The 1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican governor Winfield Dunn was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Tennessee prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms at the time. Democratic nominee Ray Blanton defeated Republican opponent Lamar Alexander with 55.4% of the vote.
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 County results Blanton: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Alexander: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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With this win, Blanton flipped the state back into Democratic control, with the state legislature also being controlled by Democrats.
Primary elections
editPrimary elections were held on August 1, 1974.[1]
Democratic primary
edit21.9% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.[2]
Candidates
edit- Ray Blanton, former U.S. Representative, candidate in the 1972 U.S. Senate election.
- Jake Butcher, businessman
- Thomas A. Wiseman Jr., former Tennessee State Treasurer
- Hudley Crockett, news anchor
- Franklin Haney, businessman
- Stan Snodgrass
- Ross Bass, former United States senator
- Washington Butler
- David Pack
- James Powers
- Jonnie D. Elkins
- Charles Gordon Vick, perennial candidate
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ray Blanton | 148,062 | 22.73 | |
| Democratic | Jake Butcher | 131,412 | 20.18 | |
| Democratic | Thomas A. Wiseman Jr. | 89,061 | 13.67 | |
| Democratic | Hudley Crockett | 86,852 | 13.34 | |
| Democratic | Franklin Haney | 84,155 | 12.92 | |
| Democratic | Stan Snodgrass | 40,211 | 6.17 | |
| Democratic | Ross Bass | 26,091 | 4.01 | |
| Democratic | Washington Butler | 15,562 | 2.39 | |
| Democratic | David Pack | 13,625 | 2.09 | |
| Democratic | James Powers | 13,464 | 2.07 | |
| Democratic | Jonnie D. Elkins | 1,694 | 0.26 | |
| Democratic | Charles Gordon Vick | 1,121 | 0.17 | |
| Total votes | 651,320 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
edit8.6% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.[2]
Candidates
edit- Lamar Alexander, attorney
- Nat T. Winston Jr., former Commissioner of Mental Health for Tennessee
- Dortch Oldham, businessman
- Melvin Waldron
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lamar Alexander | 120,773 | 48.48 | |
| Republican | Nat T. Winston Jr. | 90,980 | 36.52 | |
| Republican | Dortch Oldham | 35,683 | 14.32 | |
| Republican | Melvin Waldron | 1,674 | 0.67 | |
| Total votes | 249,112 | 100.00 | ||
General election
editCandidates
editMajor party candidates
- Ray Blanton, Democratic
- Lamar Alexander, Republican
Other candidates
- Jack Comer, Independent
- Alfred W. Taylor, Independent
- James Reesor, Independent
- Hubert David Patty, Independent
- Arnold Joseph Zandi, Independent
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ray Blanton | 576,833 | 55.43% | ||
| Republican | Lamar Alexander | 455,467 | 43.77% | ||
| Independent | Jack Comer | 2,431 | 0.23% | ||
| Independent | Alfred W. Taylor | 2,338 | 0.23% | ||
| Independent | James Reesor | 1,986 | 0.19% | ||
| Independent | Hubert David Patty | 845 | 0.08% | ||
| Independent | Arnold Joseph Zandi | 784 | 0.08% | ||
| Write-in | 30 | 0.00% | |||
| Majority | 121,366 | ||||
| Turnout | 1,040,714 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
References
edit- ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ a b Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 22.
- ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. CQ Press. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
Works cited
edit- Steed, Robert; Moreland, Laurence; Baker, Tod, eds. (1980). Party Politics in the South. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0030565863.