1946 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1946 United States gubernatorial elections.

1946 Colorado gubernatorial election

←  1944 November 5, 1946 1948  →

Nominee William Lee Knous Leon Lavington Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 174,604 160,483 Percentage 52.11% 47.89%

County results Knous:      50–60%     60–70% Lavington:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election John Charles Vivian Republican Elected Governor William Lee Knous Democratic

The 1946 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946. Democratic nominee William Lee Knous defeated Republican nominee Leon Lavington with 52.11% of the vote, becoming the first Democrat to win the governorship since 1936.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1946. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• William Lee Knous, Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William Lee Knous	45,104	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Leon Lavington, Auditor of Colorado

Results

Republican primary results ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Leon Lavington	39,646	100.00

General election

Candidates

• William Lee Knous, Democratic
• Leon Lavington, Republican

Results

1946 Colorado gubernatorial election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William Lee Knous	174,604	52.11%	+4.51%
	Republican	Leon Lavington	160,483	47.89%	−4.51%
Majority			14,121	4.22%
Turnout			335,087
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. "State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast 1946" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. 1946. Retrieved February 15, 2020.