# 1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election

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vte :
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.

### Democratic primary

24.5% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.

#### Candidates

* John Jay Hooker, perennial candidate
* Stan Snodgrass
* Robert L. Taylor
* Mary Anderson
* Ralph W. Emerson
* James A. Newton

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 590,061 | 100.00 |

### Republican primary

10.1% of the voting age population participated in the Republican primary.

#### Candidates

* Winfield Dunn, former chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party
* Maxey Jarman
* Bill Jenkins, former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
* Claude Robertson
* Hubert David Patty, perennial candidate

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | 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 :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 66,256 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,108,247 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | |