1940 Colorado gubernatorial election

The 1940 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican Ralph Lawrence Carr defeated Democratic nominee George E. Saunders with 54.37% of the vote.

1940 Colorado gubernatorial election

November 5, 1940

Nominee Ralph Lawrence Carr George E. Saunders Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 296,671 245,292 Percentage 54.37% 44.96%

Governor before election Ralph Lawrence Carr Republican Elected Governor Ralph Lawrence Carr Republican

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1940.[1]

Candidates

• George E. Saunders, Secretary of State of Colorado
• John A. Carroll, District Attorney of Denver
• George J. Knapp

Results

Democratic primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	George E. Saunders	75,130
	Democratic	John A. Carroll	50,787
	Democratic	George J. Knapp	5,967
Total votes

Candidates

• Ralph Lawrence Carr, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ralph Lawrence Carr	95,521	100.00
Total votes			95,521	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Ralph Lawrence Carr, Republican
• George E. Saunders, Democratic

Other candidates

• Carle Whitehead, Socialist
• Laurence W. Coffman, Prohibition

Results

1940 Colorado gubernatorial election[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Ralph Lawrence Carr	296,671	54.37%
	Democratic	George E. Saunders	245,292	44.96%
	Socialist	Carle Whitehead	2,211	0.41%
	Prohibition	Laurence W. Coffman	1,462	0.27%
Majority
Turnout
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast 1940" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. 1940. Retrieved March 6, 2020.