1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election
| country = Oregon
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1954 Oregon gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1954
| next_election = 1958 Oregon gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1958
| election_date = November 6, 1956
| image1 = File:Robert D. Holmes.jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Robert D. Holmes
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 369,439
| percentage1 = 50.5%
| image2 = File:Elmo Smith portrait.jpg
| nominee2 = Elmo Smith
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 361,840
| percentage2 = 49.5%
| map_image = 1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = County results
Holmes: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Smith: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Elmo Smith
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Robert D. Holmes
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsOR}}
The 1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election took place on November 6, 1956. Democratic state senator Robert D. Holmes narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Elmo Smith to win the election.
Background
On January 31, 1956, Governor Paul L. Patterson, who was elected in the 1954 gubernatorial election, died in office of a coronary occlusion.{{cite web
|url = http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/lib/governors/plp.htm
|title = Governors of Oregon: Paul Linton Patterson
|access-date = May 23, 2011
|publisher = Oregon State Library
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111345/http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/lib/governors/plp.htm
|archive-date = July 16, 2011
}} Patterson's death elevated Oregon State Senate President Elmo Smith to governor and a special election for November was called to fill the position for the final two years of Patterson's term.{{cite web
|url = http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/lib/governors/es.htm
|title = Governors of Oregon: Elmo Smith
|access-date = May 23, 2011
|publisher = Oregon State Library
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111341/http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/lib/governors/es.htm
|archive-date = 2011-07-16
|url-status = dead
}} The succession law was changed in 1972 so that the Oregon Secretary of State is first in line to succeed the governor.{{cite news
|title=Temporary governor eliminated: Measure modifies line of succession
|work=The Bend Bulletin
|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19721025&id=0pcSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1387,2212415
}}
Lew Wallace unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination.
==Election results==
{{Election box begin no change| title=1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=41124|title=OR Governor Race — November 06, 1956|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=May 23, 2011}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert D. Holmes
|votes = 369,439
|percentage = 50.52
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Elmo Smith (incumbent)
|votes = 361,840
|percentage = 49.48
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 731,279 | percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Results by county=
| class="wikitable sortable" width="60%"
! colspan="8" |1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election (by county) | |||||||
| rowspan="2"| County
! colspan="2"| Robert Denison Holmes ! colspan="2"| Elmo Everett Smith ! colspan="2"| Margin | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| data-sort-type="number"| #
! data-sort-type="number"| % ! data-sort-type="number"| # ! data-sort-type="number"| % ! data-sort-type="number"| # ! data-sort-type="number"| % | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Baker | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 3,554 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 50.71% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 3,455 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 49.29% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 99 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1.41% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 7,009 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Benton | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 5,217 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 39.89% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 7,862 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 60.11% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -2,645 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -20.22% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 13,079 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Clackamas | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 23,431 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 51.28% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 22,264 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 48.72% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,167 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2.55% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 45,695 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Clatsop | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 7,928 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 61.41% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 4,981 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 38.59% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2,947 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 22.83% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 12,909 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Columbia | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 6,185 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 63.02% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 3,629 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 36.98% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2,556 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 26.04% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 9,814 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Coos | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 12,130 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 60.24% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 8,005 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 39.76% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4,125 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 20.49% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 20,135 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Crook | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,848 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 49.93% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,853 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 50.07% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -5 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -0.14% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 3,701 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Curry | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2,162 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 50.91% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 2,085 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 49.09% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 77 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1.81% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4,247 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Deschutes | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4,441 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 46.33% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 5,145 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 53.67% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -704 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -7.34% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 9,586 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Douglas | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 13,516 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 52.62% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 12,171 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 47.38% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,345 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 5.24% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 25,687 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Gilliam | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 505 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 38.52% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 806 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 61.48% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -301 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -22.96% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,311 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Grant | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,313 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 42.44% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,781 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 57.56% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -468 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -15.13% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 3,094 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Harney | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,171 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 43.26% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,536 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 56.74% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -365 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -13.48% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 2,707 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Hood River | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2,618 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 47.08% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 2,943 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 52.92% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -325 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -5.84% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 5,561 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Jackson | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 13,445 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 45.26% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 16,261 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 54.74% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -2,816 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -9.48% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 29,706 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Jefferson | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,131 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 45.88% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,334 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 54.12% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -203 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -8.24% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 2,465 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Josephine | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 5,423 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 42.60% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 7,308 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 57.40% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -1,885 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -14.81% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 12,731 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Klamath | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 8,956 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 49.81% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 9,026 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 50.19% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -70 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -0.39% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 17,982 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Lake | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,285 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 44.62% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,595 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 55.38% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -310 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -10.76% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 2,880 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Lane | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 33,241 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 53.12% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 29,335 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 46.88% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 3,906 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 6.24% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 62,576 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Lincoln | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 5,149 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 52.08% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 4,738 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 47.92% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 411 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4.16% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 9,887 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Linn | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 11,807 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 51.91% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 10,936 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 48.09% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 871 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 3.83% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 22,743 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Malheur | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 3,011 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 37.51% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 5,016 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 62.49% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -2,005 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -24.98% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 8,027 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Marion | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 19,255 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 42.87% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 25,655 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 57.13% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -6,400 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -14.25% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 44,910 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Morrow | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 882 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 45.07% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,075 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 54.93% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -193 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -9.86% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,957 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Multnomah | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 129,273 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 53.04% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 114,446 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 46.96% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 14,827 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 6.08% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 243,719 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Polk | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4,724 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 45.39% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 5,683 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 54.61% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -959 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -9.21% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 10,407 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Sherman | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 415 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 38.53% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 662 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 61.47% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -247 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -22.93% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,077 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Tillamook | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4,055 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 50.93% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 3,907 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 49.07% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 148 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1.86% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 7,962 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Umatilla | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 8,376 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 48.88% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 8,761 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 51.12% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -385 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -2.25% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 17,137 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Union | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4,272 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 53.45% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 3,720 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 46.55% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 552 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 6.91% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 7,992 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Wallowa | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1,755 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 53.17% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,546 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 46.83% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 209 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 6.33% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 3,301 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Wasco | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 4,522 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 52.73% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 4,053 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 47.27% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 469 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 5.47% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 8,575 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Washington | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 15,976 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 44.51% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 19,917 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 55.49% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -3,941 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -10.98% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 35,893 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Wheeler | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 540 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 46.59% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 619 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 53.41% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -79 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -6.82% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 1,159 | |||||||
| style="text-align:center;"
| {{party shading/Republican}}| Yamhill | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 5,927 | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 43.40% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 7,731 | {{party shading/Republican}}| 56.60% | {{party shading/Republican}}| -1,804 | {{party shading/Republican}}| -13.21% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 13,658 | |||||||
| Total | 369,439 | 50.52% | 361,840 | 49.48% | 7,599 | 1.04% | 731,279 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1956 United States elections}}
{{Oregon elections}}