1937 Virginia gubernatorial election

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1937 Virginia gubernatorial election
Flag of Virginia (1931-1950).png
  1933 November 2, 1937 1941  
  James H Price 1922 square.jpg J Powell Royall 1912.jpg
Nominee James H. Price J. Powell Royall
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote124,14523,670
Percentage82.8%15.8%

1937 Virginia gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County and independent city results
Price:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Royall:      50–60%

Governor before election

George C. Peery
Democratic

Elected Governor

James H. Price
Democratic

The 1937 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1937. Incumbent Governor George C. Peery, a Byrd Democrat, [1] was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. James Hubert Price, incumbent lieutenant governor and former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, was nominated by the Democratic Party to run against the Republican nominee, former state senator John Powell Royall.

Contents

Background

The 1900s had seen Virginia, like all former Confederate States, almost completely disenfranchise its black and poor white populations through the use of a cumulative poll tax and literacy tests. [2] So severe was the disenfranchising effect of the new 1902 Constitution that it has been calculated that a third of those who voted were state employees and officeholders. [2]

This limited electorate meant Virginian politics was controlled by political machines based in Southside Virginia – firstly one led by Thomas Staples Martin and after he died the Byrd Organization. Progressive "antiorganization" factions were rendered impotent by the inability of almost all their potential electorate to vote. [3] Unlike the Deep South, historical fusion with the “Readjuster” Democrats, [4] defection of substantial proportions of the Northeast-aligned white electorate of the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia over free silver, [5] and an early move towards a "lily white" Jim Crow party [4] meant Republicans retained a small but permanent number of legislative seats and local offices in the western part of the state. [6] However, in many areas – like in Tennessee during the same era – the parties avoided competition by an agreed division over local offices, [3] and in gubernatorial elections the Republican vote after Byrd came to power became mostly in the nature of a protest, with turnout in most elections higher in the Democratic primary than the general election. [7]

New Deal challenge

In the first term after FDR's landslide 1932 election triumph, the now-established Byrd Organization had maintained firm control under Governor Peery, [1] while Senator Byrd was already opposing many New Deal measures. [8] Governor Peery would aim to combat the Depression using the traditional method of cutting spending, and opposed Roosevelt's Federal Emergency Relief Administration. [9]

As early as June 1935, Lieutenant Governor Price announced he would be seeking the governorship in 1937. [10] During most of 1936, Price would travel throughout the state seeking support, [11] and by the time of the 1936 presidential election, it was clear that the Byrd Organization, who had supported FDR for re-election despite opposing the policies and philosophy of the New Deal, would not oppose Price, [12] who was seen as "anti-organization" despite saying he supported Byrd's conservative economic policies. [13]

Until Vivian L. Page withdrew from the lieutenant gubernatorial primary late in April, [14] Price had no opponent in the primary. Page would campaign against Price on the basis that the latter was trying to "buy" votes, [15] and to mislead the voters at a time when internal polling predicted a landslide for Price. [16]

As it turned out, the primary was a landslide for Price, who defeated Page by a margin of more than six-to-one, and in the general election Price defeated Republican J. Powell Royall by nearly so large a margin in a rematch of the 1933 lieutenant gubernatorial contest. Royall's performance is the worst by a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, losing all but two counties or cites, and this is the last time Floyd County has backed a Democrat for Governor.

Democratic primary

Candidates

1937 Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic James H. Price 166,319 86.05%
Democratic Vivian L. Page 26,95513.95%
Majority 139,36472.11%
Turnout 193,274
Democratic hold Swing

General election

Candidates

Results

1937 Virginia gubernatorial election [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic James H. Price 124,145 82.78% +9.04%
Republican J. Powell Royall 23,67015.78%−8.46%
Communist Donald Burke1,1640.78%
Prohibition James A. Edgerton 9900.66%−0.01%
Majority 100,47567.00%+23.50%
Turnout 149,969−9.96%
Democratic hold Swing

Results by county or independent city

1937 Virginia gubernatorial election by county or independent city [18]
James Hubert Price
Democratic
John Powell Royall
Republican
Donald Burke
Communist
James Arthur Edgerton
Prohibition
MarginTotal votes cast
#%#%#%#%#%
Accomack County 72991.47%648.03%10.13%30.38%66583.44%797
Albemarle County 81493.56%475.40%50.57%40.46%76788.16%870
Alleghany County 76568.98%32229.04%121.08%100.90%44339.95%1,109
Amelia County 34988.35%4210.63%00.00%41.01%30777.72%395
Amherst County 63097.22%121.85%30.46%30.46%61895.37%648
Appomattox County 1,02496.06%363.38%20.19%40.38%98892.68%1,066
Arlington County 1,97882.66%35514.83%251.04%351.46%1,62367.82%2,393
Augusta County 1,30284.16%21313.77%100.65%221.42%1,08970.39%1,547
Bath County 29076.72%8522.49%00.00%30.79%20554.23%378
Bedford County 70886.87%8510.43%40.49%182.21%62376.44%815
Bland County 49762.75%29036.62%30.38%20.25%20726.14%792
Botetourt County 90868.17%40930.71%80.60%70.53%49937.46%1,332
Brunswick County 49799.40%20.40%00.00%10.20%49599.00%500
Buchanan County 1,06374.75%33923.84%151.05%50.35%72450.91%1,422
Buckingham County 39993.01%235.36%10.23%61.40%37687.65%429
Campbell County 57490.54%497.73%60.95%50.79%52582.81%634
Caroline County 39794.08%214.98%00.00%40.95%37689.10%422
Carroll County 1,05042.39%1,37755.59%351.41%150.61%-327-13.20%2,477
Charles City County 12594.70%53.79%10.76%10.76%12090.91%132
Charlotte County 58596.06%223.61%20.33%00.00%56392.45%609
Chesterfield County 2,48794.89%1013.85%180.69%150.57%2,38691.03%2,621
Clarke County 35894.71%174.50%20.53%10.26%34190.21%378
Craig County 27274.52%9024.66%20.55%10.27%18249.86%365
Culpeper County 48692.05%397.39%10.19%20.38%44784.66%528
Cumberland County 23593.25%135.16%10.40%31.19%22288.10%252
Dickenson County 1,20771.80%44226.29%261.55%60.36%76545.51%1,681
Dinwiddie County 1,22897.93%161.28%50.40%50.40%1,21296.65%1,254
Elizabeth City County 2,10396.42%642.93%100.46%40.18%2,03993.49%2,181
Essex County 25591.40%238.24%10.36%00.00%23283.15%279
Fairfax County 1,23385.15%18712.91%140.97%140.97%1,04672.24%1,448
Fauquier County 77091.34%688.07%20.24%30.36%70283.27%843
Floyd County 29751.65%26145.39%111.91%61.04%366.26%575
Fluvanna County 40792.50%306.82%10.23%20.45%37785.68%440
Franklin County 1,14288.66%13310.33%80.62%50.39%1,00978.34%1,288
Frederick County 38681.95%8117.20%20.42%20.42%30564.76%471
Giles County 89275.34%27923.56%90.76%40.34%61351.77%1,184
Gloucester County 50193.64%325.98%10.19%10.19%46987.66%535
Goochland County 32993.73%185.13%10.28%30.85%31188.60%351
Grayson County 1,96546.98%2,17051.88%180.43%300.72%-205-4.90%4,183
Greene County 13170.81%5027.03%00.00%42.16%8143.78%185
Greensville County 26794.68%134.61%10.35%10.35%25490.07%282
Halifax County 1,36898.13%221.58%10.07%30.22%1,34696.56%1,394
Hanover County 63894.24%345.02%10.15%40.59%60489.22%677
Henrico County 2,66493.02%1505.24%361.26%140.49%2,51487.78%2,864
Henry County 54686.12%7411.67%91.42%50.79%47274.45%634
Highland County 26165.74%12631.74%71.76%30.76%13534.01%397
Isle of Wight County 44396.10%163.47%00.00%20.43%42792.62%461
James City County 13297.78%32.22%00.00%00.00%12995.56%135
King and Queen County 16597.06%42.35%00.00%10.59%16194.71%170
King George County 13581.33%2615.66%21.20%31.81%10965.66%166
King William County 32193.86%154.39%20.58%41.17%30689.47%342
Lancaster County 33986.48%4812.24%30.77%20.51%29174.23%392
Lee County 2,68183.65%45014.04%551.72%190.59%2,23169.61%3,205
Loudoun County 86188.22%10710.96%20.20%60.61%75477.25%976
Louisa County 67192.55%486.62%20.28%40.55%62385.93%725
Lunenburg County 48996.64%122.37%00.00%50.99%47794.27%506
Madison County 33475.57%9922.40%40.90%51.13%23553.17%442
Mathews County 31887.36%4211.54%10.27%30.82%27675.82%364
Mecklenburg County 82597.40%202.36%10.12%10.12%80595.04%847
Middlesex County 30096.46%92.89%00.00%20.64%29193.57%311
Montgomery County 1,15367.43%51330.00%271.58%170.99%64037.43%1,710
Nansemond County 47598.34%71.45%10.21%00.00%46896.89%483
Nelson County 54994.66%274.66%10.17%30.52%52290.00%580
New Kent County 16490.61%179.39%00.00%00.00%14781.22%181
Norfolk County 1,86196.93%452.34%60.31%80.42%1,81694.58%1,920
Northampton County 43495.38%183.96%00.00%30.66%41691.43%455
Northumberland County 24695.35%124.65%00.00%00.00%23490.70%258
Nottoway County 53495.53%162.86%10.18%81.43%51892.67%559
Orange County 50394.73%275.08%00.00%10.19%47689.64%531
Page County 1,52176.09%42221.11%472.35%90.45%1,09954.98%1,999
Patrick County 83289.56%919.80%40.43%20.22%74179.76%929
Pittsylvania County 1,49889.92%1559.30%70.42%60.36%1,34380.61%1,666
Powhatan County 23393.95%145.65%10.40%00.00%21988.31%248
Prince Edward County 47894.09%275.31%00.00%30.59%45188.78%508
Prince George County 22693.00%83.29%83.29%10.41%21889.71%243
Prince William County 62889.59%699.84%10.14%30.43%55979.74%701
Princess Anne County 98995.10%454.33%40.38%20.19%94490.77%1,040
Pulaski County 1,17081.14%25917.96%120.83%10.07%91163.18%1,442
Rappahannock County 30795.94%123.75%10.31%00.00%29592.19%320
Richmond County 16789.30%158.02%21.07%31.60%15281.28%187
Roanoke County 1,01378.04%26120.11%70.54%171.31%75257.94%1,298
Rockbridge County 85582.77%16916.36%40.39%50.48%68666.41%1,033
Rockingham County 2,09357.42%1,45940.03%210.58%721.98%63417.39%3,645
Russell County 1,94481.10%44218.44%40.17%70.29%1,50262.66%2,397
Scott County 1,77259.09%1,08836.28%993.30%401.33%68422.81%2,999
Shenandoah County 1,66951.37%1,55847.95%100.31%120.37%1113.42%3,249
Smyth County 1,92660.64%1,20437.91%220.69%240.76%72222.73%3,176
Southampton County 61296.99%182.85%00.00%10.16%59494.14%631
Spotsylvania County 33588.39%4010.55%00.00%41.06%29577.84%379
Stafford County 40975.60%12322.74%40.74%50.92%28652.87%541
Surry County 34196.88%92.56%20.57%00.00%33294.32%352
Sussex County 39596.81%112.70%00.00%20.49%38494.12%408
Tazewell County 1,66958.03%1,18841.31%100.35%90.31%48116.72%2,876
Warren County 55489.21%589.34%40.64%50.81%49679.87%621
Warwick County 63692.04%476.80%40.58%40.58%58985.24%691
Washington County 1,45176.05%43222.64%120.63%130.68%1,01953.41%1,908
Westmoreland County 32591.29%277.58%10.28%30.84%29883.71%356
Wise County 3,71189.92%3749.06%330.80%90.22%3,33780.86%4,127
Wythe County 1,39658.80%95040.02%190.80%90.38%44618.79%2,374
York County 25493.73%134.80%10.37%31.11%24188.93%271
Alexandria City 1,36693.88%654.47%70.48%171.17%1,30189.42%1,455
Bristol City 95492.53%706.79%50.48%20.19%88485.74%1,031
Buena Vista City 14088.05%1610.06%00.00%31.89%12477.99%159
Charlottesville City 62093.37%385.72%50.75%10.15%58287.65%664
Clifton Forge City 1,31685.07%20213.06%140.90%150.97%1,11472.01%1,547
Danville City 1,31496.55%362.65%60.44%50.37%1,27893.90%1,361
Fredericksburg City 99193.58%656.14%20.19%10.09%92687.44%1,059
Hampton City 83196.29%283.24%20.23%20.23%80393.05%863
Harrisonburg City 1,35870.55%53327.69%160.83%180.94%82542.86%1,925
Hopewell City 92793.64%373.74%181.82%80.81%89089.90%990
Lynchburg City 93190.48%858.26%70.68%60.58%84682.22%1,029
Martinsville City 86089.77%868.98%60.63%60.63%77480.79%958
Newport News City 3,65293.40%1934.94%401.02%250.64%3,45988.47%3,910
Norfolk City 6,72193.48%3655.08%610.85%430.60%6,35688.40%7,190
Petersburg City 69397.47%131.83%40.56%10.14%68095.64%711
Portsmouth City 2,67394.05%1214.26%331.16%150.53%2,55289.80%2,842
Radford City 65478.80%15518.67%91.08%121.45%49960.12%830
Richmond City 8,99296.46%2402.57%680.73%220.24%8,75293.89%9,322
Roanoke City 3,62083.68%60213.92%571.32%471.09%3,01869.76%4,326
South Norfolk City 49292.66%234.33%122.26%40.75%46988.32%531
Staunton City 73990.79%637.74%40.49%80.98%67683.05%814
Suffolk City 70096.42%243.31%10.14%10.14%67693.11%726
Williamsburg City 14898.01%31.99%00.00%00.00%14596.03%151
Winchester City 99988.10%1079.44%141.23%141.23%89278.66%1,134
Totals124,14582.78%23,67015.78%1,1640.78%9900.66%100,47567.00%149,969

References

  1. 1 2 Fry, Joseph A. (July 1974). "The Organization in Control: George Campbell Peery, Governor of Virginia, 1934-1938". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 82 (3). Virginia Historical Society: 306–330.
  2. 1 2 Kousser, J. Morgan (1974). The Shaping of Southern Politics: Suffrage Restriction and the Establishment of the One-Party South, 1880-1910. Yale University Press. pp. 178–181. ISBN   0-300-01696-4.
  3. 1 2 Key, Valdimer Orlando (1949). Southern Politics in State and Nation. pp. 20–25.
  4. 1 2 Heersink, Boris; Jenkins, Jeffrey A. (March 19, 2020). Republican Party Politics and the American South, 1865-1968. Cambridge University Press. pp. 217–221. ISBN   978-1107158436.
  5. Moger, Allen (August 1938). "The Rift in Virginia Democracy in 1896". The Journal of Southern History . 4 (3): 295–317. doi:10.2307/2191291. JSTOR   2191291.
  6. Phillips, Kevin P. (1969). The Emerging Republican Majority. Arlington House. pp. 193, 219. ISBN   0870000586.
  7. Heinemann, Ronald (August 4, 2023). "Prelude to Revolution: The Rise and Fall of the Byrd Organization, 1925–49". In Rozell, Mark; Milliken, John G. (eds.). The New Dominion: The Twentieth-Century Elections That Shaped Modern Virginia. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. ISBN   9780813949727.
  8. Vipperman, Carl J. (1963). "The Coattail Campaign: James H. Price and the Election of 1937 in Virginia". Essays in History. 8: 47–61.
  9. Barker, Stephanie (November 1996). Harry Byrd: Conservative Leader of Virginia (Honors thesis). Longwood College. p. 59.
  10. Tulli, Daniel Gregory (2006). "Chapter I: Into the Fray – The 1936 Presidential Election". R. Walton Moore and Virginia Politics, 1933-1941 (Graduate thesis). Virginia Commonwealth University.
  11. Evans, Thomas Carter (Spring 1987). "Chapter 1: Entrenched Against Change". Virginia in Transition: The 1961 Democratic Primary (Master of Arts thesis). Old Dominion University. p. 14.
  12. Hall, Alvin L. (July 1974). "Politics and Patronage: Virginia's Senators and the Roosevelt Purges of 1938". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 82 (3). Virginia Historical Society: 331–350.
  13. Tulli (2006). "Chapter II: 1936-1939 – Aiding the 'Antis'". R. Walton Moore and Virginia Politics, 1933-1941 (Graduate thesis).
  14. "Page Announces Candidate for Governor Today: Norfolk Senator To Oppose James H. Price in Democratic Primary – Charges Price No Longer Neutral: His Answer to Candidate's Praise of Daniel in Hopewwell Speech". Suffolk News-Herald . April 23, 1937. p. 1.
  15. "Page Charges Price Trying to 'Buy' Vote". Richmond Times-Dispatch . July 31, 1937. p. 4.
  16. "Pollard Predicts Landslide for Price: Daniel's Manager Confident Senator Will Defeat Hold – Exchanges of Charges Mark Final Day before Voters Settle Issue on Aug. 3". Second Section. Bristol Herald-Courier . July 25, 1937. p. 1.
  17. "VA Governor D Primary – August 03, 1937". Our Campaigns.
  18. 1 2 "VA Governor Race – November 02, 1937". Our Campaigns.