# 1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1948.
Incumbent Democratic Governor Benjamin Travis Laney did not seek a third term.
Democratic nominee Sid McMath defeated Republican nominee Charles R. Black with 89.37% of the vote.

## Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on July 27, 1948, with the runoff held on August 10, 1948.

### Candidates

* C. A. Fleming
* Jack Wilson Holt Sr., former Arkansas Attorney General
* William Jennings
* John Lonsdale, Jr., former mayor of Lonsdale
* James "Uncle Mac" MacKrell, radio presenter
* Sid McMath, prosecuting attorney for the Eighth Judicial District
* Horace Thompson, former Internal Revenue collector

#### Withdrew

* Bob Ed Loftin (endorsed McMath)
* Jim Merritt, attorney (endorsed Holt)

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sid McMath | 87,829 | 34.07 |
| | Democratic | Jack Holt | 60,313 | 23.40 |
| | Democratic | James MacKrell | 57,030 | 22.12 |
| | Democratic | Horace Thompson | 48,674 | 18.88 |
| | Democratic | C. A. Fleming | 1,661 | 0.64 |
| | Democratic | John Lonsdale, Jr. | 1,267 | 0.49 |
| | Democratic | William Jennings | 668 | 0.27 |
| | Democratic | Jim Merritt | 218 | 0.09 |
| | Democratic | Bob Ed Loftin | 96 | 0.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 257,776 | 100.00 |
Democratic primary runoff results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sid McMath | 157,137 | 51.69 |
| | Democratic | Jack Holt | 146,880 | 48.31 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 304,017 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

* Sid McMath, Democratic
* Charles R. Black, Republican, lumber manufacturer

### Results

1948 Arkansas gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Sid McMath | 222,801 | 89.37% | +5.23% |
| | Republican | Charles R. Black | 26,500 | 10.63% | −5.23% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196,301 | 78.74% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 249,301 | 100.00% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |