The Democratic primary election was held on 17 July 1946. Candidate Melvin E. Thompson received a majority of the votes (29.61%), and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.[2]
On election day, 5 November 1946, Democratic nominee Melvin E. Thompson ran unopposed and won the election with 161,513 votes, thereby gaining Democratic control over the newly established office of lieutenant governor. Thompson was sworn in as the 1st lieutenant governor of Georgia on 3 January 1947.[3]