1928 Texas gubernatorial election

1928 Texas gubernatorial election

6 November 1928
Turnout	51.6% 31.1%[1]
Nominee Dan Moody W. H. Holmes Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 582,968 123,337 Percentage 82.43% 17.44%
County results Moody:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Holmes:      50–60%      No vote
Governor before election Dan Moody Democratic Elected Governor Dan Moody Democratic

The 1928 Texas gubernatorial election was held on 6 November 1928 in order to elect the Governor of Texas. Incumbent Democratic Governor Dan Moody won re-election against Republican nominee W. H. Holmes.[2]

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on 28 July 1928. As incumbent Governor Dan Moody won a majority of the vote, a run-off was unnecessary.

Candidates

• William E. Hawkins, former associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court[3]
• Dan Moody, incumbent Governor of Texas[3]
• Louis J. Wardlaw, incumbent state circuit court judge and ally of James E. Ferguson.[4]
• Edith Wilmans, former member of the Texas House of Representatives and first woman elected to the Texas legislature.[5]

Results

Candidate	Votes	%
Dan Moody	442,080	59.91
Louis J. Wardlaw	245,508	33.27
William E. Hawkins	32,076	4.35
Edith Wilmans	18,237	2.47
Total	737,901	100.00
Source: [6]

General election

On election day, 6 November 1928, Democratic nominee Dan Moody won re-election by a margin of 459,631 votes against his foremost opponent Republican nominee W. H. Holmes, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of Governor. Moody was sworn in for his second term on 20 January 1929.[7]

Candidates

• W. H. Holmes (Republican), oil operator from Amarillo.[8]
• Dan Moody, incumbent Governor
• Lee Lightfoot Rhodes (Socialist), former member of the Texas House of Representatives.[9]
• Joseph Stedham (Communist)[10]

Results

Texas gubernatorial election, 1928

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dan Moody (incumbent)	582,968	82.43
	Republican	W. H. Holmes	123,337	17.44
	Socialist	Lee Lightfoot Rhodes	787	0.11
	Communist	J. Stedham	109	0.02
Total votes			707,201	100.00
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Texas Almanac, 1939-1940". Portal to Texas History. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
2. "Moody, Daniel James Jr". Texas State Historical Association. June 15, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
3. "Fergusonism Ghost Exhumed by Moody". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. July 29, 1928. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via Google Newspapers.
4. Wardlaw, Trevor P. (January 8, 2021). "Wardlaw, Louis Jasper (1880–1961)". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
5. Goldthwaite, Carmen (2012). Texas Dames: Sassy and Savvy Women Throughout Lone Star History. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-1-60949-812-2.
6. "TX Governor - D Primary". ourcampaigns.com. June 20, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
7. "TX Governor". ourcampaigns.com. June 26, 2006. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
8. "Tex Gubernatorial Race". Lundington Daily News. October 10, 1928. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via Google Newspapers.
9. Green, Michael (April 15, 2015). "Rhodes, Lee Lightfoot (1864–1936)". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
10. "Texas Red Candidate" (PDF). Daily Worker. Vol. 5, no. 250. October 10, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Marxist Internet Archive.