# Gordon L. McDonough

Gordon Leo McDonough (January 2, 1895 – June 25, 1968) was an American politician who served nine terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1945 to 1963.

## Early life and career

Born in Buffalo, New York, McDonough moved with his parents to Emporium, Pennsylvania, in 1898. He attended the public schools and graduated from the high school there.
He engaged as an industrial chemist in Emporium from 1915 to 1918. He moved to Los Angeles, California and resumed his former occupation, from 1918 to 1933. He served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from 1933 to 1944, serving as County chair for one year.

## Congress

McDonough was elected as a Republican to the Seventy-ninth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1963). In 1962 California gained eight U.S. House seats. To boost the chances for re-election for Republican colleagues and opportunities for potential new Republican House members, McDonough ran in a newly drawn but unfavorable district against Democrat Edward Roybal, a member of the Los Angeles City Council. Roybal defeated McDonough to become the first Latino American member of Congress from California in 80 years.
McDonough voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

## Private life

He was married to Catherine McNeil and they raised seven children.
McDonough appeared on the Groucho Marx game show You Bet Your Life on January 4, 1950.

## Death

He died in Bethesda, Maryland, June 25, 1968, and was interred in Holy Cross Mausoleum, Los Angeles, California.

## Electoral history

1944 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough | 100,305 | 56.6 |
| | Democratic | Hal Styles | 73,655 | 41.6 |
| | Prohibition | Johannes Nielson-Lange | 2,694 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 177,081 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
1946 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 106,020 | 99.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 106,628 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1948 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 131,933 | 83.0 |
| | Progressive | Maynard Omerberg | 27,007 | 17.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 159,031 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1950 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 112,704 | 87.1 |
| | Progressive | Jeanne Cole | 16,559 | 12.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 129,352 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1952 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 142,545 | 99.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 142,932 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1954 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 77,651 | 56.9 |
| | Democratic | Frank O'Sullivan | 58,785 | 43.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 136,445 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1956 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 97,182 | 57.9 |
| | Democratic | Emery Petty | 70,681 | 42.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 167,865 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1958 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 77,267 | 52.0 |
| | Democratic | Emery Petty | 71,192 | 48.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 148,482 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1960 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 89,234 | 51.3 |
| | Democratic | Norman Martell | 84,650 | 48.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 174,035 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
1962 United States House of Representatives elections in California :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edward R. Roybal | 69,008 | 56.5 |
| | Republican | Gordon L. McDonough (Incumbent) | 53,104 | 43.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 122,112 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |