1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican Governor Winfield Dunn was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Tennessee prohibited governors from serving consecutive terms at the time. Democratic nominee Ray Blanton defeated Republican opponent Lamar Alexander with 55.4% of the vote.

With this win, Blanton flipped the state back into Democratic control, with the state state legislature also being controlled by Democrats.

Primary elections
Primary elections were held on August 1, 1974.

Candidates

 * Ray Blanton, former U.S. Representative, candidate in the 1972 U.S. Senate election.
 * Jake Butcher, businessman
 * Thomas A. Wiseman Jr., former Tennessee State Treasurer
 * Hudley Crockett, news anchor
 * Franklin Haney, businessman
 * Stan Snodgrass
 * Ross Bass, former United States Senator
 * Washington Butler
 * David Pack
 * James Powers
 * Jonnie D. Elkins
 * Charles Gordon Vick, perennial candidate

Candidates

 * Lamar Alexander, attorney
 * Nat T. Winston Jr., former Commissioner of Mental Health for Tennessee
 * Dortch Oldham, businessman
 * Melvin Waldron

Candidates
Major party candidates
 * Ray Blanton, Democratic
 * Lamar Alexander, Republican

Other candidates
 * Jack Comer, Independent
 * Alfred W. Taylor, Independent
 * James Reesor, Independent
 * Hubert David Patty, Independent
 * Arnold Joseph Zandi, Independent