1940 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1940 United States gubernatorial elections.

1940 Arkansas gubernatorial election

←  1938 November 5, 1940 1942  →

Nominee Homer Adkins Harley C. Stump Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 184,578 16,600 Percentage 91.36% 8.22%

County results Adkins:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

Governor before election Carl E. Bailey Democratic Elected Governor Homer Martin Adkins Democratic

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

Incumbent Democratic Governor Carl E. Bailey was defeated in the Democratic primary.

Democratic nominee Homer Adkins defeated Republican nominee Harley C. Stump with 91.36% of the vote.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on August 13, 1940.

Candidates

The anti-Bailey "federal faction" coalesced around Homer Adkins in early 1940. ^[1] Loathing the idea of turning the statehouse over to Adkins, Bailey decided to break Arkansas tradition and seek a third term. ^[2]

Declared

• Homer Adkins, U.S. Internal Revenue collector for Arkansas ^[3]
• Carl E. Bailey, incumbent Governor
• J. Rosser Venable, attorney ^[4]
• Frank Witte, merchant ^[5]

Declined

• Bob Bailey, Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas ^[1]
• Jack Holt, Attorney General of Arkansas ^[1]
• John L. McClellan, United States House of Representatives for Arkansas's 6th congressional district ^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[6] [7]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Homer Adkins	142,247	55.93
	Democratic	Carl E. Bailey (incumbent)	110,613	43.49
	Democratic	Frank Witte	828	0.33
	Democratic	J. Rosser Venable	653	0.26
Total votes			254,344	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Homer Adkins, Democratic
• Harley C. Stump, mayor of Stuttgart. ^[8] Stump was nominated at the Republican State Convention on May 11, 1940. ^[9]
• Walter Scott McNutt, Independent, candidate for Governor in 1938

Results

1940 Arkansas gubernatorial election ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Homer Adkins	184,578	91.36%
	Republican	Harley C. Stump	16,600	8.22%
	Independent	Walter S. McNutt	866	0.43%
Majority			167,978	83.14%
Turnout			202,044	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Walsh, Pat (October 12, 1939). "Under the Dome". Camden News . No. 257. Camden: Camden News Publishing Company. p. 6. OCLC   16997701 . Retrieved December 2, 2019– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
2. "Governors" (1995) , pp. 196.
3. "Political Races". Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. August 10, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
4. "J. Rosser Venable Taken By Death". The Camden News. Camden, Arkansas. October 7, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
5. "State Politics Opening Up". Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. July 3, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
6. "AR Governor, 1940 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
7. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 99.
8. "G.O.P. Mayor Gives Demos a Break". Daily Illini. Urbana-Champaign. July 28, 1940. p. 3. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
9. "State Republicans Select Delegates". Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. May 13, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
10. "AR Governor, 1940". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
11. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
12. Glashan 1979, pp. 22–23.
13. Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 7. ISBN   978-0-7864-7034-1.

Bibliography

• Smith, C. Calvin (1995) [1981]. Donovon, Timothy P.; Gatewood Jr., Willard B.; Whayne, Jeannie M. (eds.). The Governors of Arkansas (2nd ed.). Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. ISBN   1-55728-331-1. LCCN   94-45806. OCLC   988572226.
• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN   0-930466-17-9.