| Election Name: | 1952 Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial primary |
| Country: | Louisiana |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | No |
| Previous Election: | 1948 Louisiana gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1948 |
| Next Election: | 1956 Louisiana gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1956 |
| Election Date: | February 19, 1952 |
| Flag Year: | 1912 |
| Image1: | File:Robert F. Kennon portrait.jpg |
| Candidate1: | Robert F. Kennon |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Alliance1: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 482,302 |
| Percentage1: | 61.44% |
| Candidate2: | Carlos Spaht |
| Alliance2: | Longite |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 302,743 |
| Percentage2: | 38.56% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Earl K. Long |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Robert F. Kennon |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1952 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held in two rounds on January 15 and February 19, 1952. Like most Southern states between the Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement, Louisiana's Republican Party was virtually nonexistent in terms of electoral support.
This meant that the two Democratic Party primary elections held on these dates were the real contest over who would be governor of Louisiana. The 1952 election saw the defeat of Long candidate Carlos Spaht, and the election of Robert F. Kennon as governor.
In the low-turnout general election held on April 22, 1952, Kennon defeated Harrison Bagwell, a Baton Rouge lawyer and only the second Louisiana Republican gubernatorial nominee since Reconstruction. Kennon received 118,723 votes (96 percent) to Bagwell's 4,958 votes (4 percent).[1]
First Democratic Party Primary, January 15
| Candidate | Votes received | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Spaht | 173,987 | 22.84% | |
| 163,434 | 21.46% | ||
| 142,542 | 18.71% | ||
| 116,405 | 15.28% | ||
| William J. "Bill" Dodd | 90,925 | 11.94% | |
| Dudley J. LeBlanc | 62,906 | 8.26% | |
| Kermit Parker | 5,470 | 0.72% | |
| Lucille May Grace | 4,832 | 0.63% | |
| Cliff Liles | 1,233 | 0.16% | |
| Total | 761,734 |
Second Democratic Party Primary, February 19
| Candidate | Votes received | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert F. Kennon | 482,302 | 61.44% | |
| 302,743 | 38.56% | ||
| Total | 785,045 |
Louisiana Secretary of State. Democratic Primary Election Returns, 1952.