Gubernatorial elections
United States elections · 1940 · held
State gubernatorial races held in this election 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.
Arizona — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Preston Osborn | Democratic | — | 65.50% | Elected |
| Jerrie W. Lee | Republican | — | 33.80% | — |
| Charles R. Osburn | Prohibition | — | 0.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homer Adkins | Democratic | — | 91.40% | Elected |
| H.C. Stump | Republican | — | 8.20% | — |
| Walter S. McNutt | Independent | — | 0.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
Colorado — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Lawrence Carr | Republican | — | 54.40% | Elected |
| George E. Saunders | Democratic | — | 45.00% | — |
| Carle Whitehead | Socialist | — | 0.40% | — |
| Laurence W. Cofman | Prohibition | — | 0.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert A. Hurley | Democratic | — | 49.50% | Elected |
| Raymond E. Baldwin | Republican | — | 47.80% | — |
| Jasper McLevy | Socialist | — | 2.30% | — |
| Joseph Mackay | Socialist Labor | — | 0.20% | — |
| Michael A. Russo | Communist | — | 0.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Delaware — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter W. Bacon | Republican | — | 52.40% | Elected |
| Josiah Marvel Jr. | Democratic | — | 45.40% | — |
| Ivan Culbertson | Liberal Democrat | — | 2.20% | — |
Sources & further reading
Florida — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spessard Holland | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
| Francis P. Whitehair | Democratic | — | — | — |
Source groups multiple ballots or rounds; counts are left blank and the final selected governor is marked.
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene Talmadge | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
| Columbus Roberts | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Hosea Abit Nix | Democratic | — | — | — |
| J. L. R. Boyd | Prohibition | — | — | — |
| Joe Wallace | Independent | — | — | — |
Source groups multiple ballots or rounds; counts are left blank and the final selected governor is marked.
Sources & further reading
Idaho — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase A. Clark | Democratic | — | 50.48% | Elected |
| C. A. Bottolfsen | Republican | — | 49.52% | — |
Sources & further reading
Illinois — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwight H. Green | Republican | — | 53.00% | Elected |
| Harry Hershey | Democratic | — | 46.70% | — |
| Arthur McDowell | Socialist | — | 0.18% | — |
| Clay Freeman Gaumer | Prohibition | — | 0.16% | — |
Sources & further reading
Indiana — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry F. Schricker | Democratic | — | 49.92% | Elected |
| Glenn R. Hillis | Republican | — | 49.69% | — |
| Mary Donovan Hapgood | Socialist | — | 0.27% | — |
| Omer S. Whiteman | Prohibition | — | 0.08% | — |
| Herman Barcus Barefield | Socialist Labor | — | 0.04% | — |
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George A. Wilson | Republican | — | 52.70% | Elected |
| John Valentine | Democratic | — | 47.10% | — |
| M. M. Heptonstall | Prohibition | — | 0.10% | — |
| Charles Speck | Communist | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Kansas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payne Ratner | Republican | — | 49.63% | Elected |
| William H. Burke | Democratic | — | 49.58% | — |
| David C. White | Prohibition | — | 0.61% | — |
| Ida A. Beloof | Socialist | — | 0.19% | — |
Sources & further reading
Maine — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumner Sewall | Republican | — | 63.80% | Elected |
| Fulton J. Redman | Democratic | — | 36.10% | — |
| Helen Knudsen | Communist | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverett Saltonstall | Republican | — | 49.74% | Elected |
| Paul A. Dever | Democratic | — | 49.46% | — |
| Otis Archer Hood | Communist | — | 0.28% | — |
| Jeffrey W. Campbell | Socialist | — | 0.23% | — |
| Henning A. Blomen | Socialist Labor | — | 0.17% | — |
| E. Tallmadge Root | Prohibition | — | 0.12% | — |
Sources & further reading
Michigan — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray Van Wagoner | Democratic | — | 53.10% | Elected |
| Luren Dickinson | Republican | — | 46.60% | — |
| Seth Whitmore | Socialist | — | 0.20% | — |
| Philip Raymond | Communist | — | 0.12% | — |
| Ralph Naylor | Socialist Labor | — | 0.04% | — |
Sources & further reading
Minnesota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold Stassen | Republican | — | 52.10% | Elected |
| Hjalmar Petersen | Farmer-Labor | — | 36.60% | — |
| Edward Murphy | Democratic | — | 11.10% | — |
| John William Castle | Industrial | — | 0.25% | — |
Sources & further reading
Missouri — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest C. Donnell | Republican | — | 50.05% | Elected |
| Larry McDaniel | Democratic | — | 49.85% | — |
| Jed A. High | Socialist | — | 0.09% | — |
| William Wesley Cox | Socialist Labor | — | 0.01% | — |
Sources & further reading
Montana — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam C. Ford | Republican | — | 50.67% | Elected |
| Roy E. Ayers | Democratic | — | 48.64% | — |
| Arvo Fredrickson | Communist | — | 0.70% | — |
Sources & further reading
Nebraska — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwight Griswold | Republican | — | 60.90% | Elected |
| Terry Carpenter | Democratic | — | 39.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert O. Blood | Republican | — | 50.70% | Elected |
| F. Clyde Keefe | Democratic | — | 49.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Jersey — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Edison | Democratic | — | 51.40% | Elected |
| Robert C. Hendrickson | Republican | — | 48.00% | — |
| Marion Douglas | Socialist | — | 0.40% | — |
| Manuel Cantor | Communist | — | 0.10% | — |
| John C. Butterworth | Socialist Labor | — | 0.10% | — |
| Elmo L. Bateman | Prohibition | — | 0.03% | — |
Sources & further reading
New Mexico — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John E. Miles | Democratic | — | 55.60% | Elected |
| Maurice Miera | Republican | — | 44.40% | — |
Sources & further reading
North Carolina — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Melville Broughton | Democratic | — | 75.70% | Elected |
| Robert H. McNeill | Republican | — | 24.30% | — |
Sources & further reading
North Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Moses | Democratic | — | 63.10% | Elected |
| Jack A. Patterson | Republican | — | 36.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John W. Bricker | Republican | — | — | Elected |
| Martin L. Davey | Democratic | — | — | — |
Multiple rounds or non-comparable percentages are described in the source; percentages are not combined.
Sources & further reading
Rhode Island — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Howard McGrath | Democratic | — | 55.80% | Elected |
| William Henry Vanderbilt III | Republican | — | 44.10% | — |
| Wilfred J. Boissy | Communist | — | 0.10% | — |
Sources & further reading
South Dakota — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan J. Bushfield | Republican | — | 55.10% | Elected |
| Lewis W. Bicknell | Democratic | — | 44.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
Tennessee — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prentice Cooper | Democratic | — | 72.10% | Elected |
| C. Arthur Bruce | Republican | — | 27.90% | — |
Sources & further reading
Texas — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W. Lee O'Daniel | Democratic | — | 94.40% | Elected |
| George C. Hopkins | Republican | — | 5.60% | — |
| Ben H. Lauderdale | Communist | — | 0.03% | — |
Sources & further reading
Utah — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbert B. Maw | Democratic | — | 52.10% | Elected |
| Don B. Colton | Republican | — | 47.70% | — |
| Ada Williams Quinn | Independent | — | 0.24% | — |
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Henry Wills | Republican | — | 64.00% | Elected |
| John McGrath | Democratic | — | 36.00% | — |
Sources & further reading
Washington — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur B. Langlie | Republican | — | 50.24% | Elected |
| Clarence Dill | Democratic | — | 49.49% | — |
| John Brockway | Communist | — | 0.21% | — |
| P. J. Ater | Socialist Labor | — | 0.06% | — |
Sources & further reading
West Virginia — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew M. Neely | Democratic | — | 56.40% | Elected |
| Daniel Boone Dawson | Republican | — | 43.60% | — |
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Governor — General
Popular election. Popular votes in this state contest
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julius P. Heil | Republican | — | 40.67% | Elected |
| Orland Steen Loomis | Progressive | — | 39.78% | — |
| Francis E. McGovern | Democratic | — | 19.29% | — |
| Fred B. Blair | Communist | — | 0.17% | — |
| Louis Fisher | Socialist Labor | — | 0.08% | — |
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Separate state governor races
This entry covers governor elections held in the election 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.