1928 Montana gubernatorial election
{{short description|none}}
{{for|related races|1928 United States gubernatorial elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1928 Montana gubernatorial election
| country = Montana
| flag_year = 1905
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1924 Montana gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1924
| next_election = 1932 Montana gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1932
| election_date = November 6, 1928
| image1 = x150px
| nominee1 = John E. Erickson
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 113,635
| percentage1 = 58.52%
| image2 = x150px
| nominee2 = Wellington D. Rankin
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 79,777
| percentage2 = 41.08%
| map_image = 1928 Montana gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = County results
Erickson: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
Rankin: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = John E. Erickson
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = John E. Erickson
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| turnout = 80.80%{{increase}}8.40{{cite web |url=https://sosmt.gov/elections/voter-turnout/|title=Montana Voter Turnout|website=Montana Secretary of State|access-date=2022-05-26}}
}}
{{ElectionsMT}}
The 1928 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1928. Incumbent Governor of Montana John E. Erickson, who was first elected governor in 1924, ran for re-election. Erickson only narrowly won the Democratic primary against future Governor Roy E. Ayers, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by U.S. Attorney Wellington D. Rankin, the former Attorney General of Montana. Although Herbert Hoover carried the state in a landslide in the presidential election that year, Erickson won re-election to his second term as governor in a landslide over Rankin.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- John E. Erickson, incumbent Governor of Montana
- Roy E. Ayers, former [[List of justices of the Montana Supreme Court|Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of Montana]]
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic Party primary results{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/primaryofficial1928montrich#page/1/mode/2up|title=Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election, Held in the State of Montana, July 17 A. D. 1928|publisher=Montana Secretary of State|access-date=July 6, 2014}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John E. Erickson (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 24,304
| percentage = 50.67
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Roy E. Ayers
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 23,665
| percentage = 49.33
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 47,969
| percentage= 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
- Wellington D. Rankin, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana and former Attorney General of Montana
- Lee Dennis, former chairman of the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission
- W. J. Paul, former state senator
- J. W. Walker
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican Primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Wellington D. Rankin
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 30,778
| percentage = 45.58
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lee Dennis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 16,209
| percentage = 24.00
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = W. J. Paul
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 11,337
| percentage = 16.79
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = J. W. Walker
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 9,206
| percentage = 13.63
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 67,530
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=Montana gubernatorial election, 1928{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/officialmontanag1928montrich#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Official Abstract of Votes Cast at the General Election Held in Montana, Nov. 6, 1928 |publisher=Montana Secretary of State|access-date=July 6, 2014}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = John E. Erickson (incumbent)
|votes = 113,635
|percentage = 58.52%
|change = +7.50%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Wellington D. Rankin
|votes = 79,777
|percentage = 41.08%
|change = -1.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Socialist Party (United States)
|candidate = W. R. Duncan
|votes = 781
|percentage = 0.40%
|change = +0.13%
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 33,858
|percentage = 17.44%
|change = +9.00%
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 194,193
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}{{1928 United States elections}}