1944 Montana gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1944 United States gubernatorial elections.

1944 Montana gubernatorial election

←  1940 November 7, 1944 1948  →
Turnout	79.40%2.10 [1]
Nominee Sam C. Ford Leif Erickson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 116,461 89,224 Percentage 56.36% 43.18%
County results Ford:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Erickson:     50–60%     60–70%
Governor before election Sam C. Ford Republican Elected Governor Sam C. Ford Republican

The 1944 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Governor of Montana Sam C. Ford, who was first elected Governor in 1940, ran for re-election. He won the Republican primary and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Leif Erickson, a former Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court and the Democratic nominee. Although then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt comfortably won the state in that year's presidential election, Ford defeated Erickson by a wide margin to win his second and final term as governor. This election is the first time that an incumbent Republican Governor of Montana was re-elected or won re-election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Leif Erickson, former Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
• Austin B. Middleton, chairman of the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission
• Roy E. Ayers, former Governor of Montana

Results

Democratic Party primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Leif Erickson	28,292	47.05
	Democratic	Austin B. Middleton	17,756	29.53
	Democratic	Roy E. Ayers	14,082	23.42
Total votes			60,130	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Sam C. Ford, incumbent Governor of Montana
• Jacob Thorkelson, former United States Congressman from Montana's 1st congressional district

Results

Republican Primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sam C. Ford (incumbent)	39,826	88.24
	Republican	Jacob Thorkelson	5,306	11.76
Total votes			45,132	100.00

General election

Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1944 ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Sam C. Ford (incumbent)	116,461	56.36%	+5.69%
	Democratic	Leif Erickson	89,224	43.18%	−5.46%
	Prohibition	Charles R. Miller	960	0.46%
Majority			27,237	13.18%	+11.15%
Turnout			222,964
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
2. "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, July 18, 1944" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
3. "Official Montana General Election Returns, November 7, 1944" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2014.