1938 California gubernatorial election
November 8, 1938
 
Nominee Culbert Olson Frank Merriam
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,391,734 1,171,019
Percentage 52.49% 44.17%
County results
Olson:      40–50%      50–60%
Merriam:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%
Governor before election

Frank Merriam
Republican

 Elected Governor

Culbert Olson
Democratic

The 1938 California gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938. This was the first election since 1894 in which a Democrat was elected Governor of California, as well as the first election since 1882 in which a Democrat won with more than 50% of the vote. Culbert L. Olson had defeated John F. Dockweiler and James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor for the Democratic nomination, while Frank F. Merriam defeated George J. Hatfield for the Republican nomination. This was the last time until Gray Davis in 1998 that a Democrat who was not a member of the Brown family won the governorship. Excluding Davis, this was the last time until Gavin Newsom in 2018.

General election results

1938 gubernatorial election, California
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Culbert L. Olson 1,391,734 52.49 +14.74
Republican Frank F. Merriam (incumbent) 1,171,019 44.17 -4.70
Progressive Raymond L. Haight 64,418 2.43 -10.56
Commonwealth Party Robert Noble 23,787 0.90 N/A
Total votes 2,650,958 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References


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