OR: 1930 Gubernatorial General Election Result

[bgwah]

New Election: 1930 Oregon Gubernatorial General Election Results
   
   

[ottermax]

What's the story behind this election?

[Verily]

The election was fought over the issue of private versus state development of hydroelectric power on the Columbia; Meier was in favor of state development while both the Democrat and Republican favored private development. He only ran because the original Republican candidate, a close friend of his, George W. Joseph (who was also in favor of state-guided power development), died earlier in the year, and the Republicans replaced him with a political nobody who favored private development.

[RBH]

On further checking, it appears that a one-term jinx existed with Oregon governors.

Sylvester Pennoyer was elected to a second term in 1890.

After then..

William Lord served a term and lost a primary
Theodore Geer served a term and lost a primary
George Chamberlain served a term, was elected for a second, and resigned to become a Senator
Oswald West served one term, and left
James Withycombe served one term, was elected for a second term, and died a month into it
Ben Olcott served one term, lost due to the Klan
Walter Pierce served one term, lost
LL Patterson died two years into his term
Julius Meier served one term, left, and died in 1937
Charles Martin served one term, and lost a primary
Charles Sprague served one term, and lost a primary
Earl Snell served one term, was elected for a second, and died in a plane crash
McKay served a half-term, was elected for a full term, and resigned
Paul Patterson served a half-term, was elected for a full term, and died
Robert Holmes served a half-term, and lost to Mark Hatfield.

Hatfield served two full terms.

From Pennoyer to Hatfield..

4 Governors lost in primaries for a second full term
4 Governors died
2 of the governors who died were killed less than a year into their second term

Yeah.

The 1934 map should be a lot of fun though.

[bullmoose88]

Pennoyer is involved in a famous court case that is the bane of 1L law students.