1938 Michigan gubernatorial election

1938 Michigan gubernatorial election

November 8, 1938

Nominee Frank Fitzgerald Frank Murphy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 847,245 753,752 Percentage 52.78% 46.96%

County results Fitzgerald:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Murphy:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Frank Murphy Democratic Elected Governor Frank Fitzgerald Republican

The 1938 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938. Republican nominee Frank Fitzgerald defeated incumbent Democratic Frank Murphy with 52.78% of the vote.

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Frank Fitzgerald, Republican
• Frank Murphy, Democratic

Other candidates

• Nahum Burnett, Socialist
• Clayton O'Donohue, Socialist Labor
• Juliet K. Hammond, American
• Vahan K. Beshgetoor, Commonwealth
• Howard L. Holmes, Square Deal
• Bowen R. Gover, Protestants United

Results

Michigan gubernatorial election, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Fitzgerald	847,245	52.78
	Democratic	Frank Murphy (incumbent)	753,752	46.96
	Socialist	Nahum Burnett	2,896	0.18
	Socialist Labor	Clayton O'Donohue	446	0.03
	American	Juliet K. Hammond	257	0.02
	Commonwealth	Vahan K. Beshgetoor	242	0.02
	Square Deal	Howard L. Holmes	205	0.01
	Protestants United	Bowen R. Gover	177	0.01
	Write-ins		21	0.00
Total votes			1,602,088	100
	Republican gain from Democratic

Primaries

The primary elections occurred on September 13, 1938.

Republican primary

Michigan gubernatorial Republican primary, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Fitzgerald	420,188	65.45
	Republican	Harry S. Toy	207,543	32.33
	Republican	Roscoe Conkling Fitch	14,253	2.22
	Republican	Write-ins	24	0.00
Total votes			642,008	100.00

Democratic primary

Michigan gubernatorial Democratic primary, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Murphy (incumbent)	336,199	99.96
	Democratic	Write-ins	151	0.04
Total votes			336,350	100.00