1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1974 United States gubernatorial elections.

1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election

November 5, 1974

Nominee Ray Blanton Lamar Alexander Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 576,833 455,467 Percentage 55.43% 43.77%

County results Blanton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Alexander:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Winfield Dunn Republican Elected Governor Ray Blanton Democratic

The 1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican governor Winfield Dunn was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Tennessee prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms at the time. Democratic nominee Ray Blanton defeated Republican opponent Lamar Alexander with 55.4% of the vote.

With this win, Blanton flipped the state back into Democratic control, with the state legislature also being controlled by Democrats.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 1, 1974.^[1]

Democratic primary

21.9% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.^[2]

Candidates

• Ray Blanton, former U.S. Representative, candidate in the 1972 U.S. Senate election.
• Jake Butcher, businessman
• Thomas A. Wiseman Jr., former Tennessee State Treasurer
• Hudley Crockett, news anchor
• Franklin Haney, businessman
• Stan Snodgrass
• Ross Bass, former United States senator
• Washington Butler
• David Pack
• James Powers
• Jonnie D. Elkins
• Charles Gordon Vick, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ray Blanton	148,062	22.73
	Democratic	Jake Butcher	131,412	20.18
	Democratic	Thomas A. Wiseman Jr.	89,061	13.67
	Democratic	Hudley Crockett	86,852	13.34
	Democratic	Franklin Haney	84,155	12.92
	Democratic	Stan Snodgrass	40,211	6.17
	Democratic	Ross Bass	26,091	4.01
	Democratic	Washington Butler	15,562	2.39
	Democratic	David Pack	13,625	2.09
	Democratic	James Powers	13,464	2.07
	Democratic	Jonnie D. Elkins	1,694	0.26
	Democratic	Charles Gordon Vick	1,121	0.17
Total votes			651,320	100.00

Republican primary

8.6% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.^[2]

Candidates

• Lamar Alexander, attorney
• Nat T. Winston Jr., former Commissioner of Mental Health for Tennessee
• Dortch Oldham, businessman
• Melvin Waldron

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lamar Alexander	120,773	48.48
	Republican	Nat T. Winston Jr.	90,980	36.52
	Republican	Dortch Oldham	35,683	14.32
	Republican	Melvin Waldron	1,674	0.67
Total votes			249,112	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Ray Blanton, Democratic
• Lamar Alexander, Republican

Other candidates

• Jack Comer, Independent
• Alfred W. Taylor, Independent
• James Reesor, Independent
• Hubert David Patty, Independent
• Arnold Joseph Zandi, Independent

Results

1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ray Blanton	576,833	55.43%
	Republican	Lamar Alexander	455,467	43.77%
	Independent	Jack Comer	2,431	0.23%
	Independent	Alfred W. Taylor	2,338	0.23%
	Independent	James Reesor	1,986	0.19%
	Independent	Hubert David Patty	845	0.08%
	Independent	Arnold Joseph Zandi	784	0.08%
	Write-in		30	0.00%
Majority			121,366
Turnout			1,040,714
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
2. Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 22.
3. Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. CQ Press. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

Works cited

• Steed, Robert; Moreland, Laurence; Baker, Tod, eds. (1980). Party Politics in the South. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0030565863.