| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
County results McGrath: 50–60% 60–70% Vanderbilt: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
|
The 1940 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Democratic nominee J. Howard McGrath defeated incumbent Republican William Henry Vanderbilt III with 55.84% of the vote.
Major party candidates
Other candidates
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | J. Howard McGrath | 177,937 | 55.84% | ||
Republican | William Henry Vanderbilt III (incumbent) | 140,480 | 44.08% | ||
Communist | Wilfred J. Boissy | 257 | 0.08% | ||
Majority | 37,457 | ||||
Turnout | |||||
Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from Rhode Island. McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Senator, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Attorney General of the United States.
The 1964 United States Senate elections were held on November 3. The 33 seats of Class 1 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. They coincided with the election of President Lyndon B. Johnson by an overwhelming majority, to a full term. His Democratic Party picked up a net two seats from the Republicans. As of 2023, this was the last time either party has had a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which allowed the Senate Democrats to override a veto, propose constitutional amendments, or convict and expel certain officials without any votes from Senate Republicans. However, internal divisions would have prevented the Democrats from having done so. The Senate election cycle coincided with Democratic gains in the House in the same year.
From March 12 to May 17, 1940, voters of the Republican Party chose delegates to nominate a candidate for president at the 1940 Republican National Convention. The nominee was selected at the convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from June 24–28, 1940.
Since the Great Depression, Rhode Island politics have been dominated by the Rhode Island Democratic Party, and the state is considered part of the Democrats' "Blue Wall." Democrats have won all but four presidential elections since 1928, with the exceptions being 1952, 1956, 1972, and 1984. The Rhode Island Republican Party, although virtually non-existent in the Rhode Island General Assembly, has remained competitive in gubernatorial elections, having won one as recently as 2006. Until 2014, Democrats did not win a gubernatorial election in the state since 1992, and it was not until 2018 that they won one by double digits. The Rhode Island General Assembly has continuously been under Democratic control since 1959.
The 1934 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on November 6, 1934. Incumbent Republican governor Gifford Pinchot was not a candidate for re-election.
The 1940 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican George Aiken did not run for re-election to a third term as Governor of Vermont, instead running for the United States Senate. Republican candidate William H. Wills defeated Democratic candidate John McGrath to succeed him.
The 1938 United States Senate election in Vermont took place on November 8, 1938. Republican Ernest W. Gibson Sr. successfully ran for re-election to another term in the United States Senate, defeating Democratic candidate John McGrath. Gibson Sr. died in June 1940 and his son, Ernest W. Gibson Jr., was appointed to fill the seat until a special election could be held in November 1940.
The 1896 United States presidential election in New Jersey took place on November 3, 1896. Voters chose 10 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 6, 1956, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 2, 1954 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 4, 1952 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 16.
The 1950 Massachusetts general election was held on November 7, 1950, throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 19.
The 1944 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Democrat J. Howard McGrath defeated Republican nominee Norman D. MacLeod with 60.65% of the vote.
The 1942 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1942. Incumbent Democrat J. Howard McGrath defeated Republican nominee James O. McManus with 58.54% of the vote.
The 1938 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938. Republican nominee William Henry Vanderbilt III defeated Democratic incumbent Robert E. Quinn with 54.17% of the vote.
Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 5, 1940.
Elections were held in Illinois on Tuesday, November 3, 1936.
The 1942 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1942.
The 1940 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940.
The 1876 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on April 5, 1876. Incumbent Republican Governor Henry Lippitt defeated Prohibition Party nominee Albert C. Howard and Democratic nominee William B. Beach.