1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1970 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic governor Buford Ellington was term-limited and was prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking another term. Republican nominee Winfield Dunn, defeated Democratic opponent John Jay Hooker with 52.0% of the vote.

1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1966 November 3, 1970 1974 →

Nominee Winfield Dunn John Jay Hooker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 575,777 509,521 Percentage 51.95% 45.98%

County results Winfield:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hooker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Buford Ellington Democratic Elected Governor Winfield Dunn Republican

With this win, Dunn became the first Republican to win a Tennessee gubernatorial election in fifty years.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 6, 1970.^[1]

Democratic primary

24.5% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.^[2]

Candidates

• John Jay Hooker, perennial candidate
• Stan Snodgrass
• Robert L. Taylor
• Mary Anderson
• Ralph W. Emerson
• James A. Newton

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Jay Hooker	261,580	44.33
	Democratic	Stan Snodgrass	193,199	32.74
	Democratic	Robert L. Taylor	90,009	15.25
	Democratic	Mary Anderson	29,175	4.94
	Democratic	Ralph W. Emerson	12,608	2.14
	Democratic	James A. Newton	3,490	0.59
Total votes			590,061	100.00

Republican primary

10.1% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.^[2]

Candidates

• Winfield Dunn, former chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party
• Maxey Jarman
• Bill Jenkins, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
• Claude Robertson
• Hubert David Patty, perennial candidate

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Winfield Dunn	81,475	33.26
	Republican	Maxey Jarman	70,420	28.74
	Republican	Bill Jenkins	50,910	20.78
	Republican	Claude Robertson	40,547	16.55
	Republican	Hubert David Patty	1,647	0.67
Total votes			244,999	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Winfield Dunn, Republican
• John Jay Hooker, Democratic

Other candidates

• Douglas L. Heinsohn, American

Results

1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Winfield Dunn	575,777	51.95%
	Democratic	John Jay Hooker	509,521	45.98%
	American	Douglas L. Heinsohn	22,945	2.07%
Majority			66,256
Turnout			1,108,247
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

See also

• 1970 United States gubernatorial elections
• 1970 United States Senate election in Tennessee