1916 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1916 United States gubernatorial elections.

1916 Arkansas gubernatorial election

November 7, 1916

Nominee Charles Hillman Brough Wallace Townsend William Davis Party Democratic Republican Socialist Popular vote 122,041 43,963 9,730 Percentage 69.44% 25.02% 5.54%

County results Brough:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Townsend:      50–60%

Governor before election George Washington Hays Democratic Elected Governor Charles Hillman Brough Democratic

The 1916 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1916.

Incumbent Democratic Governor George Washington Hays did not seek a third term.

Democratic nominee Charles Hillman Brough defeated Republican nominee Wallace Townsend and Socialist nominee William Davis with 69.44% of the vote.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on March 29, 1916.^[1]

Candidates

Declared

• Charles Hillman Brough, former professor at the University of Arkansas^[2]
• Earle W. Hodges, incumbent Secretary of State of Arkansas
• Lewis Cass "Shotgun" Smith, judge^[3]

Withdrew

• Thomas Chipman McRae, former U.S. Representative^[4][5]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[1]^[4]^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charles Hillman Brough	48,892	42.11
	Democratic	L. C. Smith	34,918	30.08
	Democratic	Earle W. Hodges	32,292	27.81
Total votes			116,102	100.00

Contemporary sources indicate the vote was higher than stated here, with one stating the official vote was Brough 59,676, Smith 44,024, Hodges 41,456.^{[7][8][9][10]}

General election

Candidates

• Charles Hillman Brough, Democratic
• Wallace Townsend, Republican, attorney
• William Davis, Socialist

Results

1916 Arkansas gubernatorial election^[11]^[12]^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Charles Hillman Brough	122,041	69.44%	−0.03%
	Republican	Wallace Townsend	43,963	25.02%	+2.19%
	Socialist	William Davis	9,730	5.54%	−2.16%
Majority			78,078	44.42%
Turnout			175,734	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Widener Jr., Ralph W. (Summer 1975). "Charles Hillman Brough". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 34 (2). Arkansas Historical Association: 99–121. doi:10.2307/40022634. JSTOR 40022634. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
2. Dougan, Michael B. (November 2, 2019). "Charles Hillman Brough (1876–1935)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Central Arkansas Library System.
3. "DeWitt ladies denounce Brough". Daily Arkansas Gazette. Little Rock, Arkansas. May 28, 1918. p. 13. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
4. Crawford, Charles W. (Autumn 1962). "From Classroom to State Capitol: Charles H. Brough and the Campaign of 1916". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 21 (3). Arkansas Historical Association: 213–230. doi:10.2307/40018930. JSTOR 40018930. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
5. Lisenby, Foy (1996). Charles Hillman Brough: A Biography. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press. p. 30. ISBN 1-55728-411-3.
6. "Ogden young man is next Governor of Arkansas". The Ogden standard. Ogden City, Utah. April 3, 1916. p. 7. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
7. "Atty-Gen'l race still undecided". The log cabin Democrat. Conway, Ark. April 5, 1916. p. 1. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
8. "Dr. Charles Brough Democratic nominee". The Nevada County picayune. Prescott, Ark. April 6, 1916. p. 1. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
9. "Arbuckle wins by majority of 1,000". The log cabin Democrat. Conway, Ark. April 7, 1916. p. 1. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
10. "Brough nominated for Governor of Arkansas". The Monett times. Monett, Mo. April 7, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
11. "AR Governor, 1916". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
12. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 41.
13. Glashan 1979, pp. 20–21.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.