1940 Texas gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	1940 Texas gubernatorial election
Country:	Texas
Type:	Presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1938 Texas gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	1938
Next Election:	1942 Texas gubernatorial election
Next Year:	1942
Election Date:	November 5, 1940
Image1:	File:W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, 1939 (cropped) (3x4).jpg
Nominee1:	W. Lee O'Daniel
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	1,019,338
Percentage1:	94.42%
Nominee2:	George C. Hopkins
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	59,885
Percentage2:	5.55%
Governor
Before Election:	W. Lee O'Daniel
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	W. Lee O'Daniel
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

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

Incumbent Democratic Governor W. Lee O'Daniel defeated Republican nominee George C. Hopkins with 94.42% of the vote.

Nominations

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on July 27, 1940. By winning over 50% of the vote, O'Daniel avoided a run-off.

Candidates

• Arlon Barton "Cyclone" Davis, son of James Harvey "Cyclone" Davis^{[1] [2]}
• Miriam A. Ferguson, former Governor
• Harry Hines, incumbent Highway Commissioner^[3]
• W. Lee O'Daniel, incumbent Governor
• Jerry Sadler, incumbent Railroad Commissioner
• Ernest O. Thompson, incumbent Railroad Commissioner and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for Governor in 1938

Withdrawn

• R. P. "Rip" Condron, theater owner from La Feria (endorsed Thompson).^[4]
• Albert L. Derden, incumbent member of the Texas House of Representatives from Falls County (endorsed Hines).^[5]

Results

Republican nomination

The Republican state convention was held at Beaumont on August 13, 1940.^{[6] [7]}

George C. Hopkins, businessman, was nominated for Governor.^[8]

General election

Candidates

• W. Lee O'Daniel, Democratic
• George C. Hopkins, Republican
• Ben H. Lauderdale, Communist, nominee for Agriculture Commissioner in 1938^[9]

Results

Bibliography

• Book: Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997 . Washington, D.C. . Congressional Quarterly Inc. . 1998 . 1-56802-396-0 . .
• Book: . Texas Almanac, 1954-1955 . Dallas, Texas . A. H. Belo Corporation . 1953 . .

Notes and References

1. . Texas: Pappy Over Cyclone . Time . New York City . Time Inc. . 5 August 1940 . 27 February 2021.
2. News: . Texas 'Cyclone' Stilled By Death After Fiery Career . El Paso Herald-Post . El Paso, Texas . 1 February 1940 . 12 . 27 February 2021.
3. Web site: Former Commissioners . . Texas Department of Transportation . 27 February 2021.
4. Web site: Condron Drops Out. Box Office. 37. 77. July 8, 1940. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. November 18, 2023. Internet Archive.
5. Sims . Archie A. . August 1940 . The Texas Gubernatorial Campaign of 1940 . Master of Arts . Texas Technological College . Lubbock, Texas . 46 . 27 February 2021.
6. News: . Republicans Name State Ticket . The Citizens Journal . Atlanta, Tex. . 15 August 1940 . 8 . 27 February 2021.
7. News: . Dallas Man G.O.P. Choice For Governor . The Whitewright Sun . Whitewright, Tex. . 15 August 1940 . 1 . 27 February 2021.
8. News: . Nominee . Santa Cruz Sentinel . Santa Cruz, California . 25 August 1940 . 6 . 27 February 2021.
9. Book: . Free Texas From Monopoly Control! . Communist Party of Texas . 4 . 1938 .