1938 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
November 8, 1938
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County results James: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Jones: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Pennsylvania |
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| Government |
The 1938 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Democratic governor George Howard Earle III was not a candidate for re-election. Republican candidate Arthur James defeated Democratic candidate Charles Alvin Jones to become Governor of Pennsylvania. Gifford Pinchot unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination, while Thomas Kennedy unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Charles Alvin Jones, lawyer from Perry County
- Thomas Kennedy, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
- Charles J. Margiotti, incumbent Attorney General of Pennsylvania
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles Alvin Jones | 591,546 | 46.15 | |
| Democratic | Thomas Kennedy | 517,101 | 40.35 | |
| Democratic | Charles J. Margiotti | 173,047 | 13.50 | |
| Total votes | 1,281,694 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Arthur James, former Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania (1927–1931)
- James M. Jones, clerk of courts of Cambria County[2]
- Gifford Pinchot, former head of the United States Forest Service and Governor of Pennsylvania (1923–1927, 1931–1935)
- Frank P. B. Thompson, perennial candidate[3]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Arthur James | 937,592 | 65.61 | |
| Republican | Gifford Pinchot | 450,595 | 31.53 | |
| Republican | James M. Jones | 29,269 | 2.05 | |
| Republican | Frank P. B. Thompson | 11,591 | 0.81 | |
| Total votes | 1,429,047 | 100.00 | ||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Arthur James | 2,035,340 | 53.39 | |
| Democratic | Charles Alvin Jones | 1,756,192 | 46.07 | |
| Socialist | Jesse H. Holmes | 12,635 | 0.33 | |
| Prohibition | Robert G. Burnham | 6,438 | 0.17 | |
| Communist | Ella Reeve Bloor Omholt | 1,273 | 0.03 | |
| N/A | Others | 89 | 0.00 | |
| Totals | 3,811,967 | 100.00% | ||
References
- ^ a b The Pennsylvania Manual. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Bureau of Publications. 1938. p. 146.
- ^ "James Jones Seeks Candidacy Backing". The Pittsburgh Press. January 16, 1938. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
- ^ ""Free-For-All" Battle Is Expected In GOP Primary". The Daily Times. March 29, 1938. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election Returns 1938". Wilkes University. Retrieved December 20, 2012.