1940 Florida gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1940 United States gubernatorial elections.

1940 Florida Democratic gubernatorial runoff

←  1936 May 28, 1940 1944  →

Nominee Spessard Holland Francis P. Whitehair Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 272,718 206,158 Percentage 56.95% 43.05%

County results Holland:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Whitehair:     50–60%

Governor before election Fred P. Cone Democratic Elected Governor Spessard Holland Democratic

The 1940 Florida gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Governor Fred P. Cone was term-limited. Democratic nominee Spessard Holland was elected unopposed.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 7, 1940, with the Democratic runoff held on May 28, 1940.

Democratic primary

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Spessard Holland	118,962	24.71
	Democratic	Francis P. Whitehair	95,431	19.82
	Democratic	Fuller Warren	83,316	17.31
	Democratic	B. F. Paty	75,608	15,71
	Democratic	Walter B. Fraser	36,855	7.66
	Democratic	James Barbee	33,699	7.00
	Democratic	Hans Walker	21,666	4.50
	Democratic	Burton Schoepf	8,055	1.67
	Democratic	Frederick Van Roy	2,716	0.56
	Democratic	J. H. Clancey	2,703	0.56
	Democratic	Carl Maples	2,426	0.50
Total votes			481,437	100.00

Democratic primary runoff results ^{[4] [2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Spessard Holland	272,718	56.95
	Democratic	Francis P. Whitehair	206,158	43.05
Total votes			478,876	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Spessard Holland, Democratic

There was no Republican candidate.

Results

1940 Florida gubernatorial election ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Spessard Holland	334,152	100.00%
Turnout			334,152	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "FL Governor, 1940 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
2. Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 364.
3. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 105.
4. "FL Governor, 1940 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
5. "FL Governor, 1940". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
6. Florida Handbook 1965-66, p. 372.
7. Glashan 1979, pp. 58–59.
8. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 47.

Bibliography

• Morris, Allen (1965). The Florida Handbook, 1965-66. Tallahassee, FL: The Peninsular Publishing Company.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN   0-930466-17-9.
• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.