User:Mr Serjeant Buzfuz/Electoral history of William John Patterson



This article is the Electoral history of William John Patterson, the sixth Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. He served from 1935 to 1944.

Patterson succeeded Premier James Gardiner after Gardiner resigned to enter federal politics in 1936. Patterson led the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan in two general elections, 1938 and 1944. He was the fifth of six Liberal premiers to date. He won a majority government in 1938, but was defeated in the 1944 election by Tommy Douglas and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Patterson retired from politics, and was later appointed the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

Patterson was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan eight times from 1921 to 1948, seven times by contested elections and once by acclamation.

Summary
Patterson ranks seventh out of the fifteen Premiers of Saskatchewan for time in office, from November 1, 1935 to July 10, 1944, for a total of 23 years, 175 days.

Patterson stood for election eight times from 1921 to 1948, in seven general elections (1921, 1925, 1929, 1934, 1938, 1944 and 1948), and in one by-election (1926). He was elected all eight times, winning seven contested elections and winning once by acclamation. Although he won most of his elections by substantial margins, in the 1944 election, he won by only six votes.

He held several positions in the Cabinet of Premier Gardiner from 1926 to 1929, and again from 1934 to 1935. When Gardiner resigned as premier in 1935, Patterson succeeded him as Liberal leader and Premier.

As Premier, Patterson led the Liberals in two general elections, in 1938 and 1944. He won a solid majority in the 1938 election, but was defeated in the 1944 election by Tommy Douglas and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. He resigned as Liberal leader in 1946, but remained a Member of the Legislative Assembly. He stood again for election in 1948 and was re-elected, but resigned a year later on being appointed to the federal Board of Transport Commissioners.

In 1951, Patterson was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, serving in that position from 1951 to 1958.

1938 General election
Patterson led the Liberals in the general election of 1938. He won a solid majority government. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation under George Hara Williams came in second place and continued as the Official Opposition.

1 Premier when election was called; Premier after election. 2 Leader of the Opposition when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election.

1944 General election
Provincial elections are normally held between four to five years after the previous election, but this election was delayed because of World War II. Patterson again led the Liberals in the general election of 1944, but this time was soundly defeated by Tommy Douglas and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.

1 Member of the federal Parliament until shortly before the election was called; Premier after election. 2 Premier when election was called; Leader of the Opposition after election. 3 Rounds to zero.

Saskatchewan constituency elections
Patterson stood for election to the Legislative Assembly eight times, in two different ridings, Pipestone and Cannington. He was elected once by acclamation and seven times in contested elections. Although he normally won by healthy pluralities or majorities, in one case, 1944, he won by only six votes.

1921 General election: Pipestone
Elected.

1925 General election: Pipestone
Elected. X Incumbent.

1926 By-election: Pipestone
The by-election was called on Patterson accepting the position of Provincial Treasurer in the Cabinet of Premier Gardiner, an office of profit under the Crown, on February 26, 1926. Elected. X Incumbent.

1929 General election: Pipestone
Elected. X Incumbent.

1934 General election: Cannington
Elected. X Incumbent.

1938 General election: Cannington
Elected. X Incumbent.

1944 General election: Cannington
Elected. X Incumbent. 1 Rounding error.

1948 General election: Cannington
Elected. X Incumbent.