Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1936

Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1936

January 21, 1936

Nominee Richard W. Leche Cleveland Dear Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 362,502 176,150 Percentage 67.08% 32.60%

Governor before election James A. Noe Democratic Elected Governor Richard W. Leche Democratic

The Louisiana gubernatorial election of 1936 was held on January 21, 1936. Like most Southern states between Reconstruction and the civil rights era, 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. The election resulted in the victory of Richard W. Leche of New Orleans as governor. Leche was supported by the Longite faction of the party and Cleveland Dear of Alexandria by the anti-Longs' "Home Rule" ticket. State Representative Mason Spencer of Tallulah dropped out of the race and endorsed Dear, but the ballots had already been printed, and he received nearly two thousand votes.

Results

Democratic Party Primary, January 21

Candidate	Votes received	Percent
Richard W. Leche	362,502	67.08%
Cleveland Dear	176,150	32.60%
Leonard Mason Spencer	1,718	0.32%

Sources

State of Louisiana. Compilation of Primary Election Returns of the Democratic Party, State of Louisiana, 1936.