1934 Oregon gubernatorial election
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The 1934 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1934, to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Oregon. Democrat Charles H. Martin, who retired from the United States House of Representatives to run for governor, won a plurality over Republican Oregon State Senator Peter Zimmerman (who ran as an Independent), Republican nominee Joe E. Dunne, also a state senator, and several minor candidates. Willis Mahoney unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination, while Rufus C. Holman unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination. Oregon would not elect another Democratic governor until 1956. As of 2026, this is also the last gubernatorial election in which Malheur County supported the Democratic candidate.
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November 6, 1934
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 County results Martin: 30â40% 40â50% 50â60% Zimmerman: 30â40% 40â50% Dunne: 30â40% 40â50% 50â60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Primary election
Oregon held primary elections on May 18, 1934.
Republican party
State senator Joe E. Dunne emerged victorious from a crowded primary field.
Candidates
- Sam H. Brown, member of Oregon State Senate
- Joe E. Dunne, member of Oregon State Senate
- Rufus C. Holman, Treasurer of Oregon
- Frank J. Lonergan, member of Oregon House of Representatives
- Ulysses G. McAlexander, military officer
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joe E. Dunne | 42,563 | 30.00% | |
| Republican | Sam H. Brown | 29,913 | 21.08% | |
| Republican | Rufus C. Holman | 27,804 | 19.60% | |
| Republican | Ulysses G. McAlexander | 20,793 | 14.65% | |
| Republican | Frank J. Lonergan | 18,121 | 12.77% | |
| Republican | Scattering | 2,695 | 1.90% | |
| Total votes | 141,889 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic party
Representative Charles H. Martin defeated Willis Mahoney for the Democratic nomination.
Candidates
- Willis Mahoney, mayor of Klamath Falls
- Charles H. Martin, representative from Oregon's 3rd district
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Martin | 46,372 | 58.36% | |
| Democratic | Willis Mahoney | 32,962 | 41.48% | |
| Democratic | Scattering | 126 | 0.16% | |
| Total votes | 79,460 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Joe E. Dunne, Republican
- Charles H. Martin, Democratic
- Peter Zimmerman, Independent
- Harry J. Correll, Independent
- Abraham M. Silverman, Independent
- Hank E. Wirth, Independent
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Martin | 116,677 | 38.57% | +13.47% | |
| Independent | Peter Zimmerman | 95,519 | 31.57% | ||
| Republican | Joe E. Dunne | 86,923 | 28.73% | +9.91% | |
| Independent | Harry J. Correll | 1,475 | 0.49% | ||
| Independent | Abraham M. Silverman | 1,379 | 0.46% | ||
| Independent | Hank E. Wirth | 536 | 0.18% | ||
| Write-in | Scattering | 12 | 0.00% | ||
| Total votes | 302,521 | 100.00% | |||
| Plurality | 21,158 | 6.99% | |||
| Democratic gain from Independent | Swing | +36.41% | |||
Results by county
In addition to this being the most recent election in which Malheur County backed the Democratic candidate, Jefferson County, Josephine County, and Sherman County have only voted Democratic once since this election.[a] As of 2026, this is the last gubernatorial election in which a Democrat was elected without carrying Lincoln County.
| County[3] | Charles H. Martin Democratic |
Peter Zimmerman Independent |
Joe E. Dunne Republican |
All Others Independent |
Margin[b] | Total votes cast | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Baker | 2,394 | 46.60% | 1,111 | 21.63% | 1,576 | 30.68% | 56 | 1.09% | 818[c] | 15.92% | 5,137 |
| Benton | 2,138 | 37.02% | 996 | 17.24% | 2,617 | 45.31% | 25 | 0.43% | -479[d] | -8.29% | 5,776 |
| Clackamas | 4,994 | 32.01% | 6,807 | 43.63% | 3,644 | 23.35% | 158 | 1.01% | -1,813 | -11.62% | 15,603 |
| Clatsop | 2,957 | 48.22% | 1,230 | 20.06% | 1,807 | 29.47% | 138 | 2.25% | 1,150[c] | 18.75% | 6,132 |
| Columbia | 1,924 | 34.94% | 1,950 | 35.41% | 1,582 | 28.73% | 51 | 0.93% | -26 | -0.47% | 5,507 |
| Coos | 3,180 | 42.48% | 1,632 | 21.80% | 2,489 | 33.25% | 184 | 2.46% | 691[c] | 9.23% | 7,485 |
| Crook | 461 | 39.03% | 220 | 18.63% | 487 | 41.24% | 13 | 1.10% | -26[d] | -2.20% | 1,181 |
| Curry | 503 | 40.60% | 320 | 25.83% | 368 | 29.70% | 48 | 3.87% | 135[c] | 10.90% | 1,239 |
| Deschutes | 1,747 | 40.85% | 951 | 22.24% | 1,499 | 35.05% | 80 | 1.87% | 248[c] | 5.80% | 4,277 |
| Douglas | 2,818 | 37.05% | 1,539 | 20.24% | 3,142 | 41.31% | 106 | 1.39% | -324[d] | -4.26% | 7,605 |
| Gilliam | 486 | 44.42% | 232 | 21.21% | 370 | 33.82% | 6 | 0.55% | 116[c] | 10.60% | 1,094 |
| Grant | 557 | 33.35% | 472 | 28.26% | 613 | 36.71% | 28 | 1.68% | -56[d] | -3.35% | 1,670 |
| Harney | 567 | 42.44% | 393 | 29.42% | 357 | 26.72% | 19 | 1.42% | 174 | 13.02% | 1,336 |
| Hood River | 1,145 | 44.45% | 511 | 19.84% | 905 | 35.13% | 15 | 0.58% | 240[c] | 9.32% | 2,576 |
| Jackson | 5,086 | 49.78% | 2,013 | 19.70% | 3,016 | 29.52% | 102 | 1.00% | 2,070[c] | 20.26% | 10,217 |
| Jefferson | 332 | 45.73% | 122 | 16.80% | 265 | 36.50% | 7 | 0.96% | 67[c] | 9.23% | 726 |
| Josephine | 2,079 | 51.03% | 754 | 18.51% | 1,193 | 29.28% | 48 | 1.18% | 886[c] | 21.75% | 4,074 |
| Klamath | 2,140 | 23.34% | 2,602 | 28.38% | 4,101 | 44.73% | 325 | 3.54% | -1,499[e] | -16.35% | 9,168 |
| Lake | 817 | 44.14% | 283 | 15.29% | 716 | 38.68% | 35 | 1.89% | 101 | 5.46% | 1,851 |
| Lane | 6,634 | 37.45% | 5,797 | 32.73% | 5,135 | 28.99% | 146 | 0.82% | 837 | 4.73% | 17,712 |
| Lincoln | 1,149 | 32.97% | 1,191 | 34.18% | 1,093 | 31.36% | 52 | 1.49% | -42 | -1.21% | 3,485 |
| Linn | 3,207 | 34.89% | 3,004 | 32.68% | 2,901 | 31.56% | 79 | 0.86% | 203 | 2.21% | 9,191 |
| Malheur | 1,108 | 42.68% | 573 | 22.07% | 876 | 33.74% | 39 | 1.50% | 232[c] | 8.94% | 2,596 |
| Marion | 6,537 | 33.40% | 8,227 | 42.03% | 4,633 | 23.67% | 176 | 0.90% | -1,690 | -8.63% | 19,573 |
| Morrow | 492 | 38.89% | 340 | 26.88% | 416 | 32.89% | 17 | 1.34% | 76[c] | 6.01% | 1,265 |
| Multnomah | 44,059 | 40.19% | 36,862 | 33.62% | 27,675 | 25.24% | 1,040 | 0.95% | 7,197 | 6.56% | 109,636 |
| Polk | 2,057 | 38.17% | 1,952 | 36.22% | 1,340 | 24.87% | 40 | 0.74% | 105 | 1.95% | 5,389 |
| Sherman | 378 | 37.43% | 291 | 28.81% | 337 | 33.37% | 4 | 0.40% | 41[c] | 4.06% | 1,010 |
| Tillamook | 1,218 | 32.13% | 1,527 | 40.28% | 1,015 | 26.77% | 31 | 0.82% | -309 | -8.15% | 3,791 |
| Umatilla | 3,147 | 46.13% | 1,336 | 19.58% | 2,283 | 33.47% | 56 | 0.82% | 864[c] | 12.66% | 6,822 |
| Union | 1,882 | 39.50% | 1,432 | 30.05% | 1,391 | 29.19% | 60 | 1.26% | 450 | 9.44% | 4,765 |
| Wallowa | 605 | 28.74% | 740 | 35.15% | 736 | 34.96% | 24 | 1.14% | -4[f] | -0.19% | 2,105 |
| Wasco | 1,763 | 45.82% | 677 | 17.59% | 1,382 | 35.91% | 26 | 0.68% | 381[c] | 9.90% | 3,848 |
| Washington | 3,201 | 33.90% | 3,861 | 40.89% | 2,291 | 24.26% | 90 | 0.95% | -660 | -6.99% | 9,443 |
| Wheeler | 413 | 34.97% | 151 | 12.79% | 596 | 50.47% | 21 | 1.78% | -183[d] | -15.50% | 1,181 |
| Yamhill | 2,502 | 31.06% | 3,420 | 42.46% | 2,076 | 25.77% | 57 | 0.71% | -918 | -11.40% | 8,055 |
| Total | 116,677 | 38.57% | 95,519 | 31.57% | 86,923 | 28.73% | 3,402 | 1.12% | 21,158 | 6.99% | 302,521 |
