1944 Arizona gubernatorial election

The 1944 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Governor Sidney Preston Osborn ran for reelection, and easily won the Democratic primary, with only token opposition as former Governor Robert Taylor Jones declined to challenge Osborn to a rematch following two losses, in 1940 and 1942.

1944 Arizona gubernatorial election

← 1942 November 7, 1944 1946 →
 
Nominee Sidney Preston Osborn Jerrie W. Lee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 100,220 27,261
Percentage 77.91% 21.19%

County results
Osborn:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election

Sidney Preston Osborn
Democratic

Elected Governor

Sidney Preston Osborn
Democratic

In a virtually identical race to 1940 and 1942, Sidney Preston Osborn defeated Jerrie W. Lee in the general election, and was sworn into his third term as Governor on January 2, 1945.

Democratic primary

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The Democratic primary took place on July 18, 1944. Incumbent Governor Sidney Preston Osborn ran for reelection, and defeated State Senator William Coxon easily, with former Governor Robert Taylor Jones declining to challenge Osborn after losing to him twice in the past two election cycles in 1940 and 1942.[1]

Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sidney Preston Osborn (incumbent) 59,254 75.28%
Democratic William Coxon 19,454 24.72%
Total votes 78,708 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Jerrie W. Lee, 1938, 1940, 1942 Republican gubernatorial nominee
  • Harry F. Michael

Results

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Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerrie W. Lee 5,237 71.32%
Republican Harry F. Michael 2,106 28.68%
Total votes 7,343 100.00%

General election

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Arizona gubernatorial election, 1944[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Sidney Preston Osborn (incumbent) 100,220 77.91% +5.42%
Republican Jerrie W. Lee 27,261 21.19% −5.71%
Prohibition Charles R. Osburn 1,161 0.90% +0.29%
Majority 72,959 56.71%
Total votes 128,642 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing +11.13%

Results by county

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County Sidney P. Osborn
Democratic
Jerrie W. Lee
Republican
Charles R. Osburn
Prohibition
Margin Total votes cast[3]
# % # % # % # %
Apache 1,505 78.88% 395 20.70% 8 0.42% 1,110 58.18% 1,908
Cochise 8,344 83.18% 1,657 16.52% 30 0.30% 6,687 66.66% 10,031
Coconino 2,851 74.09% 967 25.13% 30 0.78% 1,884 48.96% 3,848
Gila 5,555 80.05% 1,315 18.95% 69 0.99% 4,240 61.10% 6,939
Graham 2,752 82.03% 564 16.81% 39 1.16% 2,188 65.22% 3,355
Greenlee 2,229 85.08% 369 14.08% 22 0.84% 1,860 70.99% 2,620
Maricopa 39,406 70.45% 16,163 28.90% 362 0.65% 23,243 41.56% 55,931
Mohave 1,669 76.24% 505 23.07% 15 0.69% 1,164 53.17% 2,189
Navajo 3,390 80.91% 784 18.71% 16 0.38% 2,606 62.20% 4,190
Pima 17,245 96.15% 314 1.75% 377 2.10% 16,868[a] 94.05% 17,936
Pinal 3,650 75.13% 1,172 24.13% 36 0.74% 2,478 51.01% 4,858
Santa Cruz 1,623 82.34% 344 17.45% 4 0.20% 1,279 64.89% 1,971
Yavapai 5,820 75.14% 1,819 23.48% 107 1.38% 4,001 51.65% 7,746
Yuma 4,181 81.66% 893 17.44% 46 0.90% 3,288 64.22% 5,120
Totals 100,220 77.91% 27,261 21.19% 1,161 0.90% 72,959 56.71% 128,642

Notes

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  1. ^ Margin over Osburn

References

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - AZ Governor - D Primary Race - Jul 18, 1944".
  2. ^ a b "Primary Election Returns, State of Arizona, July 18, 1944". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Official Canvass General Election Returns November 7, 1944". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.