California gubernatorial election, 1934

Infobox Election
election_name = California gubernatorial election, 1934
country = California
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = California gubernatorial election, 1930
previous_year = 1930
next_election = California gubernatorial election, 1938
next_year = 1938
election_date = November 6 1934


nominee1 = Frank Merriam
party1 = California Republican Party
popular_vote1 = 1,138,629
percentage1 = 48.87%


nominee2 = Upton Sinclair
party2 = California Democratic Party
popular_vote2 = 879,537
percentage2 = 37.75%


nominee3 = Raymond L. Haight
party3 = Progressive Party (United States, 1924)
popular_vote3 = 302,519
percentage3 = 12.99%
map_

map_size =
map_caption =
title = Governor
before_election = Frank Merriam
after_election = Frank Merriam
before_party = California Republican Party
after_party = California Republican Party

The California gubernatorial election, 1934 was held on November 6 1934. Held in the midst of the Great Depression, the 1934 election was amongst the most controversial in the state's political history, putting conservative Republican Frank Merriam against former Socialist Party member turned Democrat Upton Sinclair, author of "The Jungle". A strong third party challenge came from Commonwealth-Progressive Raymond L. Haight, a Los Angeles lawyer campaigning for the political center. Much of the campaign's emphasis was directed at Sinclair's EPIC movement, proposing socialist reforms to cure the state's ailing economy. Merriam, who had recently assumed the governorship following the death of James Rolph, characterized Sinclair's proposal as a step towards communism.

General Election Results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Frank F. Merriam (incumbent)
votes = 1,138,629
percentage = 48.87
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Upton Sinclair
votes = 879,537
percentage = 37.75
change =

Election box candidate with party link
party = Progressive Party (United States)
candidate = Raymond L. Haight
votes = 302,519
percentage = 12.99
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Communist Party USA
candidate = Sam Darcey
votes = 5,826
percentage = 0.25
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party USA
candidate = Milen C. Dempster
votes = 2,947
percentage = 0.13
change = Election box total
votes = 0
percentage = 100.0%
change =

Election box hold with party link
winner = Republican Party (United States)
swing =

References

* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=46882 Our Campaigns]