1940 Louisiana gubernatorial election
The 1940 Louisiana gubernatorial election was decided in two Democratic primaries, held on January 16 and February 20, 1940. In Louisiana, the Republican Party was so weak that the Democratic primaries were effectively the real election.
The candidates were Sam H. Jones, a reform-minded Democrat, and Earl K. Long, the incumbent governor from the Long political faction. The campaign centered on the ongoing Louisiana Scandals, which implicated former governor Richard W. Leche and, by extension, Earl Long, in widespread corruption.
Jones ran on a clean-government platform and promised to expand some reform programs, including higher teacher salaries and a new old-age pension. He received overwhelmingly favorable coverage in the state’s newspapers. Behind the scenes, he worked with veteran political operatives who had questionable ties. Long used state publications and his own Louisiana Progress newspaper, campaigned across rural areas, and attacked big-city newspapers, portraying Jones as a tool of corporate interests.
Funding reflected the different appeals: Jones drew support from wealthy reform-minded backers, while Long relied on deductions from state employees, oil and gas interests, and contributions from organized crime.
After the first primary, Jones gained support from a major backer in exchange for patronage appointments for him. Long responded by calling a special legislative session to pass spending increases for social programs and some reforms to influence the runoff, but he refused to include a pay raise for teachers, which alienated many voters.
In the runoff, Jones defeated Long with 284,437 votes (51.73%) to 265,403 votes (48.27%).
Sam H. Jones became the governor, ending twelve years of Longite rule in Louisiana.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:16 (CET).