1923 Mississippi gubernatorial election

The 1923 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1923, in order to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat Lee M. Russell was term-limited, and could not run for reelection to a second term. As was common at the time, the Democratic candidate ran unopposed in the general election so therefore the Democratic primary was the real contest, and winning the primary was considered tantamount to election.

1923 Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff

November 6, 1923

Nominee Henry L. Whitfield Theodore G. Bilbo Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 134,715 118,143 Percentage 53.28% 46.72%

County results Whitfield:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Bilbo:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election Lee M. Russell Democratic Elected Governor Henry L. Whitfield Democratic

This gubernatorial election was the first in Mississippi that allowed women the right to vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Percy Bell
• Theodore Bilbo, former Governor of Mississippi (1916–20)
• Martin S. Conner, State Representative from Covington County
• Lester C. Franklin, President of the Mississippi Yazoo Delta Levee Board and former State Senator from Clarksdale
• Henry L. Whitfield, president of the Mississippi State College for Women and former Mississippi Superintendent of Education

Results

No candidate received a majority in the Democratic primary, which featured 5 contenders, so a runoff was held between the top two candidates.

Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1923

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry L. Whitfield	85,328	33.58
	Democratic	Theodore G. Bilbo	65,105	25.62
	Democratic	Martin S. Conner	48,739	19.18
	Democratic	Lester C. Franklin	37,245	14.66
	Democratic	Percy Bell	17,724	6.97
Total votes			254,141	100.00

Runoff

The runoff election was won by former Superintendent of Education Henry L. Whitfield, who defeated former Governor Theodore G. Bilbo.

Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary runoff, 1923

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry L. Whitfield	134,715	53.28
	Democratic	Theodore G. Bilbo	118,143	46.72
Total votes			252,858	100.00

General election

In the general election, Whitfield ran unopposed.

Results

Mississippi gubernatorial election, 1923

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry L. Whitfield	29,138	100.00
Total votes			29,138	100.00
	Democratic hold