1950 Arizona gubernatorial election

The 1950 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1950. Incumbent Governor Dan Edward Garvey, who originally ascended to the office of Governor following the death of Sidney Preston Osborn and was later elected to a full term, lost the Democratic primary to state Auditor Ana Frohmiller. Frohmiller would become the first woman to be nominated by any party for governor in Arizona.

1950 Arizona gubernatorial election

November 7, 1950
 
Nominee John Howard Pyle Ana Frohmiller
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 99,109 96,118
Percentage 50.77% 49.23%

County Results

Pyle:      50-60%

Frohmiller:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Dan Edward Garvey
Democratic

Elected Governor

John Howard Pyle
Republican

Following a shift in voters to the Republican Party in the past two election cycles,[1] John Howard Pyle defeated Ana Frohmiller, becoming the first Republican Governor of Arizona since John Calhoun Phillips was defeated for reelection and left office in 1931.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary took place on September 12, 1950. Incumbent Governor Dan Edward Garvey, who ascended to the office of governor (as Secretary of State of Arizona) following the death of Governor Sidney Preston Osborn, and was subsequently elected to a full term in 1948, was defeated in the Democratic primary by State Auditor Ana Frohmiller. Frohmiller had served as state auditor since being elected in 1926, and was seen as a pioneer for women. U.S. Congressman Richard F. Harless also ran again after failing to win in 1948, as well as Jim Smith, Ralph Watkins, and perennial candidate Howard Sprouse.

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ana Frohmiller 42,143 29.24%
Democratic Dan Edward Garvey 32,493 22.55%
Democratic Richard F. Harless 31,118 21.59%
Democratic Jim Smith 19,912 13.82%
Democratic Ralph Watkins 17,931 12.44%
Democratic Howard Sprouse 514 0.36%
Total votes 144,111 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

U.S. Senator and Republican Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater wrote in his memoir "With No Apologies" that Frohmiller was "an attractive lady [...] who had earned quite a following as a result of her long and excellent service as State Auditor." He also observed that the voters of Arizona weren't ready for a woman Governor in 1950. Frohmiller lost the election to Pyle, who became the first Republican Governor of Arizona since John Calhoun Phillips was elected in 1928, despite the fact that at the time of her nomination she seemed to be the front-runner.

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1950[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Howard Pyle 99,109 50.77%
Democratic Ana Frohmiller 96,118 49.23%
Majority 2,991 1.54%
Turnout 195,227
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

References

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