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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} |
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{{Infobox election |
{{Infobox election |
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| election_name = Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial primary |
| election_name = 1956 Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial primary |
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| country = Louisiana |
| country = Louisiana |
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| type = presidential |
| type = presidential |
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| ongoing = No |
| ongoing = No |
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| previous_election = Louisiana gubernatorial election |
| previous_election = 1952 Louisiana gubernatorial election |
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| previous_year = 1952 |
| previous_year = 1952 |
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| next_election = Louisiana gubernatorial election |
| next_election = 1960 Louisiana gubernatorial election |
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| next_year = |
| next_year = 1960 |
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| election_date = January 17, 1956 |
| election_date = January 17, 1956 |
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| flag_year = 1912 |
| flag_year = 1912 |
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| image1 = [[Image:Earl Long portrait.jpg| |
| image1 = [[Image:Earl Long portrait.jpg|x150px]] |
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| candidate1 |
| candidate1 = '''[[Earl Long]]''' |
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| party1 = Democratic Party (United States) |
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| popular_vote1 = '''421,681''' |
| popular_vote1 = '''421,681''' |
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| percentage1 = '''51.44%''' |
| percentage1 = '''51.44%''' |
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| image2 = [[ |
| image2 = [[File:DeLesseps S. Morrison (politician).png|x150px]] |
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| candidate2 |
| candidate2 = [[deLesseps Story Morrison|Chep Morrison]] |
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| party2 = Democratic Party (United States) |
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| colour2 = 228B22 |
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| popular_vote2 = 191,576 |
| popular_vote2 = 191,576 |
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| percentage2 = 23.37% |
| percentage2 = 23.37% |
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| image3 = 3x4.svg |
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| candidate3 = Fred Preaus |
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| party3 = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| popular_vote3 = 95,955 |
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| percentage3 = 11.71% |
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| image4 = |
| image4 = |
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| candidate4 |
| candidate4 = Francis Grevemberg |
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| party4 = Democratic Party (United States) |
| party4 = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| popular_vote4 = 62,309 |
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| colour4 = FF0000 |
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| |
| percentage4 = 7.60% |
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| percentage4 = 11.71% |
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| image5 = |
| image5 = |
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| candidate5 |
| candidate5 = James M. McLemore |
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| party5 = Democratic Party (United States) |
| party5 = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| popular_vote5 = 48,188 |
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| colour5 = FF7F00 |
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| |
| percentage5 = 5.88% |
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| map_image = 1956 Louisiana gubernatorial election results map by parish.svg |
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| percentage5 = 7.60% |
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| |
| map_size = 300px |
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| map_caption = Parish results<br>'''Long:''' {{legend0|#bdd3ff|30-40%}} {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40-50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50-60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60-70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70-80%}}<br>'''Morrison:''' {{legend0|#e9ddaf|40-50%}} <br>'''Preaus:''' {{legend0|#ff67ff|60–70%}} |
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| candidate7 = [[James M. McLemore]] |
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| party7 = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| colour7 = 9966CC |
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| popular_vote7 = 48,188 |
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| percentage7 = 5.88% |
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| title = Governor |
| title = Governor |
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| before_election = [[Robert F. Kennon]] |
| before_election = [[Robert F. Kennon]] |
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| before_party = Democratic Party (United States) |
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| after_election = [[Earl |
| after_election = [[Earl Long]] |
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| after_party = Democratic Party (United States) |
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States) |
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}} |
}} |
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{{ElectionsLA}} |
{{ElectionsLA}} |
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The '''Louisiana gubernatorial election |
The '''1956 Louisiana gubernatorial election''' was held on January 17, 1956. Incumbent governor [[Robert F. Kennon]] was ineligible to run for a second term in office. [[Earl K. Long]] won the Democratic primary, which was tantamountto election, securing his second full term as Governor of Louisiana. He received over 50% of the vote, defeating his opponents so soundly that no runoff vote was needed. His closest competitor was New Orleans mayor [[deLesseps Story Morrison]]. |
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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Like most [[Deep South|Southern states]] between the [[Reconstruction Era]] and the [[Civil Rights Movement]], [[Louisiana]]'s [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] was virtually nonexistent in terms of electoral support. This meant that the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] primary held on this date was the real contest over who would be [[governor]]. |
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Outgoing Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]] was constitutionally barred from succeeding himself. |
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Like most Southern states between the [[Reconstruction Era]] and the [[Civil Rights Movement]], [[Louisiana]]'s [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] was virtually nonexistent in terms of electoral support. This meant that the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] primary held on this date was the real contest over who would be [[governor]]. |
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== |
== Democratic primary == |
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===Candidates=== |
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Outgoing Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]] was constitutionally barred from succeeding himself. The candidates running to replace him were: |
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*Francis Grevemberg, State Police Superintendent |
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*[[Earl K. Long]], former governor (1939–40, 1948–52) of [[Winnfield, Louisiana|Winnfield]] |
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*James M. McLemore, [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] cattleman and candidate for governor in 1952 |
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*[[deLesseps Morrison]], Mayor of [[New Orleans]] since 1946 |
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*Fred Preaus, former Director of Highways, a car dealer and former member of the [[Farmerville, Louisiana|Farmerville]] Town Council |
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===Campaign=== |
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*[[Earl K. Long]] of [[Winnfield, Louisiana|Winnfield]], the head of the state's Longite faction, who has previously been governor from 1939 to 1940 and from 1948 to 1952. |
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*[[deLesseps Morrison]], mayor of [[New Orleans]] since 1946. The 1956 election was the first of Morrison's three failed bids for governor. |
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*[[Fred Preaus]], a car dealer and former member of the [[Farmerville, Louisiana|Farmerville]] Town Council, had been Director of Highways under Governor Kennon, and received Kennon's support. |
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*[[Francis Grevemberg]] of [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] was known for his high-profile gambling raids as State Police Superintendent. Grevemberg campaigned on his reputation for integrity, but his gambling crackdown had alienated too many people for him to receive much support. |
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*[[James M. McLemore]], an [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] cattleman, ran as a segregationist candidate in his second straight gubernatorial bid. |
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== Campaign == |
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Long's campaign promises included spending increases to fund health, education, and other social programs. He made these promises on an extensive tour of the state, stopping in nearly every town to deliver theatrical speeches mocking his opponents. The acerbic Long attacked Morrison with particular enthusiasm, mocking his toupee and fancy suits and calling him "as slick as a peeled onion", out of touch with residents of small towns and rural areas. Long also mocked his unusual first name: "Ole De la Soups is the only man that can talk out of both sides of his mouth, whistle, and strut all at once." In addition to his usual base, Long also won support from corrupt rural sheriffs who were angry at their loss of gambling revenues after Kennon's reforms and Grevemberg's raids. |
Long's campaign promises included spending increases to fund health, education, and other social programs. He made these promises on an extensive tour of the state, stopping in nearly every town to deliver theatrical speeches mocking his opponents. The acerbic Long attacked Morrison with particular enthusiasm, mocking his toupee and fancy suits and calling him "as slick as a peeled onion", out of touch with residents of small towns and rural areas. Long also mocked his unusual first name: "Ole De la Soups is the only man that can talk out of both sides of his mouth, whistle, and strut all at once." In addition to his usual base, Long also won support from corrupt rural sheriffs who were angry at their loss of gambling revenues after Kennon's reforms and Grevemberg's raids. |
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Despite the reluctance of Morrison's own [[Crescent City Democratic Association]], the New Orleans mayor was overly optimistic at his chances. Morrison had expected the support of Governor Kennon, but did not get it; Morrison had endorsed Kennon's opponent [[Hale Boggs]] in the first primary of the [[Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1952|1952 election]]. Long encouraged false optimism in Morrison's campaign by having his rural supporters write to the New Orleans mayor urging him to run for governor. This false rural support never materialized in the actual election; Morrison was too unfamiliar with the state's rural politics and fought a perception of urban sophistication that did not play well in the country. His emphasis on his record as mayor and his promises of economic development found little resonance with rural voters. |
Despite the reluctance of Morrison's own [[Crescent City Democratic Association]], the New Orleans mayor was overly optimistic at his chances. Morrison had expected the support of Governor Kennon, but did not get it; Morrison had endorsed Kennon's opponent [[Hale Boggs]] in the first primary of the [[Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1952|1952 election]]. Long encouraged false optimism in Morrison's campaign by having his rural supporters write to the New Orleans mayor urging him to run for governor. This false rural support never materialized in the actual election; Morrison was too unfamiliar with the state's rural politics and fought a perception of urban sophistication that did not play well in the country. His emphasis on his record as mayor and his promises of economic development found little resonance with rural voters. |
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Preaus, running third, had the support of incumbent governor Kennon. |
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== Results == |
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Grevemberg campaigned on his reputation for integrity, but his gambling crackdown had alienated too many people for him to receive much support. |
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'''Democratic Party Primary, January 17''' |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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McLemore ran a segregationist campaign as he had in 1952. |
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|- |
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!|Candidate |
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===Results=== |
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!|Votes received |
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!|Percent |
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|- |
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|'''[[Earl Long]]''' |
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|421,681 |
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|51.44% |
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|- |
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|[[deLesseps Morrison]] |
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|191,576 |
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|23.37% |
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|- |
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|[[Fred Preaus]] |
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|95,955 |
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|11.71% |
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|- |
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|[[Francis Grevemberg]] |
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|62,309 |
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|7.60% |
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|- |
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|[[James M. McLemore]] |
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|48,188 |
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|5.88% |
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|} |
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Earl Long won 62 of the state's 64 parishes; only [[Orleans Parish]] went to Morrison. The support of local political boss [[Leander Perez]] won [[Plaquemines Parish]] for Fred Preaus, who lost his own [[Union Parish, Louisiana|Union Parish]]. Long was intensely proud of his first-primary victory, exclaiming "Huey never done that!" |
Earl Long won 62 of the state's 64 parishes; only [[Orleans Parish]] went to Morrison. The support of local political boss [[Leander Perez]] won [[Plaquemines Parish]] for Fred Preaus, who lost his own [[Union Parish, Louisiana|Union Parish]]. Long was intensely proud of his first-primary victory, exclaiming "Huey never done that!" |
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{{Election box begin no change|title=1956 Democratic gubernatorial primary}} |
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{{sequence| |
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{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |
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prev=[[Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1952|1952 gubernatorial election]]| |
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| party = Democratic Party (United States) |
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list=[[Louisiana gubernatorial elections]]| |
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| candidate = [[Earl Long]] |
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next=[[Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1959-60|1959-60 gubernatorial election]]| |
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| votes = 421,681 |
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| percentage = 51.44% |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Election box candidate with party link no change |
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| party = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| candidate = [[deLesseps Morrison]] |
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| votes = 191,576 |
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| percentage = 23.37% |
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}} |
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{{Election box candidate with party link no change |
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| party = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| candidate = Fred Preaus |
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| votes = 95,955 |
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| percentage = 11.71% |
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}} |
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{{Election box candidate with party link no change |
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| party = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| candidate = Francis Grevemberg |
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| votes = 62,309 |
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| percentage = 7.60% |
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}} |
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{{Election box candidate with party link no change |
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| party = Democratic Party (United States) |
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| candidate = James M. McLemore |
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| votes = 48,188 |
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| percentage = 5.88% |
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}} |
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{{Election box total no change |
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| votes = 819,709 |
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| percentage = 5.88% |
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}} |
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{{Election box end}} |
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== Sources == |
== Sources == |
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Louisiana Secretary of State. ''Democratic Primary Election Returns'', 1956. |
Louisiana Secretary of State. ''Democratic Primary Election Returns'', 1956. |
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{{Louisiana elections}} |
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[[Category:Louisiana gubernatorial elections|1956]] |
[[Category:Louisiana gubernatorial elections|1956]] |
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[[Category:1956 United States gubernatorial elections]] |
[[Category:1956 United States gubernatorial elections|Louisiana]] |
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[[Category:1956 Louisiana elections|Gubernatorial]] |
[[Category:1956 Louisiana elections|Gubernatorial]] |
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[[Category:January 1956 events]] |
[[Category:January 1956 events in the United States|Louisiana gubernatorial election]] |
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Parish results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1956 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held on January 17, 1956. Incumbent governor Robert F. Kennon was ineligible to run for a second term in office. Earl K. Long won the Democratic primary, which was tantamount to election, securing his second full term as Governor of Louisiana. He received over 50% of the vote, defeating his opponents so soundly that no runoff vote was needed. His closest competitor was New Orleans mayor deLesseps Story Morrison.
Like most Southern states between the Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement, Louisiana's Republican Party was virtually nonexistent in terms of electoral support. This meant that the Democratic Party primary held on this date was the real contest over who would be governor.
Outgoing Governor Robert F. Kennon was constitutionally barred from succeeding himself.
Long's campaign promises included spending increases to fund health, education, and other social programs. He made these promises on an extensive tour of the state, stopping in nearly every town to deliver theatrical speeches mocking his opponents. The acerbic Long attacked Morrison with particular enthusiasm, mocking his toupee and fancy suits and calling him "as slick as a peeled onion", out of touch with residents of small towns and rural areas. Long also mocked his unusual first name: "Ole De la Soups is the only man that can talk out of both sides of his mouth, whistle, and strut all at once." In addition to his usual base, Long also won support from corrupt rural sheriffs who were angry at their loss of gambling revenues after Kennon's reforms and Grevemberg's raids.
Despite the reluctance of Morrison's own Crescent City Democratic Association, the New Orleans mayor was overly optimistic at his chances. Morrison had expected the support of Governor Kennon, but did not get it; Morrison had endorsed Kennon's opponent Hale Boggs in the first primary of the 1952 election. Long encouraged false optimism in Morrison's campaign by having his rural supporters write to the New Orleans mayor urging him to run for governor. This false rural support never materialized in the actual election; Morrison was too unfamiliar with the state's rural politics and fought a perception of urban sophistication that did not play well in the country. His emphasis on his record as mayor and his promises of economic development found little resonance with rural voters.
Preaus, running third, had the support of incumbent governor Kennon.
Grevemberg campaigned on his reputation for integrity, but his gambling crackdown had alienated too many people for him to receive much support.
McLemore ran a segregationist campaign as he had in 1952.
Earl Long won 62 of the state's 64 parishes; only Orleans Parish went to Morrison. The support of local political boss Leander Perez won Plaquemines Parish for Fred Preaus, who lost his own Union Parish. Long was intensely proud of his first-primary victory, exclaiming "Huey never done that!"
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Earl Long | 421,681 | 51.44% | |
| Democratic | deLesseps Morrison | 191,576 | 23.37% | |
| Democratic | Fred Preaus | 95,955 | 11.71% | |
| Democratic | Francis Grevemberg | 62,309 | 7.60% | |
| Democratic | James M. McLemore | 48,188 | 5.88% | |
| Total votes | 819,709 | 5.88% | ||
Haas, Edward F. DeLesseps S. Morrison and the Image of Reform: New Orleans Politics, 1946-60. LSU Press, 1974.
Kurtz, Michael and Morgan Peoples. Earl K. Long: The Saga of Uncle Earl and Louisiana Politics. LSU Press, 1990.
Louisiana Secretary of State. Democratic Primary Election Returns, 1956.
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Select elections in Louisiana
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General |
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| State Senate |
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| State House |
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| Governor |
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| U.S. President |
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| U.S. Senate |
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| U.S. House |
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See also: Political party strength in Louisiana | |||||
