1936 Delaware gubernatorial election

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1936 Delaware gubernatorial election
Flag of Delaware.svg
  1932 November 3, 1936 1940  
 
Nominee Richard McMullen Harry L. CannonI. Dolphus Short
Party Democratic Republican Independent Republican
Popular vote62,43752,7828,500
Percentage50.36%42.57%6.86%

Governor before election

C. Douglass Buck
Republican

Elected Governor

Richard McMullen
Democratic

The 1936 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1936. Incumbent Republican Governor C. Douglass Buck was barred from seeking re-election to a third term, creating an open race. A challenging contest developed on the Republican side to succeed Buck, with Harry L. Cannon, former State Senator I. Dolphus Short and Assistant Motor Vehicle Commissioner George S. Williams all emerging as frontrunners. [1] Cannon, a longtime figure in state politics who served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture and on the University of Delaware Board of Trustees, ultimately won the nomination. [2] Short walked out of the convention, however, and shortly thereafter organized a slate of statewide candidates as Independent Republicans, dividing the party. [3]

Contents

On the Democratic side, a close contest developed among former Wilmington City Councilman Richard McMullen and attorneys Edward W. Cooch and Henry Isaacs. [4] McMullen ultimately won the nomination on the first ballot at the state convention, and was quickly endorsed by his opponents. [5]

In the general election, McMullen ended up winning over Cannon by a fairly wide margin. Short siphoned support away from Cannon, receiving 7% of the vote. However, the schism was likely not dispositive by itself; McMullen won 50% of the vote to Cannon's 43%. McMullen's victory, the first win for a Democratic candidate for Governor since 1896, (and the win with an outright majority of the vote since 1890,) occurred as President Franklin D. Roosevelt was handily winning the state over Republican presidential nominee Alf Landon.

General election

1936 Delaware gubernatorial election [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Richard McMullen 62,437 50.36% +5.48%
Republican Harry L. Cannon52,78242.57%-11.66%
Independent Republican I. Dolphus Short8,5006.86%
Socialist Fred W. Whiteside1980.16%-0.63%
Communist John T. Wladkoski700.06%-0.05%
Majority9,6557.79%-1.56%
Turnout 123,987100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

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Richard Cann McMullen was an American manufacturer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as Governor of Delaware.

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References

  1. "Fair Full Of Governor's Day Politics". News Journal. Wilmington, Del. July 31, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  2. "Col. H. L. Cannon Reported G. O. P. Governor Choice". Morning News. Wilmington, Del. August 20, 1936. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  3. "Insurgents Name Short Ticket to Combat G. O. P." Morning News. Wilmington, Del. September 9, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  4. "M'Mullen Joins Democratic Race for Governorship". Morning News. Wilmington, Del. August 19, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  5. "Democrats Carry Fight to Convention Floor". News Journal. Wilmington, Del. September 1, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  6. 1937 House Journal, p. 29-30

Bibliography