The 1946 New York gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946, to elect the Governor of New York. Incumbent Republican governor Thomas E. Dewey was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating U.S. Senator James M. Mead.

Republican nomination Candidates Thomas E. Dewey, incumbent governor since 1943

Results Dewey was nominated for re-election to a second term at the state convention met on September 4 at Saratoga Springs.ALBANY 'TEAM' KEPT in NYT on September 5, 1946 (subscription required)

American Labor, Liberal, and Democratic nominations Candidates James M. Mead, incumbent U.S. senator since 1938 and candidate for governor in 1942

Campaign U.S. Senator James M. Mead, who had contested lost the Democratic nomination in 1942 to John J. Bennett Jr. at the state convention, was an early favorite for 1946. By December 1945, he had secured the support of most upstate county chairs, who had formed the base of Bennett's support in 1942. Nevertheless, party chairman Paul E. Fitzgerald and James Farley opposed his campaign again. Farley reiterated his opposition in April, accusing Mead of "plain, unadulterated deceit" and lacking "the stability and forthrightness to be Governor." He declared Mead was "afraid of the job and his fear was warranted" and that Mead would be easily defeated by Dewey or, if elected a "terrible Governor."

Results The Liberal Party filed a ticket of candidates by petition on September 2. Mead, as the presumptive Democratic nominee, was nominated for governor.LIBERALS TO FILE PETITIONS TODAY in NYT on September 2, 1946 (subscription required)

At the American Labor state convention was held at the Hotel New Yorker on September 3. The party endorsed Mead and a slate of placeholder candidates intended to be replaced with the Democratic ticket. Although the intraparty union nearly broke down after the convention learned that the Democrats intended to endorse a Liberal for judge in Brooklyn, the strife did not implicate Mead, who was nominated outright.DEMOCRATIC DEAL IRKS LABOR PARTY in NYT on September 4, 1946 (subscription required)

At the Democratic state convention on September 4 in Albany, the party nominated Mead for governor unanimously. Mead was put into nomination by Robert F. Wagner Jr., who read a speech from his father and Mead's colleague, Robert F. Wagner. In his acceptance speech, Mead pledged a return to the policies of Al Smith, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Herbert H. Lehman and rejected support from "any fascist, any communist, and any member or friend of the Ku Klux Klan".DEWEY IS ASSAILED; ...MEAD SPURNS ANY RED AID in NYT on September 5, 1946 (subscription required)

General election Candidates Thomas E. Dewey, incumbent Governor since 1943 (Republican) James M. Mead, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1938 (Democratic, American Labor and Liberal)

The Industrial Government, Socialist and Socialist Workers tickets were not allowed on the ballot because of "defective nominating petitions." The Court of Appeals upheld the decisions of the lower courts.MINOR PARTIES RULED OFF BALLOT IN STATE in NYT on October 26, 1946 (subscription required)

Results

References