1946 Colorado gubernatorial election

1946 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 1944 November 5, 1946 1948 →

Nominee William Lee Knous Leon Lavington Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 174,604 160,483 Percentage 52.11% 47.89%

County results Knous:      50–60%      60–70% Lavington:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election John Charles Vivian Republican Elected Governor William Lee Knous Democratic

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v t e

The 1946 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946. Democratic nominee William Lee Knous defeated Republican nominee Leon Lavington with 52.11% of the vote, becoming the first Democrat to win the governorship since 1936.

Primary elections were held on September 10, 1946.^[1]

• William Lee Knous, Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William Lee Knous	45,104	100.00

• Leon Lavington, Auditor of Colorado

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Leon Lavington	39,646	100.00

• William Lee Knous, Democratic
• Leon Lavington, Republican

1946 Colorado gubernatorial election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William Lee Knous	174,604	52.11%	+4.51%
	Republican	Leon Lavington	160,483	47.89%	−4.51%
Majority			14,121	4.22%
Turnout			335,087
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing