Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1948
Encyclopedia
The Louisiana gubernatorial election of 1948 was held in two rounds on January 20 and February 24, 1948. Like most Southern states
between Reconstruction and the civil rights era, Louisiana
's
Republican Party was virtually nonexistent in terms of electoral
support. This meant that the two Democratic Party
primaries held on these dates were the real contest over who would be governor
. The
1948 election saw the defeat of Louisiana's reformer ‘anti-Long’ faction and the
election of Earl K. Long to his first full term as governor.
Under Louisiana's constitution, incumbent governor Jimmie Davis
could not succeed himself in a consecutive term. Instead, Louisiana's reformer and anti-Long faction supported Sam H. Jones
, who had been governor from 1940 to 1944. Jones was endorsed by outgoing Governor Davis and high-profile Louisiana politicians, such as Senator John H. Overton
and New Orleans mayor deLesseps S. Morrison, Sr., who controlled the city's powerful Crescent City Democratic Association. Jones's reform campaign was weakened by reminders of unethical deals and heavy-handed political tactics in his previous term, and by the electorate’s lack of enthusiasm after eight years of reform governors.
Sam Jones's main opponent was Earl K. Long, briefly governor in
1939-1940 and the inheritor of his brother Huey's
Longite political
faction. Funded by politicians, oil and gas money, and contributions
from organized crime in the New Orleans area, Long ran a theatrical and
entertaining campaign, making stump speeches that were a mix of political
harangue and humorous anecdotes. His platform called for the elimination of Jones's civil service, the doubling of state spending on programs like pensions, school lunches, charity hospitals and asylums, new trade schools, pay increases for teachers, an increased homestead tax exemption, and bonuses for veterans of World War Two. Through payoffs and promises of support, Long managed to gain the backing of powerful former enemies, State Senator Dudley LeBlanc, former Governor Jimmie Noe
, and Congressman F. Edward Hebert.
Other candidates in the 1948 election included Robert F. Kennon
,
a judge from Minden
who ran third in the balloting, mostly from supporters in north Louisiana and from some reformers disillusioned with Jones; and Jimmy Morrison
, (no relation to Mayor Morrison) the Sixth District Congressman from Hammond
who was supported by former New Orleans mayor Robert Maestri
and his Old Regular
political machine and finished in fourth place. Morrison served in Congress until his defeat by John R. Rarick in the 1966 Democratic primary runoff.
In the runoff, the Old Regulars threw their support behind Long. Now that his longtime enemies were supporting Jones's opponent, New Orleans mayor deLesseps Morrison stepped up his campaigning for Jones. This election began a feud between governor Long and the mayor of New Orleans that would last for over a decade.
Jimmy Morrison was able to carry East Baton Rouge and several parishes in vicinity of his home region. Kennon won Shreveport’s Caddo Parish and attracted some support in the rest of northern Louisiana. Support from deLesseps Morrison’s machine allowed Jones to win in New Orleans, and respectable support from sections of the rest of the state sent him into the runoff round with Long. But Long’s victories in most parishes in both northern and southern parts of the state gave him a commanding lead going into the second round.
The runoff election saw Long elected to the governor’s office with an overwhelming majority. Of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, only East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana went for Jones. Jones even lost his home base of Calcasieu Parish. He did not seek the governorship again.
Once in office, Earl Long moved to place President Harry S. Truman
on the Louisiana ballot in 1948. The Democrats ran an elector slate in the state committeed to then South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond
. Had Long not intervened, Truman would not have been on the Louisiana ballot. Thurmond, as the official Democratic nominee, won Louisiana's ten electoral votes.
. Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics, 1990.
Louisiana Secretary of State. Compilation of Primary Election Results of the Democratic Party of the State of Louisiana, 1948.
between Reconstruction and the civil rights era, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
's
Republican Party was virtually nonexistent in terms of electoral
support. This meant that the two Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primaries held on these dates were the real contest over who would be governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
. The
1948 election saw the defeat of Louisiana's reformer ‘anti-Long’ faction and the
election of Earl K. Long to his first full term as governor.
Under Louisiana's constitution, incumbent governor Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
could not succeed himself in a consecutive term. Instead, Louisiana's reformer and anti-Long faction supported Sam H. Jones
Sam H. Jones
--4.230.222.169 Sam Houston Jones was the 46th Governor of Louisiana from 1940 to 1944. He defeated the renowned Earl Kemp Long in the 1940 Democratic primary. Long turned the tables on Jones and defeated him in the 1948 party primary.-Early life:Sam Jones was born in Merryville in Beauregard...
, who had been governor from 1940 to 1944. Jones was endorsed by outgoing Governor Davis and high-profile Louisiana politicians, such as Senator John H. Overton
John H. Overton
John Holmes Overton was an attorney and Democratic United States representative and U.S. senator from Louisiana...
and New Orleans mayor deLesseps S. Morrison, Sr., who controlled the city's powerful Crescent City Democratic Association. Jones's reform campaign was weakened by reminders of unethical deals and heavy-handed political tactics in his previous term, and by the electorate’s lack of enthusiasm after eight years of reform governors.
Sam Jones's main opponent was Earl K. Long, briefly governor in
1939-1940 and the inheritor of his brother Huey's
Huey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
Longite political
faction. Funded by politicians, oil and gas money, and contributions
from organized crime in the New Orleans area, Long ran a theatrical and
entertaining campaign, making stump speeches that were a mix of political
harangue and humorous anecdotes. His platform called for the elimination of Jones's civil service, the doubling of state spending on programs like pensions, school lunches, charity hospitals and asylums, new trade schools, pay increases for teachers, an increased homestead tax exemption, and bonuses for veterans of World War Two. Through payoffs and promises of support, Long managed to gain the backing of powerful former enemies, State Senator Dudley LeBlanc, former Governor Jimmie Noe
James A. Noe
James Albert Noe, Sr. of Monroe served for three and a half months as the 43rd Governor of Louisiana after the death of Oscar K. Allen on January 28, 1936....
, and Congressman F. Edward Hebert.
Other candidates in the 1948 election included Robert F. Kennon
Robert F. Kennon
Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary....
,
a judge from Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
who ran third in the balloting, mostly from supporters in north Louisiana and from some reformers disillusioned with Jones; and Jimmy Morrison
James H. Morrison
James Hobson "Jimmy" Morrison, Sr. , was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the Sixth Congressional District of Louisiana, who served from 1943 to 1967...
, (no relation to Mayor Morrison) the Sixth District Congressman from Hammond
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
who was supported by former New Orleans mayor Robert Maestri
Robert Maestri
Robert Sidney Maestri was mayor of New Orleans from 1936 to 1946 and a key ally of Huey P. Long, Jr., and Earl Kemp Long.- Early life :...
and his Old Regular
Regular Democratic Organization
The Regular Democratic Organization , or Old Regulars, or the New Orleans Ring, is a conservative political organization based in New Orleans. It has existed for 130 years and as of 2006 is still active. The symbol of the RDO is the rooster...
political machine and finished in fourth place. Morrison served in Congress until his defeat by John R. Rarick in the 1966 Democratic primary runoff.
In the runoff, the Old Regulars threw their support behind Long. Now that his longtime enemies were supporting Jones's opponent, New Orleans mayor deLesseps Morrison stepped up his campaigning for Jones. This election began a feud between governor Long and the mayor of New Orleans that would last for over a decade.
Results of first primary
| Candidate | Votes received | Percentage of votes cast |
|---|---|---|
| Earl K. Long | 267,253 | 41.5% |
| Sam H. Jones Sam H. Jones --4.230.222.169 Sam Houston Jones was the 46th Governor of Louisiana from 1940 to 1944. He defeated the renowned Earl Kemp Long in the 1940 Democratic primary. Long turned the tables on Jones and defeated him in the 1948 party primary.-Early life:Sam Jones was born in Merryville in Beauregard... |
147,329 | 22.9% |
| Robert F. Kennon Robert F. Kennon Robert Floyd Kennon, Sr., known as Bob Kennon , was the 48th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1952-1956. He failed to win a second non-consecutive term in the 1963 Democratic primary.... |
127,569 | 19.8% |
| Jimmy Morrison James H. Morrison James Hobson "Jimmy" Morrison, Sr. , was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the Sixth Congressional District of Louisiana, who served from 1943 to 1967... |
101,754 | 15.8% |
Jimmy Morrison was able to carry East Baton Rouge and several parishes in vicinity of his home region. Kennon won Shreveport’s Caddo Parish and attracted some support in the rest of northern Louisiana. Support from deLesseps Morrison’s machine allowed Jones to win in New Orleans, and respectable support from sections of the rest of the state sent him into the runoff round with Long. But Long’s victories in most parishes in both northern and southern parts of the state gave him a commanding lead going into the second round.
Results of second primary
| Candidate | Votes received | Percentage of votes cast |
|---|---|---|
| Earl K. Long | 432,528 | 65.9% |
| Sam H. Jones Sam H. Jones --4.230.222.169 Sam Houston Jones was the 46th Governor of Louisiana from 1940 to 1944. He defeated the renowned Earl Kemp Long in the 1940 Democratic primary. Long turned the tables on Jones and defeated him in the 1948 party primary.-Early life:Sam Jones was born in Merryville in Beauregard... |
223,971 | 34.1% |
The runoff election saw Long elected to the governor’s office with an overwhelming majority. Of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, only East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana went for Jones. Jones even lost his home base of Calcasieu Parish. He did not seek the governorship again.
Once in office, Earl Long moved to place President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
on the Louisiana ballot in 1948. The Democrats ran an elector slate in the state committeed to then South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
. Had Long not intervened, Truman would not have been on the Louisiana ballot. Thurmond, as the official Democratic nominee, won Louisiana's ten electoral votes.
Sources
Michael L. Kurtz and Morgan D. PeoplesMorgan D. Peoples
Morgan Dewey Peoples was a historian who coauthored with Michael L. Kurtz the definitive biography of the late Louisiana Governor Earl Kemp Long. Peoples was a member of the Louisiana Tech University at Ruston history department faculty from 1965 until his retirement in 1985...
. Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics, 1990.
Louisiana Secretary of State. Compilation of Primary Election Results of the Democratic Party of the State of Louisiana, 1948.