1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election

Summary

The 1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican Governor Winfield Dunn was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Tennessee prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms at the time. Democratic nominee Ray Blanton defeated Republican opponent Lamar Alexander with 55.4% of the vote.

1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1970 November 5, 1974 1978 →
 
Nominee Ray Blanton Lamar Alexander
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 576,833 455,467
Percentage 55.4% 43.8%

County results
Blanton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
     80–90%
Alexander:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Winfield Dunn
Republican

Elected Governor

Ray Blanton
Democratic

With this win, Blanton flipped the state back into Democratic control, with the state state legislature also being controlled by Democrats.

Primary elections edit

Primary elections were held on August 1, 1974.[1]

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ray Blanton 148,062 22.73
Democratic Jake Butcher 131,412 20.18
Democratic Thomas A. Wiseman Jr. 89,061 13.67
Democratic Hudley Crockett 86,852 13.34
Democratic Franklin Haney 84,155 12.92
Democratic Stan Snodgrass 40,211 6.17
Democratic Ross Bass 26,091 4.01
Democratic Washington Butler 15,562 2.39
Democratic David Pack 13,625 2.09
Democratic James Powers 13,464 2.07
Democratic Jonnie D. Elkins 1,694 0.26
Democratic Charles Gordon Vick 1,121 0.17
Total votes 651,320 100.00

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lamar Alexander 120,773 48.48
Republican Nat T. Winston Jr. 90,980 36.52
Republican Dortch Oldham 35,683 14.32
Republican Melvin Waldron 1,674 0.67
Total votes 249,112 100.00

General election edit

Candidates edit

Major party candidates

  • Ray Blanton, Democratic
  • Lamar Alexander, Republican

Other candidates

  • Jack Comer, Independent
  • Alfred W. Taylor, Independent
  • James Reesor, Independent
  • Hubert David Patty, Independent
  • Arnold Joseph Zandi, Independent

Results edit

1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ray Blanton 576,833 55.43%
Republican Lamar Alexander 455,467 43.77%
Independent Jack Comer 2,431 0.23%
Independent Alfred W. Taylor 2,338 0.23%
Independent James Reesor 1,986 0.19%
Independent Hubert David Patty 845 0.08%
Independent Arnold Joseph Zandi 784 0.08%
Majority 121,366
Turnout 1,040,714
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved January 26, 2019.