1938 Arizona gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1938 United States gubernatorial elections.

1938 Arizona gubernatorial election

November 8, 1938

Nominee Robert Taylor Jones Jerrie W. Lee Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 80,350 32,022 Percentage 68.57% 27.33%

County results Jones:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Rawghlie Clement Stanford Democratic Elected Governor Robert Taylor Jones Democratic

The 1938 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Governor Rawghlie Clement Stanford declined to run for reelection, with pharmacy and cattle ranch owner Robert Taylor Jones winning the Democratic nomination to succeed Stanford.

Robert Taylor Jones defeated Jerrie W. Lee in the general election, and was sworn into his first and only term as Governor on January 2, 1939, becoming Arizona's sixth Governor.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary took place on September 13, 1938. Incumbent Governor Rawghlie Clement Stanford, who had served only one term, declined to run for reelection amidst the Great Depression. Pharmacy and cattle ranch owner Robert Taylor Jones, Secretary of State James H. Kerby, former Secretary of State Sidney P. Osborn, Mayor Andrew Jackson Bettwy, and C. M. Zander ran to replace Stanford.

After losing the Democratic primary, James Kerby ran as an Independent Democrat in the general election, but received only token support, in the single digits.

Candidates

• Robert Taylor Jones, pharmacy owner, cattle rancher
• James H. Kerby, Secretary of State of Arizona
• Sidney P. Osborn, former Secretary of State of Arizona
• Andrew Jackson Bettwy, former Mayor of Nogales, Arizona
• C. M. Zander, Secretary of the Board of Directors of State Institutions

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Taylor Jones	38,543	34.20%
	Democratic	James H. Kerby	35,867	31.83%
	Democratic	Sidney P. Osborn	34,307	30.44%
	Democratic	Andrew J. Bettwy	3,584	3.18%
	Democratic	C. M. Zander	389	0.35%
Total votes			112,690	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jerrie W. Lee, secretary of the Arizona Wool Growers Association

General election

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Robert Taylor Jones	80,350	68.57%	-2.11%
	Republican	Jerrie W. Lee	32,022	27.33%	-1.78%
	Independent Democrat	James H. Kerby	4,814	4.11%	N/A
Majority			48,328	41.24%	-0.33%
Turnout			117,184
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing