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1940 United States presidential election in California
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| election_name | 1940 United States presidential election in California |
| country | California |
| flag_image | Flag of California (1924–1953).pngborder |
| type | presidential |
| ongoing | no |
| previous_election | 1936 United States presidential election in California |
| previous_year | 1936 |
| next_election | 1944 United States presidential election in California |
| next_year | 1944 |
| turnout | 81.44% (of registered voters) 1.92 pp |
| 78.32% (of eligible voters) 7.76 pp | |
| election_date | November 5, 1940 |
| image_size | x200px |
| image1 | FDRoosevelt1938.jpg |
| nominee1 | **Franklin D. Roosevelt** |
| party1 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| home_state1 | New York |
| running_mate1 | **Henry A. Wallace** |
| electoral_vote1 | **22** |
| popular_vote1 | **1,877,618** |
| percentage1 | **57.44%** |
| image2 | WendellWillkie.png |
| nominee2 | Wendell Willkie |
| party2 | Republican Party (United States) |
| home_state2 | New York |
| running_mate2 | Charles L. McNary |
| electoral_vote2 | 0 |
| popular_vote2 | 1,351,419 |
| percentage2 | 41.34% |
| map_image | 325px |
| map_size | 400px |
| map_caption | County Results |
| title | President |
| before_election | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| before_party | Democratic Party (United States) |
| after_election | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| after_party | Democratic Party (United States) |
78.32% (of eligible voters) 7.76 pp Roosevelt Willkie Main article: 1940 United States presidential election
The 1940 United States presidential election in California took place on November 5, 1940, as part of the 1940 United States presidential election. State voters chose 22 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
California voted for the Democratic incumbent, Franklin Roosevelt, over the Republican challenger, businessman Wendell Willkie.
Willkie did nonetheless make considerable gains vis-à-vis the previous Republican nominee, Alf Landon, who remains the solitary Republican nominee to not carry a single county in the state. Willkie carried seven counties scattered across the state and gained ten percentage points on Landon's performance.
This is the last election where the Democrats won Sutter County, which, as of the 2024 presidential election, stands as the longest run voting for one party by any California county. Mono County would not vote Democratic again until John Kerry in 2004.
Results
| 1940 United States presidential election in California | Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Democratic** | **Franklin D. Roosevelt (incumbent)** | **1,877,618** | **57.44%** | **22** | |
| Republican | Wendell Willkie | 1,351,419 | 41.34% | 0 | |
| Progressive | Norman Thomas | 16,506 | 0.50% | 0 | |
| Communist | Earl Russell Browder | 13,586 | 0.42% | 0 | |
| Prohibition | Roger Babson | 9,400 | 0.29% | 0 | |
| *No party* | Write-ins | 262 | 0.01% | 0 | |
| Invalid or blank votes | — | ||||
| **Totals** | **3,268,791** | **100.00%** | **22** | ||
| Voter turnout | — |
Results by county
| County | Franklin D. Roosevelt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Wendell Willkie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | Norman Thomas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Progressive | Earl Browder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Communist | Roger Babson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prohibition | Scattering | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Write-in | Margin | Total votes cast | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total | 1,877,618 | 57.44% | 1,351,419 | 41.34% | 16,506 | 0.50% | 13,586 | 0.42% | 9,400 | 0.29% | 262 | 0.01% | 526,199 | 16.10% | 3,268,791 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alameda | 148,224 | 55.21% | 116,961 | 43.56% | 1,618 | 0.60% | 1,285 | 0.48% | 408 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 31,263 | 11.64% | 268,496 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alpine | 62 | 32.98% | 125 | 66.49% | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0.53% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | -63 | -33.51% | 188 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amador | 2,762 | 66.14% | 1,372 | 32.85% | 15 | 0.36% | 9 | 0.22% | 18 | 0.43% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,390 | 33.29% | 4,176 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Butte | 10,684 | 58.15% | 7,433 | 40.46% | 117 | 0.64% | 77 | 0.42% | 61 | 0.33% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,251 | 17.70% | 18,372 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calaveras | 2,405 | 58.90% | 1,649 | 40.39% | 21 | 0.51% | 4 | 0.10% | 4 | 0.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 756 | 18.52% | 4,083 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colusa | 2,655 | 59.48% | 1,774 | 39.74% | 15 | 0.34% | 5 | 0.11% | 15 | 0.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 881 | 19.74% | 4,464 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contra Costa | 30,900 | 61.75% | 18,627 | 37.22% | 238 | 0.48% | 209 | 0.42% | 63 | 0.13% | 3 | 0.01% | 12,273 | 24.53% | 50,040 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Del Norte | 1,034 | 44.92% | 1,233 | 53.56% | 26 | 1.13% | 5 | 0.22% | 4 | 0.17% | 0 | 0.00% | -199 | -8.64% | 2,302 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| El Dorado | 4,144 | 66.44% | 2,019 | 32.37% | 37 | 0.59% | 15 | 0.24% | 22 | 0.35% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,125 | 34.07% | 6,237 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fresno | 48,866 | 69.07% | 21,079 | 29.79% | 354 | 0.50% | 143 | 0.20% | 308 | 0.44% | 0 | 0.00% | 27,787 | 39.27% | 70,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glenn | 3,095 | 54.96% | 2,473 | 43.92% | 31 | 0.55% | 2 | 0.04% | 30 | 0.53% | 0 | 0.00% | 622 | 11.05% | 5,631 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Humboldt | 12,329 | 55.98% | 9,470 | 43.00% | 92 | 0.42% | 78 | 0.35% | 55 | 0.25% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,859 | 12.98% | 22,024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Imperial | 7,728 | 52.53% | 6,854 | 46.59% | 64 | 0.44% | 25 | 0.17% | 41 | 0.28% | 0 | 0.00% | 874 | 5.94% | 14,712 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inyo | 1,820 | 54.65% | 1,483 | 44.53% | 12 | 0.36% | 3 | 0.09% | 12 | 0.36% | 0 | 0.00% | 337 | 10.12% | 3,330 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kern | 32,202 | 61.78% | 19,445 | 37.30% | 219 | 0.42% | 106 | 0.20% | 154 | 0.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 12,757 | 24.47% | 52,126 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kings | 8,307 | 67.43% | 3,911 | 31.75% | 41 | 0.33% | 9 | 0.07% | 52 | 0.42% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,396 | 35.68% | 12,320 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lake | 1,897 | 45.70% | 2,215 | 53.36% | 23 | 0.55% | 5 | 0.12% | 11 | 0.26% | 0 | 0.00% | -318 | -7.66% | 4,151 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lassen | 4,367 | 69.17% | 1,902 | 30.13% | 20 | 0.32% | 11 | 0.17% | 13 | 0.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,465 | 39.05% | 6,313 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 822,718 | 58.13% | 574,266 | 40.58% | 6,971 | 0.49% | 6,914 | 0.49% | 4,151 | 0.29% | 249 | 0.02% | 248,452 | 17.56% | 1,415,269 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Madera | 5,749 | 67.61% | 2,653 | 31.20% | 32 | 0.38% | 35 | 0.41% | 34 | 0.40% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,096 | 36.41% | 8,503 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marin | 11,365 | 50.20% | 10,974 | 48.47% | 151 | 0.67% | 130 | 0.57% | 20 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% | 391 | 1.73% | 22,640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mariposa | 1,935 | 64.44% | 1,035 | 34.47% | 13 | 0.43% | 11 | 0.37% | 9 | 0.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 900 | 29.97% | 3,003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mendocino | 7,055 | 56.13% | 5,345 | 42.53% | 70 | 0.56% | 66 | 0.53% | 33 | 0.26% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,710 | 13.60% | 12,569 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Merced | 10,501 | 62.57% | 6,101 | 36.35% | 84 | 0.50% | 27 | 0.16% | 71 | 0.42% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,400 | 26.22% | 16,784 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Modoc | 2,232 | 61.49% | 1,371 | 37.77% | 14 | 0.39% | 4 | 0.11% | 6 | 0.17% | 3 | 0.08% | 861 | 23.72% | 3,630 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mono | 523 | 52.56% | 459 | 46.13% | 2 | 0.20% | 5 | 0.50% | 6 | 0.60% | 0 | 0.00% | 64 | 6.43% | 995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monterey | 14,758 | 55.00% | 11,810 | 44.01% | 120 | 0.45% | 76 | 0.28% | 69 | 0.26% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,948 | 10.99% | 26,833 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Napa | 6,771 | 52.68% | 5,924 | 46.09% | 60 | 0.47% | 34 | 0.26% | 64 | 0.50% | 0 | 0.00% | 847 | 6.59% | 12,853 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nevada | 5,782 | 66.01% | 2,863 | 32.69% | 57 | 0.65% | 27 | 0.31% | 30 | 0.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,919 | 33.33% | 8,759 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orange | 28,236 | 43.44% | 36,070 | 55.49% | 255 | 0.39% | 82 | 0.13% | 354 | 0.54% | 0 | 0.00% | -7,834 | -12.05% | 64,997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Placer | 8,402 | 67.56% | 3,887 | 31.26% | 73 | 0.59% | 35 | 0.28% | 39 | 0.31% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,515 | 36.31% | 12,436 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plumas | 3,418 | 72.11% | 1,270 | 26.79% | 34 | 0.72% | 10 | 0.21% | 8 | 0.17% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,148 | 45.32% | 4,740 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Riverside | 20,003 | 47.20% | 21,779 | 51.39% | 197 | 0.46% | 56 | 0.13% | 345 | 0.81% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,776 | -4.19% | 42,380 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sacramento | 51,351 | 68.09% | 23,201 | 30.76% | 452 | 0.60% | 225 | 0.30% | 187 | 0.25% | 0 | 0.00% | 28,150 | 37.33% | 75,416 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Benito | 2,441 | 49.99% | 2,407 | 49.29% | 17 | 0.35% | 11 | 0.23% | 7 | 0.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 34 | 0.70% | 4,883 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Bernardino | 37,520 | 54.47% | 30,511 | 44.30% | 320 | 0.46% | 138 | 0.20% | 389 | 0.56% | 0 | 0.00% | 7,009 | 10.18% | 68,878 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Diego | 71,188 | 55.57% | 55,434 | 43.27% | 684 | 0.53% | 348 | 0.27% | 456 | 0.36% | 0 | 0.00% | 15,754 | 12.30% | 128,110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Francisco | 185,607 | 59.51% | 122,449 | 39.26% | 1,513 | 0.49% | 1,935 | 0.62% | 374 | 0.12% | 0 | 0.00% | 63,158 | 20.25% | 311,878 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Joaquin | 26,536 | 52.55% | 23,403 | 46.34% | 239 | 0.47% | 141 | 0.28% | 179 | 0.35% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,133 | 6.20% | 50,498 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Luis Obispo | 8,499 | 53.39% | 7,204 | 45.25% | 79 | 0.50% | 67 | 0.42% | 71 | 0.45% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,295 | 8.13% | 15,920 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Mateo | 29,831 | 52.38% | 26,539 | 46.60% | 290 | 0.51% | 211 | 0.37% | 80 | 0.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,292 | 5.78% | 56,951 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Santa Barbara | 17,237 | 54.41% | 14,107 | 44.53% | 182 | 0.57% | 91 | 0.29% | 61 | 0.19% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,130 | 9.88% | 31,678 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Santa Clara | 40,449 | 49.63% | 40,100 | 49.20% | 458 | 0.56% | 294 | 0.36% | 195 | 0.24% | 0 | 0.00% | 349 | 0.43% | 81,496 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Santa Cruz | 10,683 | 47.51% | 11,453 | 50.93% | 175 | 0.78% | 71 | 0.32% | 104 | 0.46% | 0 | 0.00% | -770 | -3.42% | 22,486 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shasta | 8,662 | 68.03% | 3,909 | 30.70% | 66 | 0.52% | 71 | 0.56% | 25 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,753 | 37.33% | 12,733 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sierra | 1,057 | 66.98% | 511 | 32.38% | 7 | 0.44% | 2 | 0.13% | 1 | 0.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 546 | 34.60% | 1,578 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Siskiyou | 7,714 | 63.17% | 4,387 | 35.92% | 56 | 0.46% | 18 | 0.15% | 36 | 0.29% | 1 | 0.01% | 3,327 | 27.24% | 12,212 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solano | 15,054 | 70.58% | 6,081 | 28.51% | 83 | 0.39% | 53 | 0.25% | 57 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | 8,973 | 42.07% | 21,328 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sonoma | 15,230 | 47.04% | 16,819 | 51.94% | 145 | 0.45% | 119 | 0.37% | 60 | 0.19% | 6 | 0.02% | -1,589 | -4.91% | 32,379 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stanislaus | 16,494 | 51.96% | 14,803 | 46.63% | 155 | 0.49% | 58 | 0.18% | 236 | 0.74% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,691 | 5.33% | 31,746 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sutter | 4,195 | 57.11% | 3,089 | 42.06% | 26 | 0.35% | 15 | 0.20% | 20 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,106 | 15.06% | 7,345 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tehama | 3,618 | 54.59% | 2,913 | 43.95% | 53 | 0.80% | 13 | 0.20% | 31 | 0.47% | 0 | 0.00% | 705 | 10.64% | 6,628 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trinity | 1,431 | 63.83% | 780 | 34.79% | 12 | 0.54% | 15 | 0.67% | 4 | 0.18% | 0 | 0.00% | 651 | 29.04% | 2,242 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulare | 20,129 | 55.96% | 15,414 | 42.85% | 209 | 0.58% | 41 | 0.11% | 178 | 0.49% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,715 | 13.11% | 35,971 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuolumne | 3,541 | 62.96% | 2,004 | 35.63% | 27 | 0.48% | 29 | 0.52% | 23 | 0.41% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,537 | 27.33% | 5,624 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ventura | 15,182 | 57.00% | 11,225 | 42.15% | 84 | 0.32% | 64 | 0.24% | 79 | 0.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,957 | 14.86% | 26,634 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yolo | 6,380 | 58.78% | 4,373 | 40.29% | 63 | 0.58% | 19 | 0.18% | 19 | 0.18% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,007 | 18.49% | 10,854 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yuba | 4,660 | 64.57% | 2,471 | 34.24% | 35 | 0.48% | 33 | 0.46% | 18 | 0.25% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,189 | 30.33% | 7,217 |
Electors
Up through 1936, voters in California chose presidential electors directly. Starting in 1940, however, California adopted the modern "short ballot" where voters select from the actual candidates' names and each vote is treated as being for a candidate and his or her party's entire slate of electors. The individuals below were nominated by each party to serve as the state's members of the 1940 Electoral College should their party's ticket win the state:
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | |
|---|---|
| & Henry A. Wallace | |
| Democratic Party | Wendell Willkie |
| & Charles L. McNary | |
| Republican Party | Norman Thomas |
| & Maynard Krueger | |
| Progressive Party | Earl Browder |
| & James W. Ford | |
| Communist Party | Roger Babson |
| & Edgar V. Moorman | |
| Prohibition Party |
Notes
References
References
- "Historical Voter Registration and Participation in Statewide General Elections 1910-2018".
- (November 3, 2020). "California Election Results". The New York Times.
- Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016
- Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868–2004, p. 131 {{ISBN. 0786422173
- California Secretary of State. "State of California Statement of Vote, General Election, November 5, 1940". State Printing Office.
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