United States gubernatorial elections were held in 1946, in 34 states, concurrent with the House and Senate elections, on November 5, 1946. Elections took place on September 9 in Maine.
In Idaho, the governor was elected to a 4-year term for the first time, instead of a 2-year term. In New Jersey, this was the last election on a 3-year cycle, before switching to a 4-year term for governors from 1949.
Race summary
StateGovernorPartyFirstelectedStatusCandidates Alabama 1942 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Arizona 1940Incumbent re-elected. Arkansas 1944Incumbent re-elected. California Warren also won the Democratic nomination by cross-filing 1942Incumbent re-elected. Colorado 1942 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. Connecticut 1942Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Georgia 1942 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Idaho 1945 Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Iowa1944Incumbent re-elected. Kansas 1942Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Maine 1944Incumbent re-elected. Maryland 1938Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Massachusetts 1944Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Michigan 1942 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Minnesota 1943Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Nebraska 1940Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Nevada 1945Incumbent re-elected. New Hampshire 1944Incumbent re-elected. New Jersey19161943Incumbent retired.Republican hold. New Mexico 1942Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. New York 1942Incumbent re-elected. North Dakota 1944Incumbent re-elected. Ohio 1944Incumbent lost re-election.Republican gain. Oklahoma 1942 Incumbent term-limited.Democratic hold. Oregon 1942Incumbent re-elected. Pennsylvania 1942 Incumbent term-limited.Republican hold. Rhode Island 1945Incumbent elected to full term. South Carolina 1945 Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic hold. South Dakota 1942Incumbent lost renomination.Republican hold. Tennessee 1944Incumbent re-elected. Texas 1941Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. Vermont 1944Incumbent lost renomination.Republican hold. Wisconsin 1943Incumbent re-elected. Wyoming 1942Incumbent re-elected.
Closest races States where the margin of victory was under 5%: Ohio, 1.76% Colorado, 4.22%
States where the margin of victory was under 10%: New Mexico, 5.64% Wyoming, 5.76% Oklahoma, 6.48% Rhode Island, 8.54% Massachusetts, 8.82% Maryland, 9.46% Kansas, 9.48%
Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats.
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