1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election
November 5, 1974
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County results Blanton: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Alexander: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Tennessee |
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| Government |
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.
Background
Republican candidate Lamar Alexander worked as a legislative assistant for Senator Howard Baker. While a staffer, he was briefly roommates with future U.S. Senator Trent Lott. In 1969, he worked for Bryce Harlow, President Richard Nixon's executive assistant.[1] In 1970, he moved back to Tennessee, serving as campaign manager for Memphis dentist Winfield Dunn's successful gubernatorial bid.[2]
Alexander faced the Democratic nominee, Ray Blanton, a former congressman and unsuccessful 1972 Senate candidate. Blanton attacked Alexander for his service under Richard Nixon, who had resigned in disgrace several months earlier as a result of the Watergate scandal.[3]
Aftermath
Following Ray Blanton's inauguration, Blanton called for a state income tax, but the state legislature, fearing a revolt from voters, refused to consider it, and instead raised the state sales tax.[4] Blanton overhauled the state's excise and franchise tax laws, and revised the state's Hall income tax to provide relief for the state's elderly residents.[4] He also elevated the state's Office of Tourism to a cabinet-level department, making Tennessee the first state in the nation to do so,[5] and upgraded the state's retirement system.[5]
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on August 1, 1974.[6]
Democratic primary
21.9% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.[7]
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
| 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.[7]
Candidates
- Lamar Alexander, attorney
- Nat T. Winston Jr., former Commissioner of Mental Health for Tennessee
- Dortch Oldham, businessman
- Melvin Waldron
Results
| 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
| 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
- ^ "Lamar Alexander (1991–1993): Secretary of Education". Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2013.,
- ^ Finding Aid for Governor Lamar Alexander Papers Archived June 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, 1991. Retrieved: January 3, 2013.
- ^ Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 370–381, 370–393.
- ^ a b Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 375–387.
- ^ a b Fred Rolater, "Leonard Ray Blanton", Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: December 31, 2012.
- ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections – CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ a b Steed, Moreland & Baker 1980, p. 22.
- ^ 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.