1940 Texas gubernatorial election

1940 Texas gubernatorial primary election

* * *

| <- 1938 | July 27, 1940 | 1942 ->

|
|

|  |  |  |

|
|
|

Nominee  | W. Lee O'Daniel | Ernest O. Thompson | Harry Hines
Party  | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic
Popular vote  | 645,646 | 256,923  | 119,121
Percentage  | 54.29% | 21.60%  | 10.02%

* * *

|  |
Nominee  | Miriam A. Ferguson | Jerry Sadler |
Party  | Democratic | Democratic
Popular vote  | 100,578  | 61,396
Percentage  | 8.46%  | 5.16%

* * *

| Governor before election

W. Lee O'Daniel
Democratic

| Elected Governor

W. Lee O'Daniel
Democratic

|

Elections in Texas

General elections

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Federal government

|  Presidential elections

* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Presidential primaries

Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024

Republican
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate

* 1846
* 1847
* 1851
* 1853
* 1857
* 1859
* 1859 sp
* 1870
* 1871
* 1875
* 1876
* 1881
* 1882
* 1887
* 1888
* 1892 sp
* 1893
* 1894
* 1899
* 1901
* 1905
* 1907
* 1911
* 1913
* 1913 sp
* 1916
* 1918
* 1922
* 1924
* 1928
* 1930
* 1934
* 1936
* 1940
* 1941 sp
* 1942
* 1946
* 1948
* 1952
* 1954
* 1957 sp
* 1958
* 1960
* 1961 sp
* 1964
* 1966
* 1970
* 1972
* 1976
* 1978
* 1982
* 1984
* 1988
* 1990
* 1993 sp
* 1994
* 1996
* 2000
* 2002
* 2006
* 2008
* 2012
* 2014
* 2018
* 2020
* 2024
* 2026

U.S. House of Representatives

* 1846
* 1849
* 1851
* 1853
* 1855
* 1857
* 1859
* 1866
* 1869
* 1870
* 1871
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1879
* 6th sp
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 1887
* 2nd sp
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 9th sp
* 1894
* 1896
* 11th sp
* 1898
* 1900
* 1901
* 6th sp
* 1902
* 4th sp
* 1903
* 8th sp
* 1904
* 1905
* 8th sp
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1913
* 10th sp
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1919
* 12th sp
* 1920
* 1922
* 13th sp
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 17th sp
* 1931
* 14th sp
* 1932
* 1933
* 7th sp
* 8th sp
* 15th sp
* 1934
* 1936
* 1937
* 10th sp
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 6th sp
* 1947
* 9th sp
* 16th sp
* 1948
* 15th sp
* 1950
* 18th sp
* 1951
* 13th sp
* 1952
* 7th sp
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1961
* 20th sp
* 1962
* 4th sp
* 13th sp
* 1963
* 10th sp
* 1964
* 1966
* 8th sp
* 1968
* 3rd sp
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1st sp
* 22nd sp
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 6th sp
* 1984
* 1985
* 1st sp
* 1986
* 1988
* 1989
* 12th sp
* 18th sp
* 1990
* 1991
* 3rd sp
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1997
* 28th sp
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 19th sp
* 2004
* 2006
* 22nd
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 27th sp
* 2020
* 2021
* 6th sp
* 2022
* 34th sp
* 2024
* 18th sp

State government

|  Gubernatorial elections

* 1845
* 1847
* 1849
* 1851
* 1853
* 1855
* 1857
* 1859
* 1861
* 1863
* 1866
* 1866
* 1869
* 1873
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Lieutenant gubernatorial elections

* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Attorney General elections

* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Comptroller elections

* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Senate elections

* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

House of Representatives elections

* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

Constitutional amendments

* 1972
* 2005
* 2007
* 2021
* 2023

Austin

|  Mayoral elections

* 2003
* 2006
* 2009
* 2012
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2024

Austin municipal elections

* 2022
* 2024

Corpus Christi

|  Mayoral elections

* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2017 sp
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

Dallas–Fort Worth

|  Arlington mayoral elections

* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023

Dallas mayoral elections

* 1856
* 1857
* 1875
* 1904
* 1925
* 1961
* 1963
* 1965
* 1995
* 1999
* 2002 sp
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Dallas municipal elections

* 2015
* 2019
* 2021

Fort Worth mayoral elections

* 2003
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023

Denton mayoral elections

* 2020
* 2022

Plano municipal elections

* 2017
* 2019
* 2021

El Paso

|  Mayoral elections

* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2020
* 2024

Municipal elections

* 2017
* 2020
* 2024

Houston

|  Mayoral elections

* 1987
* 1989
* 1991
* 1993
* 1995
* 1997
* 1999
* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Municipal elections

* 2005
* 2007
* 2009

Laredo

|  Mayoral elections

* 2018
* 2022

Lubbock

|  Mayoral elections

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

San Antonio

|  Mayoral elections

* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023
* 2025

Government

* v
* t
* e

The 1940 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940.

Incumbent Democratic Governor W. Lee O'Daniel defeated Republican nominee George C. Hopkins with 94.42% of the vote.

## Nominations

[edit]

### Democratic primary

[edit]

The Democratic primary election was held on July 27, 1940. By winning over 50% of the vote, O'Daniel avoided a run-off.

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Arlon Barton "Cyclone" Davis, son of James Harvey "Cyclone" Davis[1][2]
* Miriam A. Ferguson, former Governor
* Harry Hines, incumbent Highway Commissioner[3]
* W. Lee O'Daniel, incumbent Governor
* Jerry Sadler, incumbent Railroad Commissioner
* Ernest O. Thompson, incumbent Railroad Commissioner and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for Governor in 1938

#### Withdrawn

[edit]

* R. P. "Rip" Condron, theater owner from La Feria (endorsed Thompson).[4][5]
* Albert L. Derden, incumbent member of the Texas House of Representatives from Falls County (endorsed Hines).[5]

#### Results

[edit]

Democratic primary results[6][7][8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | W. Lee O'Daniel (incumbent)  | 645,646  | 54.29
| Democratic | Ernest O. Thompson  | 256,923  | 21.60
| Democratic | Harry Hines  | 119,121  | 10.02
| Democratic | Miriam A. Ferguson | 100,578  | 8.46
| Democratic | Jerry Sadler | 61,396  | 5.16
| Democratic | Arlon B. Davis  | 3,623  | 0.31
| Democratic | R. P. Condron  | 2,003  | 0.17
Total votes  | 1,189,290  | 100.00

### Republican nomination

[edit]

The Republican state convention was held at Beaumont on August 13, 1940.[9][10]

George C. Hopkins, businessman, was nominated for Governor.[11]

## General election

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* W. Lee O'Daniel, Democratic
* George C. Hopkins, Republican
* Ben H. Lauderdale, Communist, nominee for Agriculture Commissioner in 1938[12]

### Results

[edit]

1940 Texas gubernatorial election[8][13][14][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Democratic | W. Lee O'Daniel (incumbent)  | 1,019,338  | 94.42%  |
| Republican | George C. Hopkins  | 59,895  | 5.55%  |
| Communist | Ben H. Lauderdale  | 202  | 0.02%  |
| Scattering  |  | 113  | 0.01%  |
Majority  | 959,453  | 88.87%  |
Turnout | 1,079,538  | 100.00%  |
| Democratic hold | Swing |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Texas: Pappy Over Cyclone". Time. New York City: Time Inc. August 5, 1940. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
2. ^ "Texas 'Cyclone' Stilled By Death After Fiery Career". El Paso Herald-Post. El Paso, Texas. February 1, 1940. p. 12. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
3. ^ "Former Commissioners". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
4. ^ "Condron Drops Out". Box Office. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. July 8, 1940. p. 77. Retrieved November 18, 2023 - via Internet Archive.
5. ^ a b Sims, Archie A. (August 1940). The Texas Gubernatorial Campaign of 1940 (PDF) (Master of Arts). Lubbock, Texas: Texas Technological College. p. 46. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
6. ^ "TX Governor, 1940 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
7. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 145.
8. ^ a b Texas Almanac & 1954-1955, p. 348.
9. ^ "Republicans Name State Ticket". The Citizens Journal. Atlanta, Tex. August 15, 1940. p. 8. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
10. ^ "Dallas Man G.O.P. Choice For Governor". The Whitewright Sun. Whitewright, Tex. August 15, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
11. ^ "Nominee". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. August 25, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
12. ^ Free Texas From Monopoly Control! (PDF). Communist Party of Texas. 1938. p. 4.
13. ^ "TX Governor, 1940". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
14. ^ Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Forty-Seventh Legislature (PDF). Austin, Texas: Capital Printing Company, Inc. 1941. p. 47.
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. 8\. ISBN 978-0-7864-7034-1.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
* Texas Almanac, 1954-1955. Dallas, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation. 1953.

* v
* t
* e

Elections in Texas

General|

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

President of the
Republic of Texas|

* 1836
* 1838
* 1841
* 1844

U.S. President|

* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* Dem
* Rep
* 2008
* Dem
* Rep
* 2012
* Dem
* 2016
* Dem
* 2020
* Dem
* Rep
* 2024
* Dem
* Rep

U.S. Senate|

| Class 1|

* 1916
* 1922
* 1928
* 1934
* 1940
* 1946
* 1952
* 1957 special
* 1958
* 1964
* 1970
* 1976
* 1982
* 1988
* 1993 special
* 1994
* 2000
* 2006
* 2012
* 2018
* 2024

|

Class 2|

* 1918
* 1924
* 1930
* 1936
* 1941 special
* 1942
* 1948
* 1954
* 1960
* 1961 special
* 1966
* 1972
* 1978
* 1984
* 1990
* 1996
* 2002
* 2008
* 2014
* 2020
* 2026

U.S. House|

* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1985 (1st sp)
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991 (3rd sp)
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1997 (28th sp)
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003 (19th sp)
* 2004
* 2006
* 22nd
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 27th sp
* 2020
* 2021 (6th sp)
* 2022
* 34th sp
* 2024
* 18th sp

Governor|

* 1845
* 1847
* 1849
* 1851
* 1853
* 1855
* 1857
* 1859
* 1861
* 1863
* 1866
* 1869
* 1873
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Legislature|

* 1992
* House
* Senate
* 1994
* House
* Senate
* 1996
* House
* Senate
* 1998
* House
* Senate
* 2000
* House
* Senate
* 2002
* House
* Senate
* 2004
* House
* Senate
* 2006
* House
* Senate
* 2008
* House
* Senate
* 2010
* House
* Senate
* 2012
* House
* Senate
* 2014
* House
* Senate
* 2016
* House
* Senate
* 2018
* House
* Senate
* 2020
* House
* Senate
* 2022
* House
* Senate
* 2024
* House
* Senate

Lieutenant Governor|

* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Attorney General|

* 2018
* 2022

Amendments|

* 1972
* 2005
* 2007
* 2021
* 2023

Municipal|

| Austin|

* 2022
* 2024

|

Dallas|

* 1856
* 1857–1858
* 1875
* 1904
* 1925
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2021

El Paso|

* 2017
* 2020
* 2024

Houston|

* 1995
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009

Plano|

* 2017
* 2019
* 2021

Mayoral|

| Arlington|

* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021

|

Austin|

* 2003
* 2006
* 2009
* 2012
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2024

Corpus Christi|

* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2017 special
* 2018
* 2020

Dallas|

* 1925
* 1995
* 1999
* 2002 special
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

El Paso|

* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2020
* 2024

Fort Worth|

* 2003
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023

Houston|

* 1987
* 1989
* 1991
* 1993
* 1995
* 1997
* 1999
* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Laredo|

* 2018
* 2022

Lubbock|

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024

San Antonio|

* 2005
* 2007
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2021
* 2023
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

(1939 <-)  1940 United States elections (-> 1941)

U.S.
President|

* Alabama
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

U.S. Senate|

* Arizona
* California
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Idaho (Special)
* Illinois (Special)
* Indiana
* Kentucky (Special)
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Vermont (Special)
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

U.S. House of
Representatives|

* Alabama
* 7th sp
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* 3rd sp
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* 8th sp
* Hawaii Territory
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* 6th sp
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* 2nd sp
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* 5th sp
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* 1st sp
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* 14th sp
* 22nd sp
* 31st sp
* North Carolina
* 1st sp
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* 7th sp
* 22nd sp
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* 9th (sp)
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Gubernatorial|

* Arizona
* Arkansas
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Lt. Gov
* Missouri
* Lt. Gov
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Lt. Gov
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* North Carolina
* Lt. Gov
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Rhode Island
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin

State
legislatures|

* Iowa Senate

General|

* Alabama
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Puerto Rico
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template