1956 Arizona gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1956 United States gubernatorial elections.

1956 Arizona gubernatorial election

November 6, 1956

Nominee Ernest McFarland Horace B. Griffen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 171,848 116,744 Percentage 59.5% 40.5%

County results McFarland:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Ernest McFarland Democratic Elected Governor Ernest McFarland Democratic

The 1956 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1956. Incumbent Governor Ernest McFarland ran for reelection to a second term. Ernest McFarland defeated longtime The Arizona Republic journalist and Republican nominee Horace B. Griffen in the general election by a wide margin.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ernest McFarland, incumbent Governor

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ernest W. McFarland (incumbent)	116,924	100.00%
Total votes			116,924	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Horace B. Griffen, The Arizona Republic journalist
• O. D. Miller, State Senator
• Fred Trump, U. S. Government Staff Consultant to the Anglo American Council on Productivity

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Horace B. Griffen	20,471	45.97%
	Republican	O. D. Miller	17,858	40.11%
	Republican	Fred Trump	6,199	13.92%
Total votes			44,528	100.00%

General election

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1956

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ernest W. McFarland (incumbent)	171,848	59.55%	+7.04%
	Republican	Horace B. Griffen	116,744	40.45%	−7.04%
Majority			55,104	19.09%
Total votes			288,592	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing	+14.08%

Results by county

County	Ernest W. McFarland Democratic		Horace B. Griffen Republican		Margin		Total votes cast
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Apache	1,693	63.79%	961	39.21%	732	27.58%	2,654
Cochise	8,601	71.18%	3,482	28.82%	5,119	42.37%	12,083
Coconino	3,840	60.42%	2,516	39.58%	1,324	20.83%	6,356
Gila	6,036	73.06%	2,226	26.94%	3,810	46.11%	8,262
Graham	2,655	66.89%	1,314	33.11%	1,341	33.79%	3,969
Greenlee	3,408	78.08%	957	21.92%	2,451	56.15%	4,365
Maricopa	79,404	54.38%	66,622	45.62%	12,782	8.75%	146,026
Mohave	1,706	68.35%	790	31.65%	916	36.70%	2,496
Navajo	3,472	58.36%	2,477	41.64%	995	16.73%	5,949
Pima	38,615	62.36%	23,310	37.64%	15,305	24.72%	61,925
Pinal	7,639	69.93%	3,285	30.07%	4,354	39.86%	10,924
Santa Cruz	2,018	73.52%	727	26.48%	1,291	47.03%	2,745
Yavapai	5,543	56.67%	4,238	43.33%	1,305	13.34%	9,781
Yuma	7,218	65.28%	3,839	34.72%	3,379	30.56%	11,057
Totals	171,848	59.55%	116,744	40.45%	55,104	19.09%	288,592

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Maricopa
• Pima
• Yavapai