1946 Texas gubernatorial election

The 1946 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Coke R. Stevenson did not seek re-election.

Democratic Governor nominee Beauford H. Jester defeated Republican nominee Eugene Nolte, Jr. with 91.23% of the vote.

To date, this was the last election in which a candidate for Governor of Texas won more than 90% of the vote.

Democratic primary
The Democratic primary election was held on July 27, 1946, with the runoff held on August 24, 1946.

Candidates

 * Floyd Brinkley
 * William V. Brown, mayor of Texarkana
 * A. J. Burks, mayor of Odessa
 * Charles B. Hutchison
 * Beauford H. Jester, Railroad Commissioner
 * Caso March, former Baylor University law professor, World War II veteran
 * Walter Scott McNutt, president of Jefferson College and independent candidate for Governor of Arkansas in 1938 and 1940
 * Homer P. Rainey, former President of the University of Texas
 * Jerry Sadler, former Railroad Commissioner
 * Grover Sellers, incumbent Texas Attorney General
 * C. R. Shaw
 * John Lee Smith, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
 * Reese Turner, former State Representative

Withdrew

 * W. J. Minton, newspaper editor and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for Governor in 1944

Declined

 * James V. Allred, former Governor
 * W. Lee O'Daniel, incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Coke R. Stevenson, incumbent Governor

Republican nomination
The Republican state convention was held on August 13, 1946 at Mineral Wells.

Candidates

 * Alvin H. Lane, attorney
 * Eugene "Mike" Nolte, Jr., alcohol distributor

Candidates

 * Beauford H. Jester, Democratic
 * Eugene Nolte, Jr., Republican