1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election

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1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election
Flag of Tennessee.svg
←  1970 November 5, 1974 1978  →
  Ray Blanton.jpg Lamar Alexander (TN) (cropped).png
Nominee Ray Blanton Lamar Alexander
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote576,833455,467
Percentage55.43%43.77%
1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Blanton:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
     80–90%
Alexander:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Governor before election

Winfield Dunn
Republican

Elected Governor

Ray Blanton
Democratic

The 1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican governor Winfield Dunn was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Tennessee prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms at the time. Democratic nominee Ray Blanton defeated Republican opponent Lamar Alexander with 55.4% of the vote.

Contents

With this win, Blanton flipped the state back into Democratic control, with the state legislature also being controlled by Democrats.

Background

Republican candidate Lamar Alexander worked as a legislative assistant for Senator Howard Baker. While a staffer, he was briefly roommates with future U.S. Senator Trent Lott. In 1969, he worked for Bryce Harlow, President Richard Nixon's executive assistant. [1] In 1970, he moved back to Tennessee, serving as campaign manager for Memphis dentist Winfield Dunn's successful gubernatorial bid. [2]

Alexander faced the Democratic nominee, Ray Blanton, a former congressman and unsuccessful 1972 Senate candidate. Blanton attacked Alexander for his service under Richard Nixon, who had resigned in disgrace several months earlier as a result of the Watergate scandal. [3]

Aftermath

Following Ray Blanton's inauguration, Blanton called for a state income tax, but the state legislature, fearing a revolt from voters, refused to consider it, and instead raised the state sales tax. [4] Blanton overhauled the state's excise and franchise tax laws, and revised the state's Hall income tax to provide relief for the state's elderly residents. [4] He also elevated the state's Office of Tourism to a cabinet-level department, making Tennessee the first state in the nation to do so, [5] and upgraded the state's retirement system. [5]

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 1, 1974. [6]

Democratic primary

21.9% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary. [7]

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ray Blanton 148,062 22.73
Democratic Jake Butcher 131,41220.18
Democratic Thomas A. Wiseman Jr. 89,06113.67
Democratic Hudley Crockett86,85213.34
Democratic Franklin Haney84,15512.92
Democratic Stan Snodgrass40,2116.17
Democratic Ross Bass 26,0914.01
Democratic Washington Butler15,5622.39
Democratic David Pack13,6252.09
Democratic James Powers13,4642.07
Democratic Jonnie D. Elkins1,6940.26
Democratic Charles Gordon Vick1,1210.17
Total votes651,320 100.00

Republican primary

8.6% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary. [7]

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Lamar Alexander 120,773 48.48
Republican Nat T. Winston Jr. 90,98036.52
Republican Dortch Oldham35,68314.32
Republican Melvin Waldron1,6740.67
Total votes249,112 100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

Other candidates

Results

1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ray Blanton 576,833 55.43%
Republican Lamar Alexander 455,46743.77%
Independent Jack Comer2,4310.23%
Independent Alfred W. Taylor2,3380.23%
Independent James Reesor1,9860.19%
Independent Hubert David Patty8450.08%
Independent Arnold Joseph Zandi7840.08%
Write-in 300.00%
Majority 121,366
Turnout 1,040,714
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Lamar Alexander (1991–1993): Secretary of Education". Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2013.,
  2. ↑ Finding Aid for Governor Lamar Alexander Papers Archived June 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , 1991. Retrieved: January 3, 2013.
  3. ↑ Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 370–381, 370–393.
  4. 1 2 Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 375–387.
  5. 1 2 Fred Rolater, "Leonard Ray Blanton", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: December 31, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Guide to U.S. elections – CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN   9781568029818 . Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 22.
  8. ↑ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015–2016, Election Returns by State – Rhodes Cook. CQ Press. ISBN   9781506368993 . Retrieved January 26, 2019.

Works cited

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