1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1948 United States gubernatorial elections.

1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election

←  1946 November 2, 1948 1950  →

Nominee Sid McMath Charles R. Black Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 222,801 26,500 Percentage 89.37% 10.63%

County results McMath:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100%

Governor before election Benjamin Travis Laney Democratic Elected Governor Sid McMath Democratic

The 1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1948.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Benjamin Travis Laney did not seek a third term. ^[1]

Democratic nominee Sid McMath defeated Republican nominee Charles R. Black with 89.37% of the vote.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on July 27, 1948, with the runoff held on August 10, 1948.

Candidates

• C. A. Fleming
• Jack Wilson Holt Sr., former Arkansas Attorney General
• William Jennings
• John Lonsdale, Jr., former mayor of Lonsdale ^[2]
• James "Uncle Mac" MacKrell, radio presenter ^[3]
• Sid McMath, prosecuting attorney for the Eighth Judicial District ^[4]
• Horace Thompson, former Internal Revenue collector ^[3]

Withdrew

• Bob Ed Loftin (endorsed McMath) ^[5]
• Jim Merritt, attorney (endorsed Holt) ^[6]

Results

Results map of the Democratic primary by county.
McMath:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Holt:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Democratic primary results ^{[7] [8]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sid McMath	87,829	34.07
	Democratic	Jack Holt	60,313	23.40
	Democratic	James MacKrell	57,030	22.12
	Democratic	Horace Thompson	48,674	18.88
	Democratic	C. A. Fleming	1,661	0.64
	Democratic	John Lonsdale, Jr.	1,267	0.49
	Democratic	William Jennings	668	0.27
	Democratic	Jim Merritt	218	0.09
	Democratic	Bob Ed Loftin	96	0.04
Total votes			257,776	100.00

Democratic primary runoff results ^{[9] [8]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sid McMath	157,137	51.69
	Democratic	Jack Holt	146,880	48.31
Total votes			304,017	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Sid McMath, Democratic
• Charles R. Black, Republican, lumber manufacturer ^[10]

Results

1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election ^{[11] [12] [13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sid McMath	222,801 [a]	89.37%	+5.23%
	Republican	Charles R. Black	26,500	10.63%	−5.23%
Majority			196,301	78.74%
Turnout			249,301	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Dillard, Tom (November 25, 2012). "Here's to Business Ben". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock, AR. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
2. "Lonsdale weds Texarkana law student". Hope Star. Hope, Arkansas. January 26, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
3. "McMath and Holt reach Arkansas Governor runoff". Evening star. Washington, D.C. July 28, 1948. p. A-4. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
4. "Sid McMath (1912–2003)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
5. "Malone … in favor of Sid McMath". The Camden News. Camden, Arkansas. June 30, 1948. p. 4. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
6. "State Politics Speed Eastward To Philadelphia". The Camden News. Camden, Arkansas. July 9, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
7. "AR Governor, 1948 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
8. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 99.
9. "AR Governor, 1948 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
10. "Republicans nominate lumberman". Hope Star. Hope, Arkansas. September 3, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
11. "AR Governor, 1948". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
12. Glashan 1979, pp. 22–23.
13. "Act Two Loses By Small Margin Final Count Shows". The Baxter Bulletin. Mountain Home, Arkansas. November 19, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
14. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
15. Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 12. ISBN   978-0-7864-7034-1.

Notes

1. Some sources state McMath's total was 217,771. ^{[14] [15]}

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.