For related races, see 1920 United States gubernatorial elections.
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 County resultsTaylor: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Roberts: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1920 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1920. Republican nominee Alfred A. Taylor, brother of former governor Robert Love Taylor, defeated Incumbent Democratic governor Albert H. Roberts with 54.9% of the vote.
Roberts alienated a significant portion of his party by enacting unpopular tax reforms and helping ratify the 19th Amendment (which gave women the right to vote). Taylor also supported the 19th Amendment, but he campaigned primarily against Roberts' tax reforms. This was the state's first gubernatorial election in which women could vote.
Before this election, Alfred A. Taylor ran for governor in 1886, which he lost to his brother. After this election, no Republican would win a Tennessee gubernatorial election until Winfield Dunn won in 1970.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on August 5, 1920.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Albert H. Roberts, incumbent governor
- W. H. Crabtree
- John Randolph Neal Jr., attorney
- W. L. Wirt
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Albert H. Roberts (incumbent) | 67,886 | 59.56% | |
| Democratic | W. H. Crabtree | 44,853 | 39.35% | |
| Democratic | John Randolph Neal Jr. | 957 | 0.84% | |
| Democratic | W. L. Wirt | 276 | 0.24% | |
| Total votes | 113,972 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- Alfred A. Taylor, Republican
- Albert H. Roberts, Democratic
Other candidates
- J. M. Lindsley, Socialist
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Alfred A. Taylor | 229,133 | 54.93% | +17.29 | |
| Democratic | Albert H. Roberts (incumbent) | 185,890 | 44.56% | −17.81 | |
| Socialist | J. M. Lindsley | 2,113 | 0.51% | N/A | |
| Majority | 43,243 | 10.37% | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 417,136 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | ||||
See also
References
- Robert L. Taylor, Jr., "Alfred Alexander Taylor," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: 6 December 2012.
- ^ Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
| (1919←) 1920 United States elections (→1921) | |
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