1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election
November 6, 1956
 
Nominee Robert D. Holmes Elmo Smith
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 369,439 361,840
Percentage 50.5% 49.5%
County results
Holmes:      50–60%      60–70%
Smith:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Elmo Smith
Republican

 Elected Governor

Robert D. Holmes
Democratic

The 1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election took place on November 6, 1956. Democratic state senator Robert D. Holmes narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Elmo Smith to win the election.

Background

On January 31, 1956, Governor Paul L. Patterson, who was elected in the 1954 gubernatorial election, died in office of a coronary occlusion.[1] Patterson's death elevated Oregon State Senate President Elmo Smith to governor and a special election for November was called to fill the position for the final two years of Patterson's term.[2] The succession law was changed in 1972 so that the Oregon Secretary of State is first in line to succeed the governor.[3] Lew Wallace unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination.

Election results

1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert D. Holmes 369,439 50.52
Republican Elmo Smith (incumbent) 361,840 49.48
Total votes 731,279 100
Democratic gain from Republican

Results by county

1956 Oregon gubernatorial special election (by county)
County Robert Denison Holmes
Democratic		 Elmo Everett Smith
Republican		 Margin Total votes cast[4]
#  % #  % #  %
Baker 3,554 50.71% 3,455 49.29% 99 1.41% 7,009
Benton 5,217 39.89% 7,862 60.11% -2,645 -20.22% 13,079
Clackamas 23,431 51.28% 22,264 48.72% 1,167 2.55% 45,695
Clatsop 7,928 61.41% 4,981 38.59% 2,947 22.83% 12,909
Columbia 6,185 63.02% 3,629 36.98% 2,556 26.04% 9,814
Coos 12,130 60.24% 8,005 39.76% 4,125 20.49% 20,135
Crook 1,848 49.93% 1,853 50.07% -5 -0.14% 3,701
Curry 2,162 50.91% 2,085 49.09% 77 1.81% 4,247
Deschutes 4,441 46.33% 5,145 53.67% -704 -7.34% 9,586
Douglas 13,516 52.62% 12,171 47.38% 1,345 5.24% 25,687
Gilliam 505 38.52% 806 61.48% -301 -22.96% 1,311
Grant 1,313 42.44% 1,781 57.56% -468 -15.13% 3,094
Harney 1,171 43.26% 1,536 56.74% -365 -13.48% 2,707
Hood River 2,618 47.08% 2,943 52.92% -325 -5.84% 5,561
Jackson 13,445 45.26% 16,261 54.74% -2,816 -9.48% 29,706
Jefferson 1,131 45.88% 1,334 54.12% -203 -8.24% 2,465
Josephine 5,423 42.60% 7,308 57.40% -1,885 -14.81% 12,731
Klamath 8,956 49.81% 9,026 50.19% -70 -0.39% 17,982
Lake 1,285 44.62% 1,595 55.38% -310 -10.76% 2,880
Lane 33,241 53.12% 29,335 46.88% 3,906 6.24% 62,576
Lincoln 5,149 52.08% 4,738 47.92% 411 4.16% 9,887
Linn 11,807 51.91% 10,936 48.09% 871 3.83% 22,743
Malheur 3,011 37.51% 5,016 62.49% -2,005 -24.98% 8,027
Marion 19,255 42.87% 25,655 57.13% -6,400 -14.25% 44,910
Morrow 882 45.07% 1,075 54.93% -193 -9.86% 1,957
Multnomah 129,273 53.04% 114,446 46.96% 14,827 6.08% 243,719
Polk 4,724 45.39% 5,683 54.61% -959 -9.21% 10,407
Sherman 415 38.53% 662 61.47% -247 -22.93% 1,077
Tillamook 4,055 50.93% 3,907 49.07% 148 1.86% 7,962
Umatilla 8,376 48.88% 8,761 51.12% -385 -2.25% 17,137
Union 4,272 53.45% 3,720 46.55% 552 6.91% 7,992
Wallowa 1,755 53.17% 1,546 46.83% 209 6.33% 3,301
Wasco 4,522 52.73% 4,053 47.27% 469 5.47% 8,575
Washington 15,976 44.51% 19,917 55.49% -3,941 -10.98% 35,893
Wheeler 540 46.59% 619 53.41% -79 -6.82% 1,159
Yamhill 5,927 43.40% 7,731 56.60% -1,804 -13.21% 13,658
Total369,43950.52%361,84049.48%7,5991.04%731,279

References

  1. ↑ "Governors of Oregon: Paul Linton Patterson". Oregon State Library. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Governors of Oregon: Elmo Smith". Oregon State Library. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Temporary governor eliminated: Measure modifies line of succession". The Bend Bulletin.
  4. 1 2 "OR Governor Race — November 06, 1956". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
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