1940 Delaware gubernatorial election
The 1940 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Democratic Governor Richard McMullen originally ran for re-election to a second term, and was renominated by the Democratic Party. However, less than a month before the election, McMullen suffered a heart attack and he dropped out of the race. The state party named Secretary of State Josiah Marvel Jr., as McMullen's replacement on the ballot.[1] On the Republican side, Wilmington Mayor Walter W. Bacon was nominated by the Republican Party for Governor.[2]
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 County results Bacon: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Ultimately, even as President Franklin D. Roosevelt was handily winning Delaware en route to re-election nationwide, and as Democratic Senator James M. Tunnell was narrowly winning re-election, Bacon defeated Marvel by a decisive margin to regain the governorship for the Republican Party. Bacon received 52% of the vote to Marvel's 45%.
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Walter W. Bacon | 70,629 | 52.39% | +9.82% | |
| Democratic | Josiah Marvel Jr. | 61,237 | 45.42% | -4.94% | |
| Liberal Democratic | Ivan Culbertson | 2,958 | 2.19% | — | |
| Majority | 9,392 | 6.97% | -0.82% | ||
| Turnout | 134,824 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
References
- Wilson, W. Emerson (October 19, 1940). "Governor Quits Race; Marvel to Run: M'Mullen's Illness Forces Withdrawal from Party Ticket". Morning News. Wilmington, Del. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- "G. O. P. Keynote Hits Democrats in Delaware As 'Do Nothing' Party". Morning News. Wilmington, Del. August 21, 1940. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- "Voting Statistics: Elections of 1940 -- 1952, incl" (PDF). Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved June 19, 2021.