Battle of Backbone Mountain

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The 1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Governor Buford Ellington was term-limited and was prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking another term. Republican nominee Winfield Dunn, defeated Democratic opponent John Jay Hooker with 52.0% of the vote.

With this win, Dunn became the first Republican to win a Tennessee gubernatorial election in fifty years.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 6, 1970.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Jay Hooker 261,580 44.33
Democratic Stan Snodgrass 193,199 32.74
Democratic Robert L. Taylor 90,009 15.25
Democratic Mary Anderson 29,175 4.94
Democratic Ralph W. Emerson 12,608 2.14
Democratic James A. Newton 3,490 0.59
Total votes 590,061 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Winfield Dunn 81,475 33.26
Republican Maxey Jarman 70,420 28.74
Republican Bill Jenkins 50,910 20.78
Republican Claude Robertson 40,547 16.55
Republican Hubert David Patty 1,647 0.67
Total votes 244,999 100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

  • Winfield Dunn, Republican
  • John Jay Hooker, Democratic

Other candidates

  • Douglas L. Heinsohn, American

Results

1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Winfield Dunn 575,777 51.95%
Democratic John Jay Hooker 509,521 45.98%
American Douglas L. Heinsohn 22,945 2.07%
Majority 66,256
Turnout 1,108,247
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. ^ Cook, Rhodes (October 26, 2017). America Votes 32: 2015-2016, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. ISBN 9781506368993. Retrieved February 13, 2019.