1946 Alabama gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{for|related races|1946 United States gubernatorial elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1946 Alabama gubernatorial election
| type = presidential
| country = Alabama
| previous_election = 1942 Alabama gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1942
| next_election = 1950 Alabama gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1950
| ongoing = no
| election_date = November 5, 1946
| registered =
| turnout =
| image1 = File:Jim Folsom circa 1947.jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| image_upright = 0.6
| nominee1 = Jim Folsom
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 174,962
| percentage1 = 88.67%
| image2 = File:Lyman Ward Wiki.jpg
| nominee2 = Lyman Ward
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 22,362
| percentage2 = 11.33%
| map_image = 1946 Alabama gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_alt =
| map =
| map_caption = County results
Folsom: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0d056c|>90%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Chauncey Sparks
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Jim Folsom
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Elections in Alabama sidebar}}
The 1946 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1946, to elect the governor of Alabama. Incumbent Democrat Chauncey Sparks was term-limited, and could not seek a second consecutive term.
Democratic primary
At the time this election took place, Alabama, as with most other southern states, was solidly Democratic, and the Republican Party had such diminished influence that the Democratic primary was the de facto contest for state offices.
=Candidates=
- Elbert Boozer, Calhoun County probate judge
- Leven H. Ellis, lieutenant governor
- Jim Folsom, businessman and candidate for governor in 1942
- Gordon Persons, president of the Public Service Commission
- Joe N. Poole, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change | title=1946 Alabama Democratic gubernatorial primary{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=80253|title=AL Governor D Primary 1946|access-date=October 17, 2016}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jim Folsom
|votes = 103,174
|percentage = 28.46
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Leven H. Ellis
|votes = 88,459
|percentage = 24.40
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Joe N. Poole
|votes = 70,925
|percentage = 19.56
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Elbert Boozer
|votes = 58,134
|percentage = 16.04
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Gordon Persons
|votes = 41,851
|percentage = 11.54
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 362,543
|percentage = 100.00
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Runoff=
As no candidate received a majority of votes, a runoff election was held.
{{Election box begin no change | title=1946 Alabama Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=80280|title=AL Governor D Primary Runoff 1946|access-date=October 17, 2016}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jim Folsom
|votes = 205,168
|percentage = 58.74
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Leven H. Ellis
|votes = 144,126
|percentage = 41.26
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 349,294
|percentage = 100.00
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Results
{{Election box begin no change | title=1946 Alabama gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=80252|title=AL Governor 1946|access-date=October 17, 2016}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jim Folsom
|votes = 174,962
|percentage = 88.67
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Lyman Ward
|votes = 22,362
|percentage = 11.33
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 197,324
|percentage = 100.00
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Alabama gubernatorial elections}}
{{1946 United States elections}}