1923 Mississippi gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1923 Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff
Type:presidential
Country:Mississippi
Flag Image:Flag of Mississippi (1894-1996).svg
Previous Election:1919 Mississippi gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1919
Next Election:1927 Mississippi gubernatorial election
Next Year:1927
Ongoing:no
Election Date:November 6, 1923
Image1:Henry L. Whitfield, 1900.jpg
Nominee1:Henry L. Whitfield
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:134,715
Percentage1:53.28%
Nominee2:Theodore G. Bilbo
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:118,143
Percentage2:46.72%
Map Size:150px
Governor
Before Election:Lee M. Russell
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Henry L. Whitfield
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1923 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1923, in order to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat Lee M. Russell was term-limited, and could not run for reelection to a second term. As was common at the time, the Democratic candidate ran unopposed in the general election so therefore the Democratic primary was the real contest, and winning the primary was considered tantamount to election.

This gubernatorial election was the first in Mississippi that allowed women the right to vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

No candidate received a majority in the Democratic primary, which featured 5 contenders, so a runoff was held between the top two candidates.

Runoff

The runoff election was won by former Superintendent of Education Henry L. Whitfield, who defeated former Governor Theodore G. Bilbo.

General election

In the general election, Whitfield ran unopposed.