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.
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Primary elections were held on September 10, 1946.[1]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Lee Knous | 45,104 | 100.00 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Leon Lavington | 39,646 | 100.00 | |
| 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 | ||||
