1936 Republican Party presidential primaries

1936 Republican Party presidential primaries

← 1932 March 10 to May 19, 1936 1940 →
1,003 delegates to the 1936 Republican National Convention 502 (majority) votes needed to win
Candidate William Borah Alf Landon Frank Knox Home state Idaho Kansas Illinois Contests won 5 3 1 Popular vote 1,478,676 729,908 527,054 Percentage 44.5% 21.9% 15.8%
First place finishes by popular vote   William Borah (5)   Alfred Landon (3)   Frank Knox (1)   Earl Warren (1)   Stephen A. Day (1)   Warren E. Green (1)
Previous Republican nominee Herbert Hoover Republican nominee Alfred Landon

From March 10 to May 19, 1936, voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for president in the 1936 United States presidential election. The nominee was selected through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1936 Republican National Convention held from June 9 to June 12, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio.^[1]

Although many candidates sought the Republican nomination, only two, Governor Alfred Landon and Senator William Borah, were considered to be serious candidates.^{[citation needed]}

While favorite sons County Attorney Earl Warren of California, Governor Warren E. Green of South Dakota, and Stephen A. Day of Ohio won their respective primaries, the 70-year-old Borah, a well-known progressive and "insurgent," carried the Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Oregon primaries, while also performing quite strongly in Knox's Illinois and Green's South Dakota. However, the party machinery almost uniformly backed Landon, a wealthy businessman and centrist, who won primaries in Massachusetts and New Jersey and dominated in the caucuses and at state party conventions.

Schedule and results

Candidates

Major candidates

These candidates participated in multiple state primaries or were included in multiple major national polls.

Candidate			Most recent position	Home state	Campaign
Alf Landon			Governor of Kansas (1933–37)	Kansas	(Campaign)
William Borah			U.S. Senator from Idaho (1907–40)	Idaho	(Campaign) Withdrew at convention
Frank Knox			Publisher of the Chicago Daily News	Illinois	Withdrew before convention

Favorite sons

The following candidates ran only in their home state's primary or caucus for the purpose of controlling its delegate slate at the convention and did not appear to be considered national candidates by the media.

• Businessman Stephen A. Day of Ohio
• Former Governor Warren Green of South Dakota
• Alameda County District Attorney Earl Warren of California

Declined to run

The following persons were listed in two or more major national polls or were the subject of media speculation surrounding their potential candidacy, but declined to actively seek the nomination.

• Senator Lester J. Dickinson of Iowa (ran for re-election instead)
• Former President Herbert Hoover of California
• Former Governor Frank Lowden of Illinois
• Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan

Polling

National polling

Convention

With Knox's candidacy withdrawing in order to become Landon's selection for vice president, and Day, Green, and Warren releasing their delegates, Landon's victory was assured.

See also

• 1936 Democratic Party presidential primaries

References