1932 Montana gubernatorial election

The 1932 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Governor of Montana John E. Erickson, who was first elected governor in 1924 and was re-elected in 1928, ran for re-election. He won the Democratic primary with a plurality and advanced to the general election, where he faced Frank A. Hazelbaker, the Lieutenant Governor of Montana. Despite the fact that Franklin D. Roosevelt carried the state in a landslide in the presidential election that year, Erickson only narrowly defeated Hazelbaker to win re-election to his third and final term as governor, though he would later resign just a few months into his term to appoint himself to the United States Senate.

1932 Montana gubernatorial election

← 1928 November 8, 1932 1936 →
Turnout81.60%Increase0.80[1]
 
Nominee John E. Erickson Frank A. Hazelbaker
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 104,949 101,105
Percentage 48.50% 46.73%

County results
Erickson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Hazelbaker:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

John E. Erickson
Democratic

Elected Governor

John E. Erickson
Democratic

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John E. Erickson (incumbent) 34,370 45.52
Democratic Lewis Penwell 16,093 21.32
Democratic Miles Romney, Sr. 15,727 20.83
Democratic Henry B. Mitchell 9,307 12.33
Total votes 75,497 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank A. Hazelbaker 48,658 68.98
Republican W. S. McCormack 21,883 31.02
Total votes 70,541 100.00

General election

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Results

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Montana gubernatorial election, 1932[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John E. Erickson (incumbent) 104,949 48.50% −10.01%
Republican Frank A. Hazelbaker 101,105 46.73% +5.64%
Socialist Christian Yegan 6,317 2.92% +2.52%
Communist Rodney Salisbury 2,008 0.93%
Liberty William R. Duncan 2,002 0.93%
Majority 3,844 1.78% −15.66%
Turnout 216,381
Democratic hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election, Held in the State of Montana, July 19 A. D. 1932". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Official Montana General Election Returns, November 8, 1932". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved July 6, 2014.