1947 Mississippi gubernatorial election

The 1947 Mississippi gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1947, in order to elect the Governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Democrat Fielding L. Wright, who had succeeded to the governorship a year prior following the death of Thomas L. Bailey, ran for election to a first full term.

1947 Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial primary

November 4, 1947

Candidate Fielding L. Wright Paul B. Johnson Jr. Jesse M. Byrd Party Democratic Democratic Democratic Popular vote 182,771 112,123 37,997 Percentage 51.71% 30.70% 10.40%

Democratic primary results by county General election results by county Wright:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      100% Johnson:      40–50%      50–60% Byrd:      40–50%

Governor before election Fielding L. Wright Democratic Elected Governor Fielding L. Wright Democratic

Elections in Mississippi
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As was common at the time, the Democratic candidate won in a landslide so therefore the Democratic primary was the real contest, and winning the primary was considered tantamount to election. In fact, this was the first election since 1881 in which the Republican Party even fielded a nominal candidate, former Governor of Nebraska George L. Sheldon, and the first since 1919 in which any opposition party did.