1946 Arizona gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1946 United States gubernatorial elections.

1946 Arizona gubernatorial election

November 5, 1946

Nominee Sidney Preston Osborn Bruce Brockett Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 73,595 48,867 Percentage 60.10% 39.90%

Election results by county Osborn:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Sidney Preston Osborn Democratic Elected Governor Sidney Preston Osborn Democratic

The 1946 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1946. Incumbent Governor Sidney Preston Osborn ran for reelection, easily winning the Democratic primary, as well as defeating Republican challenger Bruce Brockett in the general election, and was sworn into his fourth term as Governor on January 7, 1947. Osborn died in office a year later.

In comparison to previous election cycles, Brockett signaled a shift in voters becoming more Republican, outperforming their past electoral failures significantly.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Sidney P. Osborn, former Secretary of State of Arizona
• Howard Sprouse, state legislator

Results

Democratic primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sidney Preston Osborn (incumbent)	64,875	81.67%
	Democratic	Howard Sprouse	14,565	18.34%
Total votes			79,440	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bruce Brockett, cattleman

General election

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1946[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sidney Preston Osborn (incumbent)	73,595	60.10%	−17.81%
	Republican	Bruce Brockett	48,867	39.90%	+18.71%
Majority			24,728	20.19%
Total votes			122,462	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	-36.52%

Results by county

County	Sidney P. Osborn Democratic		Bruce Brockett Republican		Margin		Total votes cast[3]
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Apache	1,183	62.13%	721	37.87%	462	24.26%	1,904
Cochise	5,945	69.78%	2,575	30.22%	3,370	39.55%	8,520
Coconino	1,637	54.93%	1,343	45.07%	294	9.87%	2,980
Gila	3,651	63.47%	2,101	36.53%	1,550	26.95%	5,752
Graham	1,866	58.55%	1,321	41.45%	545	17.10%	3,187
Greenlee	1,594	78.87%	427	21.13%	1,167	57.74%	2,021
Maricopa	30,164	56.52%	23,205	43.48%	6,959	13.04%	53,369
Mohave	1,572	71.91%	614	28.09%	958	43.82%	2,186
Navajo	1,988	59.25%	1,367	40.75%	621	18.51%	3,355
Pima	13,061	61.72%	8,102	38.28%	4,959	23.43%	21,163
Pinal	2,797	61.96%	1,717	38.04%	1,080	23.93%	4,514
Santa Cruz	1,230	68.49%	566	31.51%	664	36.97%	1,796
Yavapai	3,916	55.10%	3,191	44.90%	725	10.20%	7,107
Yuma	2,991	64.91%	1,617	35.09%	1,374	29.82%	4,608
Totals	73,595	60.10%	48,867	39.90%	24,728	20.19%	122,462

References

1. Lavin, Patrick (2001). Arizona: An Illustrated History. ISBN 9780781808521. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
2. "Primary Election Returns, State of Arizona, July 16, 1946". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
3. "Official Canvass General Election Returns November 5, 1946". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved July 12, 2024.