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1938 Colorado gubernatorial election

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1938 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 1936 November 8, 1938 1940 →
 
Nominee Ralph Lawrence Carr Teller Ammons
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 296,671 199,562
Percentage 59.50% 40.02%

County results

Carr:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Ammons:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Teller Ammons
Democratic

Elected Governor

Ralph Lawrence Carr
Republican

The 1938 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938. Republican nominee Ralph Lawrence Carr defeated Democratic incumbent Teller Ammons with 59.50% of the vote.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Dropped out

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Campaign

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First-term Democratic Governor Teller Ammons ran for re-election and faced uncertain opposition in the Democratic primary. He initially faced a primary challenge from conservative State Senator Elmer E. Headlee, who represented the San Luis Valley. However, at the state Democratic convention, Headlee ended his campaign, apparently concerned that he lacked enough votes to continue his campaign to the primary election. Accordingly, Ammons was nominated without opposition.[2] Prior to the primary, however, Pueblo newspaper editor George J. Knapp, who had previously run for Congress as a Republican in 1936, gathered enough signatures to challenge Ammons for renomination. Despite being entirely unknown,[3] Knapp held Ammons to just 62% of the vote, winning several counties through the state and triggering speculation as to the nature of Ammons's weak performance.[4]

Results

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Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Teller Ammons (inc.) 67,992 62.41
Democratic George J. Knapp 40,948 37.59
Total votes 108,940 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Dropped out

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  • Charles M. Armstrong, former Colorado State Treasurer, 1936 Republican nominee for Governor
  • Benjamin Snodgrass, Denver coal operator

Campaign

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In the leadup to the state Republican convention, the two frontrunners for the nomination for Governor appeared to be former State Treasurer Charles M. Armstrong, who had run unsuccessfully as the party's nominee in 1936, and coal operator Benjamin Snodgrass, who was supported by former Senator Lawrence C. Phipps and his allies. However, party leaders were angling for a third candidate and considered former State Senator Nate C. Warren, Colorado Springs Mayor George Birdsall, and former U.S. Attorney Ralph Carr. All alternative candidacies were declined or scuttled, but Carr ultimately changed his mind and sought the nomination. In the face of the unified front in favor of Carr, Armstrong withdrew at the convention.[6] And though Snodgrass won enough votes to secure a place on the primary election ballot, he ultimately withdrew from the race as well, allowing Carr to be nominated unopposed.[7]

Results

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Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph L. Carr 61,724 100.00
Total votes 61,724 100.00

General election

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Results

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1938 United States Senate election in Colorado[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ralph L. Carr 255,159 55.82% +12.17%
Democratic Teller Ammons (inc.) 199,562 43.66% −10.91%
Union Jack R. White 1,262 0.28% +0.11%
Royal Way Harvey L. Mayfield 1,140 0.25% +0.21%
Majority 55,597 12.16% +1.24%
Turnout 457,123
Republican gain from Democratic

References

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  1. ^ "Political Notes". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. July 21, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Swain, Alva A. (July 28, 1938). "Under the Capitol Dome". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Primary Election Creates Little Interest Throughout State". Oak Creek Times. Oak Creek, Colorado. September 15, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Kimball, Neil West (September 22, 1938). "Capitol Comment". Colorado Transcript. Golden, Colorado. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Saunders, George E. (1938). State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast at the Primary Election Held on the Thirteenth Day of September, A. D. 1938 and at the General Election Held on the Eighth Day of November, A. D. 1938 (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
  6. ^ Kimball, Neil West (August 11, 1938). "Capitol Comment". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Swain, Alva A. (August 18, 1938). "Under the Capitol Dome". Steamboat Pilot. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. p. 2. Retrieved July 4, 2022.