1944 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1944 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944. Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Nance McCord defeated Republican Greeneville attorney John Wesley Kilgo with 62.5% of the vote.^[1]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

1944 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1942 November 7, 1944 1946 →

Nominee Jim Nance McCord John W. Kilgo Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 275,746 158,742 Percentage 62.50% 35.98%

County results McCord:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Kilgo:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Prentice Cooper Democratic Elected Governor Jim Nance McCord Democratic

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In the primary election, McCord sought his party's nomination for governor in the race to succeed the incumbent, Prentice Cooper, who was term-limited.^[2] With the support of powerful Memphis political boss, E. H. Crump, McCord won the primary by a lopsided margin over Knoxville law professor John R. Neal and Nashville attorney Rex Manning.^[2]

After losing the Democratic primary, Neal ran in the general election as an independent.