1954 Arizona gubernatorial election

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1954 Arizona gubernatorial election
Flag of Arizona.svg
  1952 November 2, 1954 1956  
  Mcfarland ernest (cropped).jpg John Howard Pyle (Arizona governor).jpg
Nominee Ernest McFarland John Howard Pyle
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote128,104115,866
Percentage52.5%47.5%

1954 Arizona gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
McFarland:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Pyle:     50–60%

Governor before election

John Howard Pyle
Republican

Elected Governor

Ernest McFarland
Democratic

The 1954 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Governor John Howard Pyle, the first Republican elected to the office in two decades, ran for reelection for a third term.

Contents

Former U.S. Senator Ernest McFarland defeated Governor John Howard Pyle by a narrow margin. McFarland had lost his bid for reelection to the United States Senate to Barry Goldwater in 1952, with McFarland subsequently deciding to run for the office of governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary took place on September 7, 1954. Due to the Republican Party tidal wave led by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952, incumbent U.S. Senator Ernest McFarland lost his bid for reelection to the United States Senate to Barry Goldwater. He subsequently decided to run for the office of Governor of Arizona and challenge incumbent Republican Governor John Howard Pyle, the first Republican to hold the office for more than two decades. McFarland was challenged in the primary by State Senator William F. Kimball, but McFarland easily won.

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ernest W. McFarland 89,190 74.24%
Democratic William F. Kimball30,95425.76%
Total votes120,144 100.00

General election

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1954 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ernest W. McFarland 128,104 52.51% +12.67%
Republican John Howard Pyle (incumbent)115,86647.49%-12.67%
Majority12,2385.02%
Turnout 243,970
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

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References

  1. "Our Campaigns - AZ Governor - D Primary Race - Sep 07, 1954".
  2. "Our Campaigns - AZ Governor Race - Nov 02, 1954".