1911 Arizona gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1911 United States gubernatorial elections.

1911 Arizona gubernatorial election

December 12, 1911 1914  →

Nominee George W. P. Hunt Edmund W. Wells P. W. Gallentine Party Democratic Republican Socialist Popular vote 11,123 9,166 1,247 Percentage 51.46% 42.41% 5.77%

County results Hunt:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Wells:      40–50%     50–60%

Governor of Arizona Territory before election Richard Elihu Sloan Republican Governor of Arizona after election George W. P. Hunt Democratic

The 1911 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on December 12, 1911, for the post of the first elected Governor of Arizona. The Democratic nominee George W. P. Hunt defeated the Republican nominee Edmund W. Wells. Hunt and Wells were both members of the Constitutional Convention, Hunt being chosen President and leading the way for much of the drafting. Wells refused to sign the Constitution, considering aspects like the initiative, referendum, and especially judicial recall to be too radical.

These fears proved prophetic when it was originally rejected by fellow Republican, former judge, and incumbent President William Howard Taft. Wells' refusal to sign, and Taft's veto of, the state constitution hurt but did not cripple his electoral chances, as he only lost by less than 2,000 votes out of about 21,000 cast. ^[1]

George W. P. Hunt was sworn in as Arizona's first elected Governor on February 12, 1912.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• George W. P. Hunt, President of the Arizona Constitutional Convention, former President of the Legislative Council, and businessman.
• Thomas F. Weedin, editor of the Blade-Tribune.
• Henry A. Hughes, physician.

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George W. P. Hunt	5,241	53.85%
	Democratic	Thomas Weedin	3,532	36.29%
	Democratic	Henry A. Hughes	960	9.86%
Total votes			9,733	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Edmund W. Wells, former Associate Justice of Arizona Territorial Supreme Court and former Attorney General of Arizona Territory
• George U. Young

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edmund W. Wells	3,051	60.58%
	Republican	George U. Young	1,985	39.42%
Total votes			5,036	100.00%

General election

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1911 ^{[3] [4]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George W. P. Hunt	11,123	51.46%
	Republican	Edmund W. Wells	9,166	42.41%
	Socialist	P. W. Gallentine	1,247	5.77%
	Prohibition	T. W. Otis	79	0.36%
Majority			1,957	9.05%
Total votes			21,615	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

Results by county

County	George W. P. Hunt Democratic		Edmund W. Wells Republican		P. W. Gallentine Socialist		T. W. Otis Prohibition		Margin		Total votes cast [3]
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
Apache	265	41.93%	358	56.65%	8	1.27%	1	0.16%	-93	-14.72%	632
Cochise	2,017	53.96%	1,458	39.00%	250	6.69%	13	0.35%	559	14.95%	3,738
Coconino	284	40.34%	403	57.24%	15	2.13%	2	0.28%	-119	-16.90%	704
Gila	1,068	58.23%	545	29.72%	218	11.89%	3	0.16%	523	28.52%	1,834
Graham	645	55.65%	403	34.77%	111	9.58%	0	0.00%	242	20.88%	1,159
Greenlee	600	53.38%	464	41.28%	60	5.34%	0	0.00%	136	12.10%	1,124
Maricopa	2,272	51.38%	1,969	44.53%	142	3.21%	39	0.88%	303	6.85%	4,422
Mohave	359	56.71%	152	24.01%	120	18.96%	2	0.32%	207	32.70%	633
Navajo	333	45.99%	385	53.18%	5	0.69%	1	0.14%	-52	-7.18%	724
Pima	879	48.19%	911	49.95%	29	1.59%	5	0.27%	-32	-1.75%	1,824
Pinal	364	48.02%	353	46.57%	39	5.15%	2	0.26%	11	1.45%	758
Santa Cruz	307	54.14%	237	41.80%	23	4.06%	0	0.00%	70	12.35%	567
Yavapai	1,084	44.68%	1,175	48.43%	157	6.47%	10	0.41%	-91	-3.75%	2,426
Yuma	646	60.37%	353	32.99%	70	6.54%	1	0.09%	293	27.38%	1,070
Totals	11,123	51.46%	9,166	42.41%	1,247	5.77%	79	0.37%	1,957	9.05%	21,615

References

1. Goff 1973, p. 48.
2. "Official Returns of Primary Election, October 24, 1911". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
3. "Official Returns for General Election, December 12, 1911". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
4. "Official Vote On State Officers". Chronicling America. The Coconino Sun. February 9, 1912. Retrieved July 11, 2024.

Bibliography

• Goff, John S. (1973). "Creation of the State of Arizona". George W. P. Hunt and his Arizona. Phoenix: Socio-Technical Publications. p. 48.