1936 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1936 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1936. Democratic nominee Gordon Browning defeated Republican nominee Pat H. Thach with 80.4% of the vote.

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1936 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1934 November 3, 1936 1938 â†’

Nominee Gordon Browning Pat H. Thach Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 332,523 77,392 Percentage 80.38% 18.71%

County results Browning:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Thach:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Hill McAlister Democratic Elected Governor Prentice Cooper Democratic

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Incumbent Democratic governor Hill McAlister angered Memphis political boss E. H. Crump by proposing a state sales tax, and did not seek re-election. Gordon Browning sought the party's nomination, his chief opponent being Campbell County school superintendent Burgin Dossett. Crump initially proclaimed neutrality, but when it became clear Browning could win with or without the Shelby County vote, he endorsed Browning.^[1] Browning coasted to victory in the primary, and defeated the Republican candidate, Pat H. Thach, 332,523 votes to 77,392 in the general election.^[2]

Browning had campaigned on cleaning up state government, getting the debt (which had skyrocketed to over $100 million by the time he took office) under control, and maintaining statewide prohibition (national prohibition had ended with the repeal of the 18th Amendment).^[3]