 0.12% | — |
Defeated, 41.63%
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnet R. Maybank | Democratic | — | 99.43% | Elected |
| Joseph A. Tolbert | Republican | — | 0.57% | — |
Term-limited, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan J. Bushfield | Republican | — | 53.95% | Elected |
| Oscar Fosheim | Democratic | — | 46.05% | — |
Retired to run for U.S. Senate, Republican victory
Sources & further reading
Tennessee — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prentice Cooper | Democratic | — | 71.72% | Elected |
| Howard Baker Sr. | Republican | — | 28.28% | — |
Defeated in Democratic primary, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Texas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W. Lee O'Daniel | Democratic | — | 96.82% | Elected |
| A. Boynton | Republican | — | 3.05% | — |
| Earl E. Miller | Socialist | — | 0.08% | — |
| Homer Brooks | Communist | — | 0.06% | — |
Retired, Democratic victory
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George D. Aiken | Republican | — | 66.75% | Elected |
| Fred C. Martin | Democratic | — | 33.25% | — |
Re-elected, 66.75%
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julius P. Heil | Republican | — | 55.39% | Elected |
| Harry W. Bolens | Democratic | — | 7.99% | — |
| Frank W. Smith | Union | — | 0.47% | — |
| John Schleier Jr. | Independent | — | 0.15% | — |
Defeated, 36.00%
Sources & further reading
Wyoming — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nels H. Smith | Republican | — | 59.81% | Elected |
Defeated, 40.19%
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Separate state governor races
This entry covers governor elections held in the midterm year, including available special contests, not off-year elections or every sitting governor. Candidate-specific ideology is used where sourced; election-era party ideology is the fallback. Historical indirect selections and unavailable counts are identified separately. Source summaries may omit minor candidates; blank values do not mean zero votes.