1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Governor Buford Ellington was term-limited and was prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking another term. Republican nominee Winfield Dunn, defeated Democratic opponent John Jay Hooker with 52.0% of the vote.

With this win, Dunn became the first Republican to win a Tennessee gubernatorial election in fifty years.

Primary elections
Primary elections were held on August 6, 1970.

Candidates

 * John Jay Hooker, perennial candidate
 * Stan Snodgrass
 * Robert L. Taylor
 * Mary Anderson
 * Ralph W. Emerson
 * James A. Newton

Candidates

 * Winfield Dunn, former chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party
 * Maxey Jarman
 * Bill Jenkins, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
 * Claude Robertson
 * Hubert David Patty, perennial candidate

Candidates
Major party candidates
 * Winfield Dunn, Republican
 * John Jay Hooker, Democratic

Other candidates
 * Douglas L. Heinsohn, American