1949 New Jersey gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1949 New Jersey gubernatorial election New Jersey 1896 Presidential no 1946 New Jersey gubernatorial election 1946 1953 New Jersey gubernatorial election 1953 November 8, 1949 76%https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/other/2022-1925-general-election-data.pdf General Election Data - 1924 to 2022 NJ.gov ( 9%) Alfred E. Driscoll (cropped).jpg 150x150px Alfred E. Driscoll Republican Party (United States) 885,882 51.54% File:Elmer Wene 3-11-37 LCCN2016871410 (cropped).jpg Elmer H. Wene Democratic Party (United States) 810,022 47.13% 1949 New Jersey gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 280px County resultsDriscoll: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Wene: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Governor Alfred E. Driscoll Republican Party (United States) Alfred E. Driscoll Republican Party (United States) The 1949 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1949. Primary elections were held on April 19, 1949.1949 Candidates for the Office of Governor - State of New Jersey https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/1920-1970//1949-primary-election.pdf August 28, 2015 Secretary of State of New Jersey Incumbent Republican Alfred E. Driscoll defeated Democratic former U.S. Representative Elmer H. Wene with 51.54% of the vote. Under the 1947 New Jersey Constitution, Driscoll was the first Governor in state history eligible to succeed himself in a second consecutive term in a popular election. For the first time, the governor was elected to a four-year term, as opposed to three years. This is the most recent time the Republican Party won more than two consecutive gubernatorial elections in New Jersey. Background Alfred E. Driscoll was elected Governor of New Jersey in a landslide in 1946 and quickly embarked on a transformative agenda of constitutional reform and political liberalization. His efforts culminated in the 1947 New Jersey constitution, which greatly consolidated state government and increased the power of the office of Governor, and the 1948 Republican Party primaries, in which Driscoll was put forward for the presidential nomination as the favorite son of the New Jersey delegation and successfully maneuvered to have his longtime ally, Robert C. Hendrickson, nominated for United States Senator. Hendrickson supplanted Republican incumbent Albert W. Hawkes, who was viewed as too conservative and unelectable by Driscoll and other party leaders; the move to force out Hawkes and hand-pick a loyal successor alienated some conservative leaders, including Burlington County chair Clifford Ross Powell. As part of the 1947 constitutional reforms, this was the first popular election in which an incumbent governor was eligible for a second consecutive term. Republican primary Candidates Robert L. Adams, Somerset County freeholder20 Apr 1949 DRISCOLL IS VICTOR IN JERSEY PRIMARY https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1949/04/20/84559027.html?pageNumber=16 3 Dec 2021 The New York Times 16 Alfred E. Driscoll, incumbent Governor of New Jersey Campaign Neither candidate led an aggressive campaign for the nomination. Driscoll reported no expenditures but accepted a few speaking engagements at key county party organization meetings in Monmouth, Essex, Union, and his native Camden County. He campaigned largely on his administration's liberal record and his support for universal health insurance, public housing, and civil rights. Adams largely failed to raise his profile outside of Somerset and relied primarily on opposition to Driscoll within the party, as well as farmers disaffected by the Governor's suspension of retail milk price controls in January 1942. He accused Governor Driscoll of attempting to "out-deal the New Deal." His campaign spent $1,433 and his personal appearances were confined to rural north-central parts of the state. Results 250x250px|center|thumb|Results by county Republican primary results Alfred E. Driscoll (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 207,144 69.51 Robert L. Adams Republican Party (United States) 90,885 30.50 298,029 100.00 Adams's strength was primarily in rural areas, with an unexpectedly strong showing in Union County. Democratic primary Candidates Elmer H. Wene, state senator for Cumberland County, former U.S. representative, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1944 Campaign Wene was recruited to run by Jersey City political boss Frank Hague as early as January 1, 1948, when a spokesman for Hague referred to Wene as the "logical candidate" for governor.1948-01-02 Hague Backs Wene https://www.nytimes.com/1948/01/02/archives/hague-backs-wene.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Though Hague had retired as mayor in 1947 in favor of his nephew, Frank H. Eggers, he remained in control of the Hudson County and state party machines and remained in office as a member of the Democratic National Committee.1949-06-18 JERSEY DEMOCRATS MOVE AGAINST WENE https://www.nytimes.com/1949/06/18/archives/jersey-democrats-move-against-wene.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Wene officially filed his petitions one day ahead of the March 10 deadline, appearing personally with his campaign manager, former governor A. Harry Moore. He claimed 60,879 signatures, with about 5,000 coming from Hudson County.1949-03-10 WENE FILES PETITIONS FOR JERSEY GOVERNOR https://www.nytimes.com/1949/03/10/archives/wene-files-petitions-for-jersey-governor.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Results Democratic Party primary results Elmer H. Wene Democratic Party (United States) 152,054 100.00 152,054 100.00 General election Candidates John C. Butterworth (Socialist Labor) Alfred E. Driscoll, incumbent governor since 1947 (Republican) James Imbrie (Progressive) Edson R. Leach (Prohibition) Elmer H. Wene, state senator for Cumberland County, former U.S. representative, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1944 (Democratic) Campaign Despite securing the Democratic nomination in the April primary, Wene faced continued opposition from within his party over his refusal to repudiate Hague as party leader. In May, after Hague's nephew lost the Jersey City mayoral election to John V. Kenny, Democratic opposition grew against Wene's candidacy as a symbol of Hague's power, led by Stephen J. Moran, a Newark city commissioner and executive director of the CIO-PAC. Hague initially stepped down as head of the Wene campaign in favor of A. Harry Moore, a close ally, and Wene and Moore did not appoint either Hague or Kenny to an official campaign position, though Moore did praise Hague as "one of the best Democrats in the state."1949-06-07 HAGUE IS LEFT OFF WENE COMMITTEE; Jersey Democrats Also Pass Up Mayor Kenny as Drive for Governorship Starts https://www.nytimes.com/1949/06/07/archives/hague-is-left-off-wene-committee-jersey-democrats-also-pass-up.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Some Hague critics suggested that the Harry S. Truman administration could offer Wene a federal appointment so compelling as to cause him to give up his campaign for the nomination. Later in the campaign, Hague spoke on behalf of Wene, arguing at a Jersey City rally on October 5 that "every time [the Republicans] bring in Hagueism or cry 'Hague is the issue', we lick them."1949-10-06 VICTORY FOR WENE FORECAST BY HAGUE; Former Mayor of Jersey City Makes First Election Speech in Jersey Campaign https://www.nytimes.com/1949/10/06/archives/victory-for-wene-forecast-by-hague-former-mayor-of-jersey-city.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 In October, Wene supporters were buoyed by an address by U.S. labor secretary Maurice J. Tobin in Newark, in which he told labor leaders, including officials from the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), that Wene had "the unreserved backing of the national administration."1949-10-07 ELECTION OF WENE IS URGED BY TOBIN; Labor Secretary in Newark Also Appeals for Other Candidates in State https://www.nytimes.com/1949/10/07/archives/election-of-wene-is-urged-by-tobin-labor-secretary-in-newark-also.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 However, CIO officials emphasized that their "attendance was a tribute to Secretary of Labor Tobin and candidates on the county ticket and is not to be construed as indicating any change in our previously formulated position on the gubernatorial contest." In an effort to turn the issue of corruption on his opponent, Wene charged Driscoll with "one-man rule [which] means government by fakery, scandal, slander and deceit."1949-11-04 Wene Charges 'Fakery' (Published 1949) https://www.nytimes.com/1949/11/04/archives/wene-charges-fakery.html 2025-06-09 en Endorsements Elmer H. Wene (D) ;Federal executive branch officials Maurice J. Tobin, U.S. Secretary of Labor and former governor of Massachusetts Results Ultimately, Wene lost the election, his second close defeat in two statewide campaigns.1957-01-27 ELMER WENE DIES; JERSEY POLITICIAN; Former Member of House and State Senate Failed in 2 Governorship Attempts Operated Chicken Farm 'Battle of Bachelors' Tactics Paid Off https://www.nytimes.com/1957/01/27/archives/elmer-wene-dies-jersey-politician-former-member-of-house-and-state.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 To prevent Hague from reasserting his dominion over the state and Jersey City, Kenny made a deal to deliver Jersey City to the Republicans, and Driscoll was the first Republican to carry the city since 1920.1949 New Jersey gubernatorial electionhttps://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/1920-1970/1949-general-election.pdf Votes Cast for the Office of Governor of the State of New Jersey Secretary of State of New Jersey 1949 August 28, 2015 Republican Party (United States) Alfred E. Driscoll (incumbent) 885,882 51.54% 5.54 Democratic Party (United States) Elmer H. Wene 810,022 47.13% 5.71 Progressive Party (United States, 1948) James Imbrie 10,840 0.63% N/A Socialist Labor Party of America John C. Butterworth 6,515 0.38% 0.28 Prohibition Party Edson R. Leach 5,529 0.32% 0.22 Republican Party (United States) CountyElmer H. Wene DemocraticAlfred E. Driscoll RepublicanJames Imbrie ProgressiveEdson R. Leach National ProhibitionJohn C. Butterworth Socialist-LaborMargin#%#%#%#%#%#%Atlantic28,65350.69%27,74949.09%940.17%260.05%90.02%9041.60%Bergen69,24036.75%117,22162.22%14070.75%2550.14%2600.14% -47,981 -25.47%Burlington22,46756.59%17,13943.17%460.12%390.10%100.03%5,32813.42%Camden63,15259.15%42,81440.10%4920.46%1870.18%1230.12%20,33819.05%Cape May8,80948.82%9,22151.11%60.03%50.03%10.01% -412 -2.28%Cumberland20,23665.00%10,79734.68%650.21%180.06%140.04%9,43930.32%Essex109,64039.09%161,98257.75%34761.24%6020.21%4,7911.71% -52,342 -18.66%Gloucester17,50852.52%15,74547.23%320.10%360.11%130.04%1,7635.29%Hudson137,39250.30%133,99449.06%13760.50%1500.05%2370.09%3,3981.24%Hunterdon8,42353.10%7,36846.45%450.28%130.08%140.09%1,0556.65%Mercer45,54355.46%36,08443.94%4360.53%360.04%240.03%9,45911.52%Middlesex59,90956.68%43,05440.74%7650.72%18231.72%1410.13%16,85515.95%Monmouth32,46743.10%42,50756.43%2850.38%470.06%220.03% -10,040 -13.33%Morris19,91635.74%35,54363.78%1870.34%530.10%320.06% -15,627 -28.04%Ocean8,32037.27%13,85162.04%1320.59%170.08%50.02% -5,531 -24.77%Passaic57,68050.67%54,85848.19%7790.68%1040.09%4080.36%2,8222.48%Salem10,58359.39%7,19340.37%190.11%190.11%40.02%3,39019.03%Somerset14,88844.14%18,69955.44%1010.30%260.08%120.04% -3,811 -11.30%Sussex6,10847.42%6,75752.46%80.06%10.01%60.05% -649 -5.04%Union56,84742.15%74,50755.24%10700.79%20631.53%3810.28% -17,660 -13.09%Warren12,24158.08%8,79941.75%190.09%90.04%80.04%3,44216.33%Totals810,02247.13%885,88251.54%10,8400.63%5,5290.32%6,5150.38%75,8604.41% Aftermath After the election, Wene launched a campaign against Hague on the Democratic National Committee, claiming support from thirty-two out of forty-two state committee members, representing sixteen counties. The other five counties (Camden, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset), led by anti-Hague reformers, denounced his campaign as an effort to retain control of the party through a front.1949-11-21 WENE CLAIMS VOTE TO REPLACE HAGUE; Pledges of Support Asserted on Jersey Democratic Committee -- 'Ridiculous,' Foes Say https://www.nytimes.com/1949/11/21/archives/wene-claims-vote-to-replace-hague-pledges-of-support-asserted-on.html 2025-06-09 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331 Wene's defeat ended Frank Hague's efforts at a political comeback. Fearing legal action, Hague spent the remainder of his life living in Manhattan and his mansion on Biscayne Bay, Florida. He died on January 1, 1956, and his body was returned to Jersey City to be laid to rest in a large mausoleum in Holy Name Cemetery. Wene ran unsuccessfully for U.S. House in 1950, losing narrowly to Republican incumbent T. Millet Hand, and for governor again in 1953, narrowly losing the Democratic nomination to establishment favorite Robert B. Meyner. He died in 1957. References 1949 New Jersey Gubernatorial New Jersey gubernatorial election