# 1940 Colorado gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1940 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican Ralph Lawrence Carr defeated Democratic nominee George E. Saunders with 54.37% of the vote.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1940.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* George E. Saunders, Secretary of State of Colorado
* John A. Carroll, District Attorney of Denver
* George J. Knapp

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | George E. Saunders | 75,130 | 57.0% |
| | Democratic | John A. Carroll | 50,787 | 38.5% |
| | Democratic | George J. Knapp | 5,967 | 4.5% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 131,884 | |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Ralph Lawrence Carr, incumbent Governor

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Lawrence Carr (incumbent) | 95,521 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 95,521 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

Major party candidates
* Ralph Lawrence Carr, Republican
* George E. Saunders, Democratic
Other candidates
* Carle Whitehead, Socialist
* Laurence W. Coffman, Prohibition

### Results

1940 Colorado gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Ralph Lawrence Carr (incumbent) | 296,671 | 54.37% | −1.45% |
| | Democratic | George E. Saunders | 245,292 | 44.96% | +1.30% |
| | Socialist | Carle Whitehead | 2,211 | 0.41% | |
| | Prohibition | Laurence W. Coffman | 1,462 | 0.27% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51,379 | 9.41% | −2.75% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 545,636 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |