The 1948 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1948. Former Democratic governor Gordon Browning once again sought the party's nomination for governor. In the hardly fought primary, Browning comfortably defeated Governor Jim Nance McCord.Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350. In the general election, Browning easily defeated Republican nominee Roy Acuff, a famous country musician, with 66.9% of the vote.
Before this election, Gordon Browning was last elected governor of Tennessee in 1936. He lost his re-election primary in 1938, and he failed the first time to defeat Governor McCord in 1946.
Background and context Realizing it would take a considerable effort to defeat the powerful Memphis political organization led by E. H. Crump, which had dominated Tennessee Democratic politics for decades and with whom he had previously fallen out, Gordon Browning teamed up with Congressman Estes Kefauver, who was challenging Crump's candidate, Tom Stewart, for one of the state's U.S. Senate seats. Crump ran attack ads against Browning and Kefauver, criticizing the former for issuing too many pardons as governor, and accusing the latter of being a communist sympathizer. Browning compared Crump to Adolf Hitler, and told stories about Crump sneaking through Memphis cemeteries at night to find names of dead people to add to voter lists.Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350. He also attacked Governor Jim Nance McCord for implementing a 2% state sales tax (which Crump had reluctantly supported).Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350.
As the campaign heated up, Crump's hold on state politics appeared to be weakening. Congressman Al Gore, Sr. returned from Washington to canvass for Browning.Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350. Various voting blocks began turning against Crump, among them black voters in Memphis, who had grown tired of his control of the city's political system. Returning veterans sympathized with Browning's military experience, while labor groups were angry with McCord for enacting a right-to-work law.Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350. On election day, Browning defeated McCord for the nomination, and Kefauver defeated Stewart. It was the first defeat for a Crump-backed candidate in a major election in over two decades.Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350.
In the general election, Browning faced country music singer Roy Acuff. Republicans had added Acuff's name to their primary ballot as a publicity stunt to draw attention to the party, and he unexpectedly won the nomination. Though Acuff ran a serious campaign, Browning nevertheless won easily.Our Campaigns - TN Governor, 1948. Retrieved: 13 December 2012.
During his second tenure as governor, Browning enacted several measures aimed at further weakening Crump and other political bosses, including laws requiring permanent voter registration, open election commission meetings, and metal ballot boxes in places where voting machines were not used.Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350. Browning signed legislation that partially eliminated the state's poll tax, which political bosses had used for decades to control votes.Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 325-329, 340-350.
Primary elections Primary elections were held on August 4, 1948.
Democratic primary
Candidates Gordon Browning, former governor Jim Nance McCord, incumbent governor James N. Hardin Jay Hanson
Results
General election
Candidates Gordon Browning, Democratic Roy Acuff, Republican
Results
See also 1948 United States presidential election in Tennessee 1948 United States Senate election in Tennessee
References