The 1918 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1918, to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Oregon. The election matched incumbent Republican James Withycombe against Democratic State Senator Walter M. Pierce.

Withycombe's reelection campaign capitalized on his wartime acts, portraying him as a wartime Governor actively protecting the state and aiding the defense of the United States. Withycombe died in office in March 1919, just two months into his second term. As prescribed by Oregon law, Oregon Secretary of State Ben Olcott succeeded Withycombe in office.

Primary election Oregon held primary elections on May 17, 1918.

Republican party Incumbent governor James Withycombe was renominated with a plurality of the vote.

Candidates J. E. Anderson, member of Oregon House of Representatives and Prohibition activist F. C. Harley, mayor of Astoria Gus C. Moser, member of Oregon State Senate Ben W. Olcott, Secretary of State of Oregon L. J. Simpson, businessman and founder of North Bend James Withycombe, incumbent governor

Results

Democratic party State senator Walter M. Pierce defeated educator Harvey G. Starkweather for the Democratic nomination.

Candidates Walter M. Pierce, member of Oregon State Senate Harvey G. Starkweather, former superintendent of schools in Clackmas County and La Grande

Results

General election Candidates James Withycombe, Republican Walter M. Pierce, Democratic B. F. Ramp, Socialist

Results

Results by county County James WithycombeRepublican Walter M. PierceDemocratic B. F. RampSocialist Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # %Baker2,14754.20%1,69442.77%1203.03%45311.44%3,961Benton1,91761.80%1,13536.59%501.61%78225.21%3,102Clackamas3,67448.12%3,31243.38%6498.50%3624.74%7,635Clatsop2,12563.15%99329.51%2477.34%1,13233.64%3,365Columbia1,20153.54%93341.60%1094.86%26811.95%2,243Coos2,29354.82%1,60438.35%2866.84%68916.47%4,183Crook54850.28%51747.43%252.29%312.84%1,090Curry46161.63%22429.95%638.42%23731.68%748Deschutes70943.87%83851.86%694.27%-129-7.98%1,616Douglas2,41456.10%1,73240.25%1573.65%68215.85%4,303Gilliam56362.49%32335.85%151.66%24026.64%901Grant76560.67%44535.29%514.04%32025.38%1,261Harney34239.77%48756.63%313.60%-145-16.86%860Hood River87060.37%52436.36%473.26%34624.01%1,441Jackson2,55449.77%2,41647.08%1623.16%1382.69%5,132Jefferson41951.10%38046.34%212.56%394.76%820Josephine1,13360.17%68036.11%703.72%45324.06%1,883Klamath1,16560.65%64933.78%1075.57%51626.86%1,921Lake49956.26%36140.70%273.04%13815.56%887Lane4,66661.46%2,67335.21%2533.33%1,99326.25%7,592Lincoln75753.57%58841.61%684.81%16911.96%1,413Linn3,12048.11%3,17949.02%1862.87%-59-0.91%6,485Malheur1,20260.77%71035.89%663.34%49224.87%1,978Marion4,34748.00%4,37648.32%3343.69%-29-0.32%9,057Morrow73465.42%34130.39%474.19%39335.03%1,122Multnomah24,35049.72%22,43145.80%2,1964.48%1,9193.92%48,977Polk1,99051.86%1,75745.79%902.35%2336.07%3,837Sherman74367.06%35431.95%110.99%38935.11%1,108Tillamook1,09061.30%59833.63%905.06%49227.67%1,778Umatilla2,86855.68%2,12841.31%1553.01%74014.37%5,151Union1,48246.49%1,62150.85%852.67%-139-4.36%3,188Wallowa77751.02%69745.76%493.22%805.25%1,523Wasco1,33060.26%80136.29%763.44%52923.97%2,207Washington2,83157.31%1,79636.36%3136.34%1,03520.95%4,940Wheeler39568.22%17730.57%71.21%21837.65%579Yamhill2,58655.02%1,96641.83%1483.15%62013.19%4,700Total81,06752.99%65,44042.77%6,4804.24%15,62710.21%152,987

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Crook Curry Jackson

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Harney Marion Union

References