1946 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 1946 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946. Incumbent Democratic governor Jim Nance McCord defeated Republican nominee William O. Lowe with 65.4% of the vote.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

1946 Tennessee gubernatorial election

← 1944 November 5, 1946 1948 →

Nominee Jim Nance McCord William O. Lowe Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 149,937 73,222 Percentage 65.35% 31.91%

County results McCord:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Lowe:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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

Close

In the primary campaign, McCord faced a primary challenge from former governor Gordon Browning (who was in Germany and did not actively campaign).^[1] The 1946 primary was marred by an uprising known as the "Battle of Athens," which erupted when several hundred ex-World War II veterans launched an armed assault on the jail in Athens, Tennessee, where the sheriff and several Crump-linked figures had retreated with ballot boxes, presumably to fix local elections. McCord dispatched the state guard to restore order.^[2]

McCord comfortably defeated Browning, winning the primary with 59.8% of the vote.