Following are the results of elections of governors from 1900 until 1948. Party primaries as well as general elections are included whenever possible although Republican totals are not available for some early primaries.
The official canvass from the Legislature, the Archives Section of the Texas State Library, and the Texas Secretary of State annual reports are used when available. Otherwise, reports from various editions of the Texas Almanac are used.
Party designations abbreviated are: Dem., Democratic; Rep., Republican; Lib., Libertarian; Ind., Independent; W-I, write-in.
Under the state Constitution of 1876, governors served two-year terms, until that was amended in 1972 to four-year terms.
1948
Democratic Primary
Beauford H. Jester | 642,025 | 53.27 % |
Roger Q. Evans | 279,602 | 23.20 % |
Caso March | 187,658 | 15.57 % |
Charles B. Hutchison | 24,441 | 2.03 % |
Sumpter W. Stockton | 21,243 | 1.76 % |
Holmes A. May | 20,538 | 1.70 % |
Denver S. Whiteley | 16,090 | 1.33 % |
W.J. Minton | 13,659 | 1.13 % |
Write-in | 1 | |
Total vote | 1,205,257 | |
General Election
Beauford H. Jester | Dem. | 1,024,160 | 84.72 % |
Alvin H. Lane | Rep. | 177,399 | 14.67 % |
Herman Wright | Progressive | 3,747 | 0.31 % |
Gerald Overholt | Prohibition | 3,554 | 0.29 % |
Total vote | | 1,208,860 | |
1946
Democratic Primary
Beauford H. Jester | 443,804 | 38.15 % |
Homer P. Rainey | 291,282 | 25.04 % |
Grover Sellers | 162,431 | 13.96 % |
Jerry Sadler | 103,120 | 8.87 % |
John Lee Smith | 102,941 | 8.85 % |
Caso March | 20,529 | 1.76 % |
C.R. Shaw | 9,764 | 0.84 % |
Reese Turner | 4,914 | 0.42 % |
A.J. Burks | 4,881 | 0.42 % |
Chas. B. Hutchison | 4,616 | 0.40 % |
Walter Scott McNutt | 4,353 | 0.37 % |
Floyd Brinkley | 4,249 | 0.37 % |
William V. Brown | 3,902 | 0.34 % |
W.J. Minton | 2,398 | 0.21 % |
Total vote | 1,163,184 | |
Democratic Runoff
Beauford H. Jester | 701,018 | 66.34 % |
Homer P. Rainey | 355,654 | 33.66 % |
Total vote | 1,056,672 | |
General Election
Beauford H. Jester | Dem. | 345,513 | 91.23 % |
Eugene Nolte Jr. | Rep. | 33,231 | 8.77 % |
Total vote | | 378,744 | |
1944
Democratic Primary
Coke R. Stevenson | 696,586 | 84.59 % |
Minnie F. Cunningham | 48,039 | 5.83 % |
Martin Jones | 21,379 | 2.60 % |
Gene S. Porter | 15,243 | 1.85 % |
Alex M. Ferguson | 12,649 | 1.54 % |
William F. Grimes | 9,443 | 1.15 % |
W.J. Minton | 8,537 | 1.04 % |
Herbert E. Mills | 6,640 | 0.81 % |
Edward L. Carey | 4,633 | 0.56 % |
Others | 311 | |
Total vote | 823,460 | |
General Election
Coke R. Stevenson | Dem. | 1,007,826 | 90.95 % |
B.J. Peasley | Rep. | 100,287 | 9.05 % |
Total vote | | 1,108,113 | |
1942
Democratic Primary
Coke R. Stevenson | 651,218 | 68.46 % |
Hal H. Collins | 272,469 | 28.64 % |
Hope Wheeler | 9,373 | 0.99 % |
Alex M. Ferguson | 8,370 | 0.88 % |
Gene S. Porter | 4,933 | 0.52 % |
Charles L. Somerville | 4,853 | 0.51 % |
Total vote | 951,216 | |
General Election
Coke R. Stevenson | Dem. | 280,735 | 96.83 % |
C.K. McDowell | Rep. | 9,204 | 3.17 % |
Total vote | | 289,939 | |
1940
Democratic Primary
W. Lee O'Daniel | 645,646 | 54.29 % |
Ernest O. Thompson | 256,923 | 21.60 % |
Harry Hines | 119,121 | 10.01 % |
Miriam A. Ferguson | 100,578 | 8.46 % |
Jerry Sadler | 61,396 | 5.16 % |
Arlon B. "Cyclone" Davis Jr. | 3,623 | 0.30 % |
R.P. Condron | 2,003 | 0.17 % |
Total vote | 1,189,290 | |
General Election
W. Lee O'Daniel | Dem. | 1,019,338 | 94.43 % |
George C. Hopkins | Rep. | 59,885 | 5.55 % |
Ben H. Lauderdale | Communist | 266 | 0.02 % |
Total vote | | 1,079,489 | |
1938
Democratic Primary
W. Lee O'Daniel | 573,166 | 51.41 % |
Ernest O. Thompson | 231,630 | 20.78 % |
William McCraw | 152,278 | 13.66 % |
Tom F. Hunter | 117,634 | 10.55 % |
Karl A. Crowley | 19,153 | 1.72 % |
P.D. Renfro | 8,127 | 0.73 % |
Clarence E. Farmer | 3,869 | 0.35 % |
James A. Ferguson | 3,800 | 0.34 % |
Marvin P. McCoy | 1,491 | 0.13 % |
Thomas Self | 1,405 | 0.13 % |
S.T. Brogdon | 892 | 0.08 % |
Joseph King | 773 | 0.07 % |
Clarence R. Miller | 667 | 0.06 % |
Total vote | 1,114,885 | |
General Election
W. Lee O'Daniel | Dem. | 358,943 | 96.84 % |
Alexander Boynton | Rep. | 11,309 | 3.05 % |
Earl E. Miller | Socialist | 282 | 0.08 % |
Homer Brooks | Communist | 207 | 0.06 % |
Total vote | | 370,641 | |
1936
Democratic Primary
James V. Allred | 553,219 | 52.53 % |
Tom F. Hunter | 239,460 | 22.74 % |
F.W. Fischer | 145,877 | 13.85 % |
Roy Sanderford | 81,170 | 7.71 % |
P. Pierce Brooks | 33,391 | 3.17 % |
Total vote | 1,053,117 | |
General Election
James V. Allred | Dem. | 782,083 | 92.87 % |
C.O. Harris | Rep. | 58,842 | 6.99 % |
Carl Brannin | Socialist | 962 | 0.11 % |
Homer Brooks | Communist | 283 | 0.03 % |
Total vote | | 842,170 | |
1934
Democratic Primary
James V. Allred | 298,903 | 29.88 % |
Tom F. Hunter | 243,254 | 24.32 % |
C.C. McDonald | 207,200 | 20.71 % |
Clint C. Small | 125,324 | 12.53 % |
Edgar Witt | 62,476 | 6.24 % |
Maury Hughes | 58,815 | 5.88 % |
Edward K. Russell | 4,454 | 0.45 % |
Total vote | 1,000,426 | |
Democratic Runoff
James V. Allred | 499,343 | 52.10 % |
Tom F. Hunter | 459,106 | 47.90 % |
Total vote | 958,449 | |
Republican Primary
D.E. Waggoner (unopposed) | 13,043 | 100.00 % |
Total vote | 13,043 | |
General Election
James V. Allred | Dem. | 428,734 | 96.44 % |
D.E. Waggoner | Rep. | 13,703 | 3.08 % |
George C. Edwards | Socialist | 1,862 | 0.42 % |
Enoch Hardaway | Communist | 260 | 0.06 % |
Total vote | | 444,559 | |
1932
Democratic Primary
Miriam A. Ferguson | 402,238 | 41.56 % |
Ross S. Sterling | 296,383 | 30.62 % |
Tom F. Hunter | 220,391 | 22.77 % |
M.H. Wolfe | 32,241 | 3.33 % |
George W. Armstrong | 5,312 | 0.55 % |
Roger Q. Evans | 3,974 | 0.41 % |
Frank Putnam | 2,962 | 0.31 % |
C.A. Frakes | 2,338 | 0.24 % |
J. Ed Glenn | 2,089 | 0.22 % |
Total vote | 967,928 | |
Democratic Runoff
Miriam A. Ferguson | 477,644 | 50.20 % |
Ross S. Sterling | 473,846 | 49.80 % |
Total vote | 951,490 | |
General Election
M.A. Ferguson | Dem. | 522,395 | 61.98 % |
Orville Bullington | Rep. | 317,590 | 37.68 % |
George C. Edwards | Socialist | 1,873 | 0.22 % |
George W. Armstrong | Jackson Dem. | 768 | 0.09 % |
Philip L. Howe | Communist | 138 | 0.02 % |
Otho L. Heitt | Liberty | 134 | 0.02 % |
Total vote | | 842,868 | |
1930
Democratic Primary
Miriam A. Ferguson | 242,959 | 29.15 % |
Ross S. Sterling | 170,754 | 20.49 % |
Clint C. Small | 138,934 | 16.67 % |
Thomas B. Love | 87,068 | 10.45 % |
James Young | 73,385 | 8.81 % |
Barry Miller | 54,652 | 6.56 % |
Earle B. Mayfield | 54,459 | 6.53 % |
C.C. Moody | 4,382 | 0.53 % |
Paul Loven | 2,724 | 0.33 % |
Frank Putnam | 2,365 | 0.28 % |
C.E. Walker | 1,760 | 0.21 % |
Total vote | 833,442 | |
Democratic Runoff
Ross S. Sterling | 473,371 | 55.19 % |
Miriam A. Ferguson | 384,402 | 44.81 % |
Total vote | 857,773 | |
Republican Primary
*George C. Butte | 5,001 | 51.15 % |
H.E. Exum | 2,773 | 28.36 % |
John F. Grant | 1,800 | 18.41 % |
John P. Gaines | 203 | 2.08 % |
Total vote | 9,777 | |
General Election
Ross S. Sterling | Dem. | 252,738 | 79.97 % |
*Wm.E. Talbot | Rep. | 62,224 | 19.69 % |
L.L. Rhodes | Socialist | 829 | 0.26 % |
J. Stedham | Communist | 231 | 0.07 % |
Total vote | | 316,022 | |
*Talbot was named the Republican nominee after Butte resigned. |
1928
Democratic Primary
Dan Moody | 442,080 | 59.91 % |
Louis J. Wardlaw | 245,508 | 33.27 % |
Wm.E. Hawkins | 32,076 | 4.35 % |
Edith E. Wilmans | 18,237 | 2.47 % |
Total vote | 737,901 | |
General Election
Dan Moody | Dem. | 582,968 | 82.43 % |
W.H. Holmes | Rep. | 123,337 | 17.44 % |
L.L. Rhodes | Socialist | 787 | 0.11 % |
J. Stedham | Communist | 109 | 0.02 % |
Total vote | | 707,201 | |
1926
Democratic Primary
Dan Moody | 409,732 | 49.89 % |
Miriam A Ferguson | 283,482 | 34.52 % |
Lynch Davidson | 122,449 | 15.91 % |
O.F. Zimmerman | 2,962 | 0.36 % |
Edith E. Wilmans | 1,580 | 0.19 % |
Kate M. Johnston | 1,029 | 0.13 % |
Total vote | 821,234 | |
Democratic Runoff
Dan Moody | 495,723 | 64.69 % |
Miriam A. Ferguson | 270,595 | 35.31 % |
Total vote | 766,318 | |
Republican Primary
H.H. Haines | 11,215 | 73.35 % |
E.P. Scott | 4,074 | 26.65 % |
Total vote | 15,289 | |
General Election
Dan Moody | Dem. | 233,002 | 86.75 % |
H.H. Haines | Rep. | 34,819 | 12.96 % |
M.A. Smith | Socialist | 786 | 0.29 % |
Total vote | | 268,604 | |
1924
Democratic Primary
Felix D. Robertson | 193,508 | 27.52 % |
Miriam A. Ferguson | 146,424 | 20.82 % |
Lynch Davidson | 141,208 | 20.08 % |
T.W. Davidson | 125,011 | 17.78 % |
Thomas D. Barton | 29,217 | 4.16 % |
V.A. Collins | 24,864 | 3.54 % |
Joe Burkett | 21,720 | 3.09 % |
W.E. Pope | 17,136 | 2.44 % |
George W. Dixon | 4,035 | 0.57 % |
Total vote | 703,123 | |
Democratic Runoff
Miriam A. Ferguson | 413,751 | 56.70 % |
Felix D. Robertson | 316,019 | 43.30 % |
Total vote | 729,770 | |
General Election
Miriam A. Ferguson | Dem. | 422,558 | 58.89 % |
George C. Butte | Rep. | 294,970 | 41.11 % |
Total vote | | 717,528 | |
1922
Democratic Primary
Pat M. Neff | 318,000 | 53.91 % |
Fred S. Rogers | 195,941 | 33.21 % |
Harry T. Warner | 57,671 | 9.78 % |
W.W. King | 18,368 | 3.11 % |
Total vote | 589,926 | |
General Election
Pat M. Neff | Dem. | 334,199 | 82.01 % |
W.H. Atwell | Rep. | 73,327 | 17.99 % |
| | 407,526 | |
1920
Democratic Primary
Joseph W. Bailey | 152,340 | 33.87 % |
Pat M. Neff | 149,818 | 33.31 % |
Robert E. Thomason | 99,002 | 22.01 % |
Ben F. Looney | 48,640 | 10.81 % |
Total vote | 449,800 | |
Democratic Runoff
In 1918, the primary election law had been amended, requiring a majority for nomination. The first runoff in a governor's race was in 1920. |
Pat M. Neff | 264,075 | 58.84 % |
Joseph W. Bailey | 184,702 | 41.16 % |
| 448,777 | |
General Election
Pat M. Neff | Dem. | 289,188 | 60.03 % |
J.G. Culberson | Rep. | 90,217 | 18.73 % |
T.H. McGregor | American | 69,380 | 14.40 % |
H. Capers | Black and Tan Rep. | 26,091 | 5.42 % |
L.L. Rhodes | Socialist | 6,796 | 1.41 % |
Scattering | | 59 | |
Total vote | | 481,731 | |
1918
Democratic Primary
W.P. Hobby | 461,479 | 68.02 % |
James E. Ferguson | 217,012 | 31.98 % |
Total vote | 678,491 | |
General Election
W.P. Hobby | Dem. | 148,982 | 84.00 % |
Chas.A. Boynton | Rep. | 26,713 | 15.06 % |
Wm.D. Simpson | Socialist | 1,660 | 0.94 % |
Total vote | | 177,355 | |
1916
Democratic Primary
James E. Ferguson | 240,561 | 57.02 % |
Charles H. Morris | 174,611 | 41.39 % |
H.C. Marshall | 6,731 | 1.60 % |
Total vote | 421,903 | |
General Election
James E. Ferguson | Dem. | 296,667 | 81.60 % |
R.B. Creager | Rep. | 49,118 | 13.51 % |
E.R. Meitzen | Socialist | 14,580 | 4.01 % |
H.W. Lewis | Prohibition | 3,200 | 0.88 % |
Total vote | | 363,565 | |
1914
Democratic Primary
James E. Ferguson | 237,062 | 55.31 % |
Thomas H. Ball | 191,558 | 44.69 % |
Total vote | 428,620 | |
General Election
James E. Ferguson | Dem. | 176,599 | 81.95 % |
E.R. Meitzen | Socialist | 24,977 | 11.59 % |
John W. Philp | Rep. | 11,411 | 5.30 % |
F.M. Etheridge | Progressive | 1,794 | 0.83 % |
K.E. Choate | Socialist Labor | 680 | 0.32 % |
Scattering | | 29 | |
Total vote | | 215,490 | |
1912
Democratic Primary
O.B. Colquitt | 219,808 | 55.00 % |
William F. Ramsey | 179,857 | 45.00 % |
Total vote | 399,665 | |
General Election
O.B. Colquitt | Dem. | 234,352 | 77.82 % |
Reddin Andrews | Socialist | 25,258 | 8.39 % |
C.W. Johnson | Rep. | 23,089 | 7.67 % |
Ed Lasater | Progressive | 15,794 | 5.24 % |
A.J. Houston | Prohibition | 2,355 | 0.78 % |
K.E. Choate | Socialist Labor | 308 | 0.10 % |
Total vote | | 301,157 | |
1910
Democratic Primary
O.B. Colquitt | 146,871 | 40.97 % |
William Poindexter | 80,060 | 22.33 % |
Cone Johnson | 76,268 | 21.28 % |
R.V. Davidson | 53,367 | 14.89 % |
J. Marion Jones | 1,910 | 0.53 % |
Total vote | 358,476 | |
General Election
O.B. Colquitt | Dem. | 174,596 | 79.79 % |
J.O. Terrell | Rep. | 26,191 | 11.97 % |
Reddin Andrews | Socialist | 11,538 | 5.27 % |
A.J. Houston | Prohibition | 6,052 | 2.77 % |
Carl Schmidt | Socialist Labor | 436 | 0.20 % |
Total vote | | 218,813 | |
1908
Democratic Primary
Thomas M. Campbell | 206,038 | 63.32 % |
R.R. Williams | 119,378 | 36.68 % |
Total vote | 325,416 | |
General Election
Thomas M. Campbell | Dem. | 218,956 | 75.79 % |
J.N. Simpson | Rep. | 73,305 | 24.37 % |
J.C. Rhodes | Socialist | 8,100 | 2.69 % |
W.B. Cook | Socialist Labor | 234 | 0.08 % |
E.C. Heath | Prohibition | 148 | 0.05 % |
*Charles L. Martin | Independence League | 58 | 0.02 % |
Total vote | | 300,801 | |
*Although the party was on the ballot, due to a late switch in gubernatorial candidates, Martin's name did not appear. |
1906
Democratic Primary
Thomas M. Campbell | 90,345 | 30.72 % |
M.M. Brooks | 70,064 | 23.82 % |
O.B. Colquitt | 68,529 | 23.30 % |
Charles K. Bell | 65,168 | 22.16 % |
Total vote | 294,106 | |
The first primary held in the state. |
General Election
Thomas M. Campbell | Dem. | 149,105 | 81.17 % |
C.A. Gray | Rep. | 23,771 | 12.94 % |
A.W. Acheson | Reorganized Rep. | 5,395 | 2.94 % |
G.C. Edwards | Socialist | 2,958 | 1.61 % |
J.W. Pearson | Prohibition | 2,215 | 1.21 % |
A.S. Dowler | Socialist Labor | 260 | 0.14 % |
Total vote | | 183,704 | |
1904
General Election
S.W.T. Lanham | Dem. | 206,167 | 73.57 % |
J.G. Lowden | Rep. | 56,865 | 20.29 % |
Pat B. Clark | Populist | 9,301 | 3.32 % |
W.D. Jackson | Prohibition | 4,509 | 1.61 % |
Word H. Mills | Socialist | 2,847 | 1.02 % |
Frank Leitner | Socialist Labor | 552 | 0.20 % |
Total vote | | 280,241 | |
1902
General Election
S.W.T. Lanham | Dem. | 269,076 | 74.92 % |
George W. Burkett | Rep. | 65,706 | 18.29 % |
J.M. Mallett | Populist | 12,387 | 3.45 % |
G.W. Carroll | Prohibition | 8,708 | 2.42 % |
W.W. Freeman | Socialist | * | |
G.H. Royal | Socialist Labor | * | |
Scattering | | *3,273 | |
Total vote | | 359,150 | |
*Although Freeman and Royal were on the ballot, the Legislature's official canvass reported the results as a total 'Scattering' vote. |
1900
General Election
J.D. Sayers | Dem. | 303,556 | 67.56 % |
R.E. Hanney | Rep. | 112,864 | 25.12 % |
T.J. McMinn | Populist | 26,579 | 5.52 % |
G.H. Royal | Socialist Labor | 155 | 0.03 % |
H.G. Damon | Prohibition | * | |
L.L. Rhodes | Socialist | * | |
Scattering | | *6,155 | |
Total vote | | 449,309 | |
*Although Damon and Rhodes were on the ballot, the Legislature's official canvass reported the results as a total 'Scattering' vote. |