The 1946 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1946 to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Oregon. Republican incumbent Earl Snell defeated Democratic nominee and former U.S. District Attorney Carl C. Donaugh to win the election. Snell once again swept every county in the state, albeit with a slightly reduced (though still commanding) majority from the previous election.

Primary election

Oregon held primary elections on May 17, 1946.

Republican party

Incumbent governor Earl Snell faced only token opposition in the primary election.

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Earl Snell (inc.) 83,035 84.53%
Republican Henry Black 15,177 15.45%
Republican Scattering 16 0.02%
Total votes 98,228 100.00%

Democratic party

Former U.S. District Attorney Carl C. Donaugh was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carl C. Donaugh 51,237 99.06%
Democratic Scattering 488 0.94%
Total votes 51,725 100.00%

General election

Results

1946 Oregon gubernatorial election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Earl Snell (inc.) 237,681 69.06% −8.81%
Democratic Carl C. Donaugh 106,474 30.94% +8.81%
Total votes 344,155 100.00%
Majority 131,207 38.12%
Republican hold Swing -17.62%

Results by county

County[3] Earl Snell
Republican		 Carl C. Donaugh
Democratic		 Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # %
Baker 3,106 71.52% 1,237 28.48% 1,869 43.03% 4,343
Benton 4,980 80.84% 1,180 19.16% 3,800 61.69% 6,160
Clackamas 14,680 69.23% 6,524 30.77% 8,156 38.46% 21,204
Clatsop 6,242 73.59% 2,240 26.41% 4,002 47.18% 8,482
Columbia 3,766 69.56% 1,648 30.44% 2,118 39.12% 5,414
Coos 5,621 73.30% 2,047 26.70% 3,574 46.61% 7,668
Crook 973 78.28% 270 21.72% 703 56.56% 1,243
Curry 959 80.12% 238 19.88% 721 60.23% 1,197
Deschutes 3,177 73.42% 1,150 26.58% 2,027 46.85% 4,327
Douglas 6,294 80.59% 1,516 19.41% 4,778 61.18% 7,810
Gilliam 646 80.65% 155 19.35% 491 61.30% 801
Grant 1,025 79.58% 263 20.42% 762 59.16% 1,288
Harney 781 76.05% 246 23.95% 535 52.09% 1,027
Hood River 2,123 72.83% 792 27.17% 1,331 45.66% 2,915
Jackson 8,157 79.81% 2,064 20.19% 6,093 59.61% 10,221
Jefferson 578 78.43% 159 21.57% 419 56.85% 737
Josephine 3,877 75.80% 1,238 24.20% 2,639 51.59% 5,115
Klamath 6,443 78.09% 1,808 21.91% 4,635 56.18% 8,251
Lake 998 78.15% 279 21.85% 719 56.30% 1,277
Lane 16,106 75.54% 5,216 24.46% 10,890 51.07% 21,322
Lincoln 3,561 73.21% 1,303 26.79% 2,258 46.42% 4,864
Linn 8,247 75.04% 2,743 24.96% 5,504 50.08% 10,990
Malheur 3,114 77.35% 912 22.65% 2,202 54.69% 4,026
Marion 15,701 75.24% 5,168 24.76% 10,533 50.47% 20,869
Morrow 827 78.39% 228 21.61% 599 56.78% 1,055
Multnomah 80,196 60.17% 53,088 39.83% 27,108 20.34% 133,284
Polk 3,646 75.80% 1,164 24.20% 2,482 51.60% 4,810
Sherman 600 80.97% 141 19.03% 459 61.94% 741
Tillamook 2,715 68.82% 1,230 31.18% 1,485 37.64% 3,945
Umatilla 5,113 74.32% 1,767 25.68% 3,346 48.63% 6,880
Union 3,439 72.46% 1,307 27.54% 2,132 44.92% 4,746
Wallowa 1,467 76.09% 461 23.91% 1,006 52.18% 1,928
Wasco 2,415 71.49% 963 28.51% 1,452 42.98% 3,378
Washington 9,805 73.18% 3,593 26.82% 6,212 46.37% 13,398
Wheeler 544 81.68% 122 18.32% 422 63.36% 666
Yamhill 5,759 74.09% 2,014 25.91% 3,745 48.18% 7,773
Total237,68169.06%106,47430.94%131,20738.12%344,155

References

  1. ↑ "Abstract of Votes - Republican Party - Primary Election May 17, 1946". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Abstract of Votes - Democratic Party - Primary Election May 17, 1946". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Abstract of Votes, Regular General Election, November 5, 1946". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2026.


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_Oregon_gubernatorial_election