# 1928 Montana gubernatorial election

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The 1928 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1928. Incumbent Governor of Montana John E. Erickson, who was first elected governor in 1924, ran for re-election. Erickson only narrowly won the Democratic primary against future Governor Roy E. Ayers, and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by U.S. Attorney Wellington D. Rankin, the former Attorney General of Montana. Although Herbert Hoover carried the state in a landslide in the presidential election that year, Erickson won re-election to his second term as governor in a landslide over Rankin.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* John E. Erickson, incumbent Governor of Montana
* Roy E. Ayers, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Montana

### Results

Democratic Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John E. Erickson (incumbent) | 24,304 | 50.67 |
| | Democratic | Roy E. Ayers | 23,665 | 49.33 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,969 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Wellington D. Rankin, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana and former Attorney General of Montana
* Lee Dennis, former chairman of the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission
* W. J. Paul, former state senator
* J. W. Walker

### Results

Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Wellington D. Rankin | 30,778 | 45.58 |
| | Republican | Lee Dennis | 16,209 | 24.00 |
| | Republican | W. J. Paul | 11,337 | 16.79 |
| | Republican | J. W. Walker | 9,206 | 13.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 67,530 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1928 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John E. Erickson (incumbent) | 113,635 | 58.52% | +7.50% |
| | Republican | Wellington D. Rankin | 79,777 | 41.08% | −1.51% |
| | Socialist | W. R. Duncan | 781 | 0.40% | +0.13% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33,858 | 17.44% | +9.00% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 194,193 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |