1952 Texas gubernatorial election

The 1952 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1952.

1952 Texas gubernatorial election

← 1950 November 4, 1952 1954 →

Nominee Allan Shivers Party Democratic[a] Popular vote 1,844,530 Percentage 98.05%

Governor before election Allan Shivers Democratic Elected Governor Allan Shivers Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Governor Allan Shivers was overwhelmingly reelected in the general election after defeating future U.S. senator Ralph Yarborough in the Democratic primary. The Republican Party endorsed the Democratic state ticket, including Shivers, in order to attract more votes for presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on July 26, 1952.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Allan Shivers, incumbent Governor
• Allene M. Traylor, housewife^[2][3]
• Ralph Yarborough, attorney and future U.S. senator^[2][3]

Results

Primary results by county:

Shivers

•      40–50%
•      50–60%
•      60–70%
•      70-80%
•      80-90%
•      >90%

Yarbourough

•      40–50%
•      50–60%
•      60–70%
•      70-80%

Democratic primary results^[4][5][1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Allan Shivers (incumbent)	833,861	61.48%
	Democratic	Ralph Yarborough	488,345	36.00%
	Democratic	Allene M. Traylor	34,186	2.52%
Total votes			1,356,392	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Shivers endorsed the Republican nominee for President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, in the concurrent presidential election.^[6] In an attempt to maximize support for Eisenhower, the state Republican Party nominated the Democratic state ticket, allowing voters to cast a straight GOP ballot without voting against down-ballot Democratic candidates.^[7][8]

Results

1952 Texas gubernatorial election^{[9][10][11][12][13]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Allan Shivers (incumbent)	1,375,547	73.12%
	Republican	Allan Shivers (incumbent)	468,319	24.89%
	No party	Allan Shivers (incumbent)	664	0.04%
	Total	Allan Shivers (incumbent)	1,844,530	98.05%
	Write-in		36,672	1.95%
Total votes			1,881,202	100.00%
Majority			1,807,858	96.10%
	Democratic hold

Notes

1. Shivers and the entire state Democratic ticket were endorsed by the state Republican party and appeared on their ballots; see § General election.