1936 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1936 United States gubernatorial elections.

1936 Colorado gubernatorial election

←  1934 November 3, 1936 1938  →

Nominee Teller Ammons Charles M. Armstrong Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 263,311 210,614 Percentage 54.57% 43.65%

County results Ammons:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Armstrong:     40–50%     50–60%

Governor before election Edwin C. Johnson Democratic Elected Governor Teller Ammons Democratic

The 1936 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1936. Democratic nominee Teller Ammons defeated Republican nominee Charles M. Armstrong with 54.57% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 8, 1936. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Teller Ammons, State Senator
• Moses E. Smith, State Representative
• Ray Herbert Talbot, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

  Ammons

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Smith

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   70–80%

  Talbot

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   70–80%

Results

As popular outgoing Governor Ed Johnson sought election to the U.S. Senate, the Democratic primary became an all-out brawl between Lt. Governor Ray Talbot (Pueblo), State Senator and Denver City's Attorney Teller Ammons (Denver), and State Rep. Moses E. Smith (Ault). Alva Swain of the Wray Gazette summarized the race, writing:

"With Ammons, Talbot, and Smith contesting for the governorship, there will be another determined struggle. The latter fight divides the democrats of the state three ways: the City of Denver with its powerful democratic machine will be for Tell Ammons; Laboring people, on the whole, will be for Ray Talbot; while the agriculturalists and the small businessmen will be for Smith. It is a beautiful division almost equal in strength." ^[2]

In the end, Ammons was able to decisively win the primary through overwhelming support in Denver and its surrounding areas and moderate support throughout the rest of the state. In Denver alone, he netted nearly 20,000 votes over his nearest rival. ^[3]

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Teller Ammons	58,048	42.7%
	Democratic	Moses E. Smith	39,620	29.1%
	Democratic	Ray Herbert Talbot	38,378	28.2%
Total votes			136,046

Republican primary

Candidates

• Charles M. Armstrong, Colorado State Treasurer

Results

Republican primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles M. Armstrong	77,323	100.00
Total votes			77,323	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Teller Ammons, Democratic
• Charles M. Armstrong, Republican

Other candidates

• Huston Hugh Marrs, Farmer–Labor
• Paul S. McCormick, Socialist
• James Allander, Communist
• Claude C. Buhrman, National Union for Social Justice
• Harvey L. Mayfield, Independent

Results

1936 Colorado gubernatorial election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Teller Ammons	263,311	54.57%	−3.54%
	Republican	Charles M. Armstrong	210,614	43.65%	+3.74%
	Farmer–Labor	Huston Hugh Marrs	5,162	1.07%
	Socialist	Paul S. McCormick	1,498	0.31%	−1.00%
	Communist	James Allander	948	0.20%	−0.12%
	Union	Claude C. Buhrman	825	0.17%	N/A
	Independent	Harvey L. Mayfield	177	0.04%	N/A
Majority			52,697	10.92%
Turnout			482,535
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast 1936" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. 1936. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
2. "The Wray Gazette July 30, 1936 — Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection". www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
3. "1936 Sep 8 • Democratic Primary • Governor • State of Colorado | State of Colorado". State of Colorado Elections Database. Retrieved May 12, 2025.