# 1948 Montana gubernatorial election

Elections in Montana :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1890
1895
1895 sp
1899
1901
1901 sp
1905
1907
1911
1913
1916
1918
1922
1924
1928
1930
1934
1934 sp
1936
1940
1942
1946
1948
1952
1954
1958
1960
1964
1966
1970
1972
1976
1978
1982
1984
1988
1990
1994
1996
2000
2002
2006
2008
2012
2014
2018
2020
2024
2026
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1889
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1945
2nd sp
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1969
2nd sp
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2017
AL sp
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
General elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1889
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Secretary of State elections
2020
2024
Attorney General elections
2020
2024
State Auditor elections
2020
2024
Senate elections
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
1894Capital referendum
2004Initiative 96
2012Referendum 121
2016Initiative 182
2020Initiative 190
2022Referendum 131
2024Initiative 128 :
Billings
Mayoral elections
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025 :
Missoula
Mayoral elections
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023
2027 :
Great Falls
Mayoral elections
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025 :
Bozeman
Mayoral elections
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025 :
Helena
Mayoral elections
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025 :
vte :
The 1948 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1948. Incumbent Governor of Montana Sam C. Ford, who was first elected Governor in 1940 and was re-elected in 1944, ran for re-election. He won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced John W. Bonner, the former Attorney General of Montana and the Democratic nominee. Ultimately, Bonner defeated Ford handily in his bid for re-election, winning his first and only term as governor.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* John W. Bonner, former Attorney General of Montana
* Arthur F. Lamey, former chairman of the Montana Democratic Party
* Leif Erickson, former Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, 1946 Democratic nominee for the United States Senate, 1944 Democratic nominee for Governor of Montana
* Vernon Hoven
* George M. Melton

### Results

Democratic Party primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John W. Bonner | 29,514 | 37.32 |
| | Democratic | Arthur F. Lamey | 23,214 | 29.36 |
| | Democratic | Leif Erickson | 18,478 | 23.37 |
| | Democratic | Vernon Hoven | 3,990 | 5.05 |
| | Democratic | George M. Melton | 3,879 | 4.91 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 79,075 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Sam C. Ford, incumbent Governor of Montana
* Leonard C. Young
* Mike Kuchera, furniture dealer

### Results

Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sam C. Ford (incumbent) | 41,493 | 72.38 |
| | Republican | Leonard C. Young | 11,023 | 19.23 |
| | Republican | Mike Kuchera | 4,811 | 8.39 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 57,327 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

Montana gubernatorial election, 1948 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | John W. Bonner | 124,267 | 55.73% | +12.56% |
| | Republican | Sam C. Ford (incumbent) | 97,792 | 43.86% | −12.50% |
| | Socialist | Leverne Hamilton | 905 | 0.41% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26,475 | 11.87% | −1.31% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 222,964 | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | | |