1923 Kentucky gubernatorial election

The 1923 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1923. Democratic nominee William J. Fields defeated Republican nominee Charles I. Dawson, the attorney general, with 53.25% of the vote. The Democratic State Central Executive Committee chose Fields to replace nominee J. Campbell Cantrill, a U.S. representative who died suddenly on September 2 two months before the election.^[1]

1923 Kentucky gubernatorial election

← 1919 November 6, 1923 1927 →

Nominee William J. Fields Charles I. Dawson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 356,045 306,277 Percentage 53.25% 45.81%

County results Congressional district results Fields:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Dawson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Edwin P. Morrow Republican Elected Governor William J. Fields Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 4, 1923.^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• J. Campbell Cantrill, U.S. Representative
• Alben W. Barkley, U.S. Representative

Results

Results by county:

  Cantrill

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%
•   90–100%

  Barkley

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%
•   90–100%

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Campbell Cantrill	124,994	51.88
	Democratic	Alben W. Barkley	115,933	48.12
Total votes			240,927	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• William J. Fields, Democratic
• Charles I. Dawson, Republican

Other candidates

• William S. Demuth, Farmer–Labor
• M. A. Brinkmar, Socialist

Results

1923 Kentucky gubernatorial election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J. Fields	356,045	53.25%	+7.96%
	Republican	Charles I. Dawson	306,277	45.81%	−8.01%
	Farmer–Labor	William S. Demuth	3,606	0.54%	N/A
	Socialist	M. A. Brinkmar	2,647	0.40%	−0.49%
Majority			49,768	7.44%
Turnout
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing