1938 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
← 1936 November 8, 1938 (1938-11-08) 1940 →
Turnout41.55% (total pop.)
 
Nominee Leverett Saltonstall James Michael Curley
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 941,465 793,884
Percentage 53.32% 46.08%
County results
Saltonstall:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Curley:      50–60%
Governor before election

Charles F. Hurley
Democratic

Elected Governor

Leverett Saltonstall
Republican

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The 1938 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938.

Former governor James Michael Curley defeated incumbent governor Charles F. Hurley in the Democratic primary, but Curley was defeated by former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Leverett Saltonstall in the general election.

Saltonstall's victory returned control of Beacon Hill to the Republicans after an unprecedented eight years of Democratic Governors.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Results

1938 Democratic gubernatorial primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Michael Curley 210,286 41.13%
Democratic Charles F. Hurley (incumbent) 168,161 32.89%
Democratic Francis E. Kelly 101,978 19.95%
Democratic Richard M. Russell 30,485 5.96%
Write-in All others 383 0.07%
Total votes 511,293 100.00%
None Blank votes 13,882 —
Turnout 525,175 100.00%

Lt. Governor

Candidates

Results

1938 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James Henry Brennan 139,653 30.50%
Democratic Joseph C. White 132,716 28.98%
Democratic Edward T. Collins 76,008 16.60%
Democratic Alexander F. Sullivan 66,007 14.42%
Democratic William P. Yoerg 34,221 7.47%
Write-in All others 241 0.05%
Total votes 457,898 100.00%
None Blank votes 67,277 —
Turnout 525,175 100.00%

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Results

1938 Republican gubernatorial primary[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leverett Saltonstall 323,003 72.73%
Republican William McMasters 48,133 10.84%
Republican Richard Whitcomb 45,139 10.16%
Republican Frederick Butler 27,739 6.25%
Write-in All others 122 0.03%
Total votes 444,136 100.00%
None Blank votes 24,993 —
Turnout 469,129 100.00%

Following his loss in the Republican primary, McMasters declared his campaign as an independent on the Townsend Recovery Act line.

Lt. Governor

Candidates

Results

1938 Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Horace T. Cahill 112,140 26.78%
Republican Kenneth D. Johnson 93,538 22.33%
Republican Charles P. Howard 84,477 20.17%
Republican Dewey G. Archambault 52,358 12.50%
Republican Robert Gardiner Wilson 38,920 9.29%
Republican J. Watson Flett 37,329 8.91%
Write-in All others 50 0.01%
Total votes 418,812 100.00%
None Blank votes 50,317 —
Turnout 469,129 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1938 Massachusetts gubernatorial election[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Leverett Saltonstall 941,465 53.32% Increase7.24
Democratic James Michael Curley 793,884 47.62% Decrease2.66
Townsend William McMasters 7,206 0.41% N/A
Socialist Jeffrey W. Campbell 5,691 0.32% Decrease0.20
Socialist Labor Henning A. Blomen 3,927 0.22% Increase0.01
Communist Otis Archer Hood 3,488 0.20% Decrease0.08
Independent Roland S. Bruneau 3,400 0.19% N/A
Independent Tax Reform William A. Davenport 3,118 0.18% N/A
Prohibition Alfred H. Evans 2,046 0.12% Decrease0.07
Sound, Sensible Government Charles L. Manser 1,533 0.09% N/A
Write-in All others 111 0.01% Increase0.01
Total votes 1,765,869 100.00%
None Blank votes 29,820 —
Turnout 1,795,689 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ Election Statistics 1939, p. 143.
  2. ^ "Brennan Plans to Seek Office". The North Adams Transcript. April 26, 1938. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Election Statistics 1939, p. 149.
  4. ^ "Believes He Can Make an Impression". North Adams Transcript. August 11, 1938. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  5. ^ "Familiar with Traditions of Bay State". The Acton-Concord Enterprise. August 10, 1938. Retrieved September 29, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Election Statistics 1939, p. 41.
  7. ^ "Belmont". The Boston Globe. October 17, 1938. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  8. ^ Election Statistics 1939, p. 47.
  9. ^ "MA Governor, 1938". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  10. ^ Election Statistics 1939, p. 282.

Bibliography

Frederic W. Cook, Secretary of the Commonwealth (1939). Election Statistics, 1937–39. Boston, MA.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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