1952 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1952 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1952, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic governor, Gordon Browning was defeated in the primary by Frank G. Clement. In the general election, Clement defeated Republican nominee R. Beecher Witt with 79.4% of the vote.

1952 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1950 November 4, 1952 1954 →
 
Nominee Frank G. Clement R. Beecher Witt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 640,290 166,377
Percentage 79.37% 20.62%

County results
Clement:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Witt:      50–60%

Governor before election

Gordon Browning
Democratic

Elected Governor

Frank G. Clement
Democratic

In the primary election, Clement derided Governor Browning as "dishonest, indecent, and immoral,"[1] and criticized the state's purchase of an expensive office building in Nashville. Browning, nearly twice Clement's age, struggled to adapt to the new medium of television.[2] He lost to Clement in the primary, 302,491 votes to 245,166.[3]

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on August 7, 1952.[3]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frank G. Clement 302,491 46.74%
Democratic Gordon Browning (incumbent) 245,166 37.89%
Democratic Clifford Allen 75,269 11.63%
Democratic Clifford Pierce 24,191 3.74%
Total votes 647,117 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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  • Frank G. Clement, Democratic
  • R. Beecher Witt, Republican

Results

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1952 Tennessee gubernatorial election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Frank G. Clement 640,290 79.37%
Republican R. Beecher Witt 166,377 20.62%
104 0.01%
Majority 473,913
Turnout 806,771
Democratic hold Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350.
  2. ^ Fred Rolater, "Gordon Weaver Browning," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: 12 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  4. ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved June 24, 2019.