1948 Louisiana gubernatorial election
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![]() Parish results Long: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80–90% >90% Jones: 50-60% 60-70% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Louisiana |
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The 1948 Louisiana gubernatorial election was decided by a Democratic primary held in two rounds on January 20 and February 24, 1948, which was tantamount to election. The 1948 election saw the defeat of Louisiana's reformer "anti-Long"
Background
Like most
Under Louisiana's constitution, incumbent governor Jimmie Davis could not succeed himself in a consecutive term.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Sam H. Jones, former Governor (1940–44)
- Robert F. Kennon, judge and former Mayor of Minden
- Earl Long, former Governor (1939–40)
- Jimmy Morrison, U.S. Representative from Hammond
Campaign
Louisiana's reformist anti-Long faction supported Sam H. Jones, who had been governor from 1940 to 1944. Jones was endorsed by outgoing Governor Davis and high-profile Louisiana politicians, such as Senator John H. Overton and Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison Sr. of New Orleans, who controlled the city's powerful Crescent City Democratic Association. Jones's reform campaign was weakened by reminders of unethical deals and heavy-handed political tactics in his previous term and by the electorate's lack of enthusiasm for reform governors after eight years.
Sam Jones's main opponent was Long, who had been governor in 1939–40 and the inheritor of his brother
Robert F. Kennon drew most of his support from North Louisiana and reformers disillusioned with Jones. Jimmy Morrison (no relation to Mayor Morrison) was supported by former New Orleans mayor Robert Maestri and his Old Regular political machine and finished in fourth place.
Results
Jimmy Morrison was able to carry
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic
|
Earl K. Long
|
267,253 | 41.51% | |
Democratic
|
Sam H. Jones | 147,329 | 22.88% | |
Democratic
|
Robert F. Kennon | 127,569 | 19.81% | |
Democratic
|
Jimmy Morrison | 101,754 | 15.80% | |
Total votes | 643,905 | 100.00% |
Runoff
In the runoff, the Old Regulars threw their support behind Long. With his longtime enemies were supporting Long, Mayor Morrison stepped up his campaigning for Jones and began a feud with Long that would last until Long's death in 1960.
The runoff election saw Long elected to the governor's office with an overwhelming majority. Of Louisiana's 64 parishes, only
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic
|
Earl K. Long
|
432,528 | 65.88% | |
Democratic
|
Sam H. Jones | 223,971 | 34.12% | |
Total votes | 656,499 | 100.00% |
Sources
Michael L. Kurtz and Morgan D. Peoples. Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics, 1990.
Louisiana Secretary of State. Compilation of Primary Election Results of the Democratic Party of the State of Louisiana, 1948.