Election Name: | 1940 Delaware gubernatorial election |
Country: | Delaware |
Flag Year: | 1916 |
Type: | Presidential |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1936 Delaware gubernatorial election |
Previous Year: | 1936 |
Next Election: | 1944 Delaware gubernatorial election |
Next Year: | 1944 |
Election Date: | November 5, 1940 |
Image1: | 3x4.svg |
Nominee1: | Walter W. Bacon |
Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
Popular Vote1: | 70,629 |
Percentage1: | 52.39% |
Nominee2: | Josiah Marvel Jr. |
Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Popular Vote2: | 61,237 |
Percentage2: | 45.42% |
Map Size: | 210px |
Governor | |
Before Election: | Richard McMullen |
Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
After Election: | Walter W. Bacon |
After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1940 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Democratic Governor Richard McMullen originally ran for re-election to a second term, and was renominated by the Democratic Party. However, less than a month before the election, McMullen suffered a heart attack and he dropped out of the race. The state party named Secretary of State Josiah Marvel Jr., as McMullen's replacement on the ballot.[1] On the Republican side, Wilmington Mayor Walter W. Bacon was nominated by the Republican Party for Governor.[2]
Ultimately, even as President Franklin D. Roosevelt was handily winning Delaware en route to re-election nationwide, and as Democratic Senator James M. Tunnell was narrowly winning re-election, Bacon defeated Marvel by a decisive margin to regain the governorship for the Republican Party. Bacon received 52% of the vote to Marvel's 45%.