Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1956

Louisiana Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1956
Louisiana
January 17, 1956

 
Nominee Earl K. Long deLesseps Story Morrison
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 421,681 191,576
Percentage 51.44% 23.37%

 
Nominee Fred Preaus Francis Grevemberg
Party Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 95,955 62,309
Percentage 11.71% 7.60%

 
Nominee James M. McLemore
Party Democratic
Popular vote 48,188
Percentage 5.88%

Governor before election

Robert F. Kennon
Democratic

Elected Governor

Earl K. Long
Democratic

The Louisiana gubernatorial election of 1956 was held on January 17, 1956. The 1956 election saw the election of Earl K. Long to 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.

Background

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.

Candidates

Outgoing Governor Robert F. Kennon was constitutionally barred from succeeding himself. The candidates running to replace him were:

Campaign

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.

Results

Democratic Party Primary, January 17

Candidate Votes received Percent
Earl Long 421,681 51.44%
deLesseps Morrison 191,576 23.37%
Fred Preaus 95,955 11.71%
Francis Grevemberg 62,309 7.60%
James M. McLemore 48,188 5.88%

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!"

Preceded by
1952 gubernatorial election
Louisiana gubernatorial elections Succeeded by
1959-60 gubernatorial election

Sources

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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