1939 New York state election explained

The 1939 New York state election was held on November 7, 1939, to elect the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Besides, an amendment to the State Constitution proposed to legalize Parimutuel betting on horse-race tracks, and was accepted.

History

In 1939, there was only one state officer to be elected statewide: The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, to succeed Frederick E. Crane, who would reach the constitutional age limit at the end of the year.

The revised State Constitution of 1938, ratified by the electorate the previous year, increased the term in the New York State Assembly to two years, so that there were no assembly elections anymore in odd-numbered years.

The Democratic State Committee met on September 27, and nominated associate judge Irving Lehman for Chief Judge.^[1]

The American Labor State Committee met on September 30 and endorsed the Democratic nominee Irving Lehman.^[2]

The Republican State Committee met on October 3, and endorsed the Democratic and American Labor nominee Irving Lehman.^[3]

Result

Judge Irving Lehman was elected unopposed.

Notes

1. https://www.nytimes.com/1939/09/28/archives/democrats-vote-bench-nomination-to-judge-lehman-state-committee-in.html DEMOCRATS VOTE BENCH NOMINATION TO JUDGE LEHMAN
2. https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0C17FC3C5A177A93C3A9178BD95F4D8385F9 JUDGE LEHMAN GETS LABOR NOMINATION
3. https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0E16FB3C5A177A93C6A9178BD95F4D8385F9 JUDCE LEHMAN WINS BACKING BY G.O.P.

Sources

• Official result: 1,225,495 Approved Pari-Mutuel in NYT on December 10, 1939 (subscription required)

New York Red Book 1940

See also

New York state elections