1952 Texas gubernatorial election

The 1952 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1952.

1952 Texas Democratic gubernatorial primary

July 26, 1952

Nominee Allan Shivers Ralph Yarborough Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 833,861 488,345 Percentage 61.48% 36.00%

Governor before election Allan Shivers Democratic Elected Governor Allan Shivers Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Governor Allan Shivers was overwhelmingly reelected in the general election after defeating future Senator Ralph Yarborough in the Democratic primary. The Republican Party endorsed the Democratic state ticket, including Shivers, in order to attract more votes for their presidential nominee, General Dwight Eisenhower.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on July 26, 1952.[1]

Candidates

• Allan Shivers, incumbent Governor
• Allene M. Traylor, housewife[2][3]
• Ralph W. Yarborough, attorney[2][3]

Results

Democratic primary results[4][5][1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Allan Shivers	833,861	61.48
	Democratic	Ralph Yarborough	488,345	36.00
	Democratic	Allene M. Traylor	34,186	2.52
Total votes			1,356,392	100.00

General election

Candidates

Shivers endorsed the Republican nominee for President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, in the concurrent presidential election.[6] In an attempt to maximise support for Eisenhower, the state Republican Party nominated the Democratic state ticket, allowing voters to cast a straight G.O.P. ballot without voting against down-ballot Democratic candidates.[7][8]

Results

1952 Texas gubernatorial election[9][10][11][12][13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Allan Shivers	1,375,547	73.12%
	Republican	Allan Shivers	468,319	24.89%
	No party	Allan Shivers	664	0.04%
	Total	Allan Shivers	1,844,530	98.05%
		Write-ins	36,672	1.95%
Majority			1,807,858	96.10%
Turnout			1,881,202	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Texas Almanac & 1954-1955, p. 447.
2. "Shivers and Daniel win Texas Primary; Dies faces runoff". Evening star. Washington, D.C. 28 July 1952. p. A-4. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
3. "Two Veterans and Housewife seek Governor's Office". Corsicana Daily Sun. Corsicana, Texas. 21 July 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
4. "TX Governor, 1952 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
5. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 146.
6. Fowler, Glenn (15 January 1985). "Allan Shivers of Texas dead; was Governor in the 1950's". New York Times. New York, NY. p. 6. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
7. Keith Temple, artist (29 August 1952). "Trying to bring in a Texas gusher". New Orleans Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
8. "90 Governorship Races Attract 73 Candidates". Evening star. Washington, D.C. 2 November 1952. p. A-5. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
9. "TX Governor, 1952". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
10. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 82.
11. Texas Almanac & 1954-1955, p. 463.
12. Journal of the House of Representatives of the Regular Session of the Fifty-Third Legislature of the State of Texas (PDF). Austin, Texas. 1953. p. 52.
13. "House Bill asks quick state crackdown on drug sales". The Corpus Christi Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. 20 January 1953. p. 22. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Texas Almanac, 1954-1955. Dallas, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation. 1953.