1940 Arkansas gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	1940 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Country:	Arkansas
Flag Year:	1924
Type:	Presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1938 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	1938
Next Election:	1942 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Next Year:	1942
Election Date:	November 5, 1940
Nominee1:	Homer Adkins
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	184,578
Percentage1:	91.36%
Nominee2:	Harley C. Stump
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	16,600
Percentage2:	8.22%
Map Size:	200px
Governor
Before Election:	Carl E. Bailey
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Homer Martin Adkins
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 1940 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Carl E. Bailey was defeated in the Democratic primary.

Democratic nominee Homer Adkins defeated Republican nominee Harley C. Stump with 91.36% of the vote.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on August 13, 1940.

Candidates

The anti-Bailey "federal faction" coalesced around Homer Adkins in early 1940.^[1] Loathing the idea of turning the statehouse over to Adkins, Bailey decided to break Arkansas tradition and seek a third term.^[2]

Declared

• Homer Adkins, U.S. Internal Revenue collector for Arkansas^[3]
• Carl E. Bailey, incumbent Governor
• J. Rosser Venable, attorney^[4]
• Frank Witte, merchant^[5]

Declined

• Bob Bailey, Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
• Jack Holt, Attorney General of Arkansas
• John L. McClellan, United States House of Representatives for Arkansas's 6th congressional district

Results

General election

Candidates

• Homer Adkins, Democratic
• Harley C. Stump, mayor of Stuttgart.^[6] Stump was nominated at the Republican State Convention on May 11, 1940.^[7]
• Walter Scott McNutt, Independent, candidate for Governor in 1938

Results

Bibliography

• Book: Timothy P. . Donovon . Willard B. . Gatewood Jr. . Jeannie M. . Whayne . Smith . C. Calvin . The Governors of Arkansas . 2nd . . Fayetteville, Arkansas . 1995 . 1981 . 94-45806 . 1-55728-331-1 . 988572226 . .
• Book: Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997 . Washington, D.C. . Congressional Quarterly Inc. . 1998 . 1-56802-396-0 . .
• Book: Glashan, Roy R. . American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 . Meckler Books . 1979 . 0-930466-17-9 .

Notes and References

1. News: Walsh . Pat . Under the Dome . October 12, 1939 . 6 . . 257 . Camden . Camden News Publishing Company . 16997701 . NewspaperARCHIVE . December 2, 2019 .
2. .
3. News: . Political Races . Northwest Arkansas Times . Fayetteville, Arkansas . 10 August 1940 . 1 . 23 November 2020 .
4. News: . J. Rosser Venable Taken By Death . The Camden News . Camden, Arkansas . 7 October 1948 . 1 . 23 November 2020 .
5. News: . State Politics Opening Up . Northwest Arkansas Times . Fayetteville, Arkansas . 3 July 1940 . 1 . 23 November 2020 .
6. News: . G.O.P. Mayor Gives Demos a Break . Daily Illini . Urbana-Champaign . 28 July 1940 . 3 . 23 November 2020 .
7. News: . State Republicans Select Delegates . Northwest Arkansas Times . Fayetteville, Arkansas . 13 May 1940 . 1 . 23 November 2020 .