1948 Louisiana gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 September 2013 1948 Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial primary Louisiana presidential No 1944 Louisiana gubernatorial election 1944 1952 Louisiana gubernatorial election 1952 February 24, 1948 1912 Image: Earl Long portrait.jpg 150x150px Earl Long Democratic Party (United States) Longite 432,528 65.88% Image:Sam H. Jones portrait.jpg Sam H. Jones Democratic Party (United States) Anti-Long 223,971 34.12% 1948 Louisiana gubernatorial election results map by parish.svg 280px Parish resultsLong: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d056c >90%Jones: #d3bc5f 50–60% #c8ab37 60–70% Governor Jimmie Davis Democratic Party (United States) Earl Long Democratic Party (United States) The 1948 Louisiana gubernatorial election was decided by a Democratic primary held in two rounds on January 20 and February 24, 1948, which was tantamount to election. The 1948 election saw the defeat of Louisiana's reformer "anti-Long" faction and the election of Earl Kemp Long to his first full term as governor. Background Like most Southern states between the Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement, Louisiana's Republican Party was virtually nonexistent in terms of electoral support. This meant that the two Democratic Party primaries held on these dates were the real contest over who would be governor. Under Louisiana's constitution, incumbent governor Jimmie Davis could not succeed himself in a consecutive term. Democratic primary Candidates Sam H. Jones, former Governor (1940–44) Robert F. Kennon, judge and former Mayor of Minden Earl Long, former Governor (1939–40) Jimmy Morrison, U.S. Representative from Hammond Campaign Louisiana's reformist anti-Long faction supported Sam H. Jones, who had been governor from 1940 to 1944. Jones was endorsed by outgoing Governor Davis and high-profile Louisiana politicians, such as Senator John H. Overton and Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison Sr. of New Orleans, who controlled the city's powerful Crescent City Democratic Association. Jones's reform campaign was weakened by reminders of unethical deals and heavy-handed political tactics in his previous term and by the electorate's lack of enthusiasm for reform governors after eight years. Sam Jones's main opponent was Long, who had been governor in 1939–40 and the inheritor of his brother Huey Long's Longite political faction. Funded by politicians, oil and gas money, and contributions from organized crime in the New Orleans area, Long ran a theatrical and entertaining campaign, making stump speeches that were a mix of political harangue and humorous anecdotes. His platform called for the elimination of Jones's civil service, the doubling of state spending on programs like pensions, school lunches, charity hospitals and asylums, new trade schools, pay increases for teachers, an increased homestead tax exemption, and bonuses for veterans of World War II. Through payoffs and promises of support, Long managed to gain the backing of powerful former enemies, State Senator Dudley LeBlanc, former Governor Jimmie Noe, and U.S. Representative F. Edward Hebert. Prior to the election New Orleans crime family boss Carlos Marcello surreptitiously gave Long $10,000 and another $100,000 following his victory.Kurtz Michael L. Michael L. Kurtz Political Corruption and Organized Crime in Louisiana: The FBI Files on Earl Long Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association Summer 1988 29 3 229-252 https://www.jstor.org/stable/4232670 Robert F. Kennon drew most of his support from North Louisiana and reformers disillusioned with Jones. Jimmy Morrison (no relation to Mayor Morrison) was supported by former New Orleans mayor Robert Maestri and his Old Regular political machine and finished in fourth place. Results Jimmy Morrison was able to carry East Baton Rouge and several parishes in vicinity of his home region. Kennon won Shreveport's Caddo Parish and attracted some support in the rest of northern Louisiana. Support from deLesseps Morrison's machine allowed Jones to win in New Orleans, and respectable support from sections of the rest of the state sent him into the runoff round with Long. But Long's victories in most parishes in both northern and southern parts of the state gave him a commanding lead going into the second round. 1948 Democratic gubernatorial primary Democratic Party (US) Earl K. Long 267,253 41.51% Democratic Party (US) Sam H. Jones 147,329 22.88% Democratic Party (US) Robert F. Kennon 127,569 19.81% Democratic Party (US) Jimmy Morrison 101,754 15.80% 643,905 100.00% Runoff In the runoff, the Old Regulars threw their support behind Long. With his longtime enemies were supporting Long, Mayor Morrison stepped up his campaigning for Jones and began a feud with Long that would last until Long's death in 1960. The runoff election saw Long elected to the governor's office with an overwhelming majority. Of Louisiana's 64 parishes, only East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana went for Jones. Jones even lost his home base of Calcasieu Parish. He did not seek the governorship again. 1948 Democratic gubernatorial runoff Democratic Party (US) Earl K. Long 432,528 65.88% Democratic Party (US) Sam H. Jones 223,971 34.12% 656,499 100.00% Further reading Michael L. Kurtz and Morgan D. Peoples. Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics, 1990. Louisiana Secretary of State. Compilation of Primary Election Results of the Democratic Party of the State of Louisiana, 1948. References 1948 Louisiana Gubernatorial Louisiana gubernatorial election Louisiana gubernatorial election