1944 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1944 United States gubernatorial elections.

1944 Arkansas gubernatorial election

←  1942 November 7, 1944 1946  →

Nominee Benjamin Travis Laney Harley C. Stump Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 186,401 30,442 Percentage 85.96% 14.04%

County results Laney:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100% Stump:     50–60%

Governor before election Homer Martin Adkins Democratic Elected Governor Benjamin Travis Laney Democratic

The 1944 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Homer Martin Adkins did not seek a third term, instead running unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.

Democratic nominee Benjamin Travis Laney defeated Republican nominee Harley C. Stump with 85.96% of the vote.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on July 25, 1944, with the Democratic runoff scheduled for August 8, 1944 if no candidate won over 50% of the vote.

Candidates

• Benjamin Travis Laney, businessman and former mayor of Camden ^[1]
• J. Bryan Sims, former State Comptroller ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• David D. Terry, former U.S. Representative

Results

Results map of the Democratic primary by county.
Laney:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Sims:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Terry:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%

Democratic primary results ^{[4] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Benjamin Travis Laney	70,965	38.55
	Democratic	J. Bryan Sims	63,434	34.46
	Democratic	David D. Terry	49,685	26.99
Total votes			184,084	100.00

Sims withdrew from a runoff, and Laney became the Democratic nominee. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

General election

Candidates

• Benjamin Travis Laney, Democratic
• Harley C. Stump, Republican, Mayor of Stuttgart ^[9] and candidate for Governor in 1940

Results

1944 Arkansas gubernatorial election ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Benjamin Travis Laney	186,401	85.96%	−14.04%
	Republican	Harley C. Stump	30,442	14.04%	N/A
Majority			155,959	71.92%
Turnout			216,843	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "Smith, Mrs. Caraway seek renomination in primaries today". Evening star. Washington, D.C. July 25, 1944. p. A-5. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
2. Gallagher, Hubert R., ed. (1943). The Book of the States, 1943-44 (PDF). Vol. V. Chicago: Council of State Governments. p. 426.
3. Donovan, Timothy P.; Gatewood, Willard B. Jr., eds. (1981). The Governors of Arkansas. Fayetteville, Arkansas: The University of Arkansas Press. p. 196. ISBN   0-938626-00-0.
4. "AR Governor, 1944 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
5. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 99.
6. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 101.
7. Forgey, Tom (January 25, 2017). "Benjamin Travis Laney Jr. (1896–1977)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
8. Goodner, Wes (October 5, 2018). "Revenue Stabilization Act". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
9. "America's 'Prayingest' Town Yonder in Arkansas" (PDF). The Glengarry News. Alexandria, Ontario. July 12, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
10. "AR Governor, 1944". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 19, 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. 9. ISBN   978-0-7864-7034-1.

Bibliography

• 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.