1950 Oregon gubernatorial election

The 1950 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1950 to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Oregon. Incumbent Republican governor Douglas McKay defeated Democratic nominee Austin F. Flegel.

1950 Oregon gubernatorial election

November 7, 1950

Nominee Douglas McKay Austin F. Flegel Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 334,160 171,750 Percentage 66.1% 33.9%

County results: McKay:      50–60%      60–70%      70-80%

Governor before election Douglas McKay Republican Elected Governor Douglas McKay Republican

Background

McKay had been elected in a 1948 gubernatorial special election to replace interim governor John Hubert Hall. Hall, as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, had succeeded to the governorship following the death of governor Earl Snell, Oregon Secretary of State Robert S. Farrell, Jr., and State Senate President Marshall E. Cornett in a plane crash on October 30, 1947.

Campaign

In his reelection bid, McKay was unopposed in the Republican primary. In the Democratic primary, Portland attorney and state senator Austin F. Flegel defeated Oregon State Treasurer Walter J. Pearson and former state senator and 1942 and 1948 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Lew Wallace.[1][2] In the general election, McKay defeated Flegel by a nearly 2–1 margin.

McKay would step down less than two years into his term to become United States Secretary of the Interior under President Dwight Eisenhower.

Election results

Oregon gubernatorial election, 1950[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Douglas McKay	334,160	66.05
	Democratic	Austin F. Flegel	171,750	33.95
Total votes			505,910	100
	Republican hold

References

1. "Flegel enters governor's race". The Register-Guard. March 1, 1950. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
2. "Democratic choice for governorship still not clear". The Register-Guard. May 21, 1950. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
3. "OR Governor Race - Nov 07, 1950". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 22, 2011.