Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1944
Encyclopedia
The Louisiana gubernatorial election of 1944 was held in two rounds on January 18 and February 29, 1944. 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 1944 election saw the reformer ‘anti-Long’ faction retain power for another four years under Jimmie Davis
.
Louisiana's constitution did not allow incumbent governor Sam Jones
to succeed himself in a consecutive term. Instead, the reformer forces endorsed Jimmie Davis
, a country singer from Shreveport who was then serving as Public Service Commissioner. Davis campaigned on a theme of "Peace and Harmony," and punctuated his campaign stops with performances of
"You Are My Sunshine
."
Louisiana's Longite faction desired a return to power after being defeated in 1940. Huey Long's
brother Earl
had ambitions to return as governor, and began to prepare for a campaign. But Long failed to gain the support of New Orleans mayor Robert Maestri
, whose Old Regular machine was seen as an essential component of any victorious Longite candidate. Instead, Maestri threw his support behind Lewis L. Morgan
, an elderly politician from Covington
whose unexciting campaign found little resonance with voters. Long had to satisfy himself with running for Lieutenant Governor on Morgan's ticket.
Other candidates included Jimmy Morrison
of Hammond
, Dudley J. LeBlanc
of Vermilion Parish, Vincent Moseley, State Senator Ernest S. Clements
of Oberlin
, the seat of Allen Parish, and Shreveport Mayor Sam Caldwell
. Coming amid the grim mood of wartime, the 1944 campaign was widely seen as one of the quietest in years.
LeBlanc and Morrison each won a handful of parishes in their respective bases in south Louisiana. Morgan did poorly in much of the state aside from the Long stronghold of Winn Parish and the surrounding area, but the number of votes turned out for him by the Old Regulars in New Orleans propelled him into the runoff. But Davis's popularity in north Louisiana and throughout the state's rural parishes gave him a strong lead.
In the second primary, Morgan
maintained much of his support, but Davis
was able to pick up many of the votes of candidates defeated in the first primary, particularly in south Louisiana and New Orleans. Davis won with a comfortable majority and became governor.
. 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, 1944.
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 1944 election saw the reformer ‘anti-Long’ faction retain power for another four years under 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...
.
Louisiana's constitution did not allow incumbent governor Sam 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...
to succeed himself in a consecutive term. Instead, the reformer forces endorsed 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...
, a country singer from Shreveport who was then serving as Public Service Commissioner. Davis campaigned on a theme of "Peace and Harmony," and punctuated his campaign stops with performances of
"You Are My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine
"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by...
."
Louisiana's Longite faction desired a return to power after being defeated in 1940. Huey Long'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...
brother Earl
Earl Long
Earl Kemp Long was an American politician and the 45th Governor of Louisiana for three non-consecutive terms. Long termed himself the "last of the red hot poppas" of politics, referring to his stump-speaking skills...
had ambitions to return as governor, and began to prepare for a campaign. But Long failed to gain the support of 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 :...
, whose Old Regular machine was seen as an essential component of any victorious Longite candidate. Instead, Maestri threw his support behind Lewis L. Morgan
Lewis L. Morgan
Lewis Lovering Morgan was an American lawyer and politician form the state of Louisiana.He served in the United States House of Representatives from November 5, 1912, to March 4, 1917, from Louisiana's 6th congressional district, which then included part of the New Orleans area...
, an elderly politician from Covington
Covington, Louisiana
Covington is a city in and the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,483 at the 2000 census. It is located at a fork of the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River....
whose unexciting campaign found little resonance with voters. Long had to satisfy himself with running for Lieutenant Governor on Morgan's ticket.
Other candidates included 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...
of 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...
, Dudley J. LeBlanc
Dudley J. LeBlanc
Dudley Joseph "Coozan Dud" LeBlanc was a colorful and popular Democratic and Cajun member of the Louisiana State Senate whose entrepreneurial talents netted him a fortune through the alcohol-laden patent medicine known as "Hadacol." He is also considered the "father of the old age pension" in...
of Vermilion Parish, Vincent Moseley, State Senator Ernest S. Clements
Ernest S. Clements
Ernest S. Clements was a seemingly unlikely member of the Long political faction in Louisiana in a career which spanned 38 years from the 1930s to the 1970s. The pious, introverted Clements did not fit the public image of the no-holds-barred, extroverted Long man. William J...
of Oberlin
Oberlin, Louisiana
Oberlin is a town in and the parish seat of Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,853 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Johan Friedrich Oberlin.-Geography:Oberlin is located at ....
, the seat of Allen Parish, and Shreveport Mayor Sam Caldwell
Sam Caldwell
Samuel Shepherd Caldwell, known as Sam Caldwell , was an oilman who served as the Democratic mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1934-1946....
. Coming amid the grim mood of wartime, the 1944 campaign was widely seen as one of the quietest in years.
Results of First Primary
| Candidate | Votes received |
|---|---|
| Jimmie H. Davis | 167,434 |
| Lewis L. Morgan Lewis L. Morgan Lewis Lovering Morgan was an American lawyer and politician form the state of Louisiana.He served in the United States House of Representatives from November 5, 1912, to March 4, 1917, from Louisiana's 6th congressional district, which then included part of the New Orleans area... |
131,682 |
| 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... |
76,081 |
| Dudley J. LeBlanc Dudley J. LeBlanc Dudley Joseph "Coozan Dud" LeBlanc was a colorful and popular Democratic and Cajun member of the Louisiana State Senate whose entrepreneurial talents netted him a fortune through the alcohol-laden patent medicine known as "Hadacol." He is also considered the "father of the old age pension" in... |
40,392 |
| Sam S. Caldwell | 34,335 |
| Ernest Clements | 20,404 |
| Vincent Moseley | 7385 |
| Lee Lanier Lee Lanier Lee Lanier is an American 3D computer animator and the author of two books for the 3D modeling software package Maya—Advanced Maya Texturing and Lighting and Maya Professional Tips and Tricks—both published by Sybex... |
1641 |
LeBlanc and Morrison each won a handful of parishes in their respective bases in south Louisiana. Morgan did poorly in much of the state aside from the Long stronghold of Winn Parish and the surrounding area, but the number of votes turned out for him by the Old Regulars in New Orleans propelled him into the runoff. But Davis's popularity in north Louisiana and throughout the state's rural parishes gave him a strong lead.
Results of Second Primary
| Candidate | Votes received |
|---|---|
| Jimmie H. Davis | 251,228 |
| Lewis L. Morgan Lewis L. Morgan Lewis Lovering Morgan was an American lawyer and politician form the state of Louisiana.He served in the United States House of Representatives from November 5, 1912, to March 4, 1917, from Louisiana's 6th congressional district, which then included part of the New Orleans area... |
217,915 |
In the second primary, Morgan
Lewis L. Morgan
Lewis Lovering Morgan was an American lawyer and politician form the state of Louisiana.He served in the United States House of Representatives from November 5, 1912, to March 4, 1917, from Louisiana's 6th congressional district, which then included part of the New Orleans area...
maintained much of his support, but 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...
was able to pick up many of the votes of candidates defeated in the first primary, particularly in south Louisiana and New Orleans. Davis won with a comfortable majority and became governor.
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, 1944.