1948 Arizona gubernatorial election

The 1948 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1948. Following the death of Governor Sidney Preston Osborn while in office, Dan Edward Garvey, who was serving as Secretary of State of Arizona was ascended to the position of governor, and thus ran for a full term. Facing a crowded primary field, Garvey emerged successful as the Democratic party's nominee.

1948 Arizona gubernatorial election

← 1946 November 2, 1948 1950 →
 
Nominee Dan Edward Garvey Bruce Brockett
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 104,008 70,419
Percentage 59.17% 40.06%

Election results by county
Garvey:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%

Governor before election

Dan Edward Garvey
Democratic

Elected Governor

Dan Edward Garvey
Democratic

Dan Edward Garvey was challenged by Republican Bruce Brockett in the general election, who had run in 1946 against Osborn, and had previously signaled a shift in voters becoming more Republican, outperforming their past electoral failures significantly.[1] Despite this, Garvey was elected to a full term, and was sworn in on January 4, 1949.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Dan Edward Garvey, incumbent Governor (ascended to Governor following the death of Sidney P. Osborn)
  • Richard F. Harless, U.S. Congressman
  • Jim Smith
  • J. Melvin Goodson, state representative
  • Thad M. Moore, Arizona State Tax Commission
  • Marvin E. Smith, state senator
  • Howard Sprouse, state senator

Results

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Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Edward Garvey (incumbent) 34,756 28.04%
Democratic Richard F. Harless 25,084 20.23%
Democratic Jim Smith 19,723 15.91%
Democratic J. Melvin Goodson 19,478 15.71%
Democratic Thad M. Moore 13,091 10.56%
Democratic Marvin E. Smith 11,219 9.05%
Democratic Howard Sprouse 616 0.50%
Total votes 123,967 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Bruce Brockett, cattleman and Republican nominee for governor in 1946
  • William R. Bourden, state legislator

Results

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Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Brockett 10,562 58.17%
Republican William R. Bourden 7,595 41.83%
Total votes 18,157 100.00%

General election

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Arizona gubernatorial election, 1948[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dan Edward Garvey (incumbent) 104,008 59.17% −0.92%
Republican Bruce Brockett 70,419 40.06% +0.16%
Prohibition Ernest Pohle 1,340 0.76% +0.76%
Majority 33,589 19.11%
Total votes 175,767 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing -1.08%

Results by county

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County Dan Edward Garvey
Democratic
Bruce Brockett
Republican
Ernest Pohle
Prohibition
Margin Total votes cast[3]
# % # % # % # %
Apache 1,544 63.91% 862 35.68% 10 0.41% 682 28.23% 2,416
Cochise 7,121 68.84% 3,184 30.78% 39 0.38% 3,937 38.06% 10,344
Coconino 2,716 60.20% 1,779 39.43% 17 0.38% 937 20.77% 4,512
Gila 5,036 68.86% 2,235 30.56% 42 0.57% 2,801 38.30% 7,313
Graham 2,115 61.45% 1,310 38.06% 17 0.49% 805 23.39% 3,442
Greenlee 2,308 80.73% 539 18.85% 12 0.42% 1,769 61.87% 2,859
Maricopa 41,257 53.04% 35,672 45.86% 849 1.09% 5,585 7.18% 77,778
Mohave 1,858 67.88% 860 31.42% 19 0.69% 998 36.46% 2,737
Navajo 3,003 65.71% 1,556 34.05% 11 0.24% 1,447 31.66% 4,570
Pima 22,003 62.04% 13,297 37.50% 163 0.46% 8,706 24.55% 35,463
Pinal 3,755 63.55% 2,132 36.08% 22 0.37% 1,623 27.47% 5,909
Santa Cruz 1,736 68.11% 790 30.99% 23 0.90% 946 37.11% 2,549
Yavapai 4,909 54.92% 3,940 44.08% 90 1.01% 969 10.84% 8,939
Yuma 4,647 67.00% 2,263 32.63% 26 0.37% 2,384 34.37% 6,936
Totals 104,008 59.17% 70,419 40.06% 1,340 0.76% 33,589 19.11% 175,767

References

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  1. ^ Lavin, Patrick (2001). Arizona: An Illustrated History. ISBN 9780781808521. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Primary Election Returns, State of Arizona, September 7, 1948". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Official Canvass General Election Returns November 2, 1948". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.