1940 Election Results wilkie VS Roosevelt

The Republican convention of 1940 resulted in one of the most significant upsets in election convention history. In early 1940, the leading candidates for the Republican nomination were: Senator Robert Taft and Thomas E. Dewey, the New York District Attorney. As the international situation became worse, with the fall of France, both Taft and Dewey were considered by many as too isolationist. Wendell Wilkie's candidacy was promoted. Wilkie, who was best known as a utility executive, and had opposed Roosevelt's TVA. Wilkie was an outspoken supporter of American support for the Allies. When the time came for the balloting, Dewey led on the first three ballots. However, the galleries demanded Wilkie. On the fourth ballot, Wilkie took the lead. Wendell Wilkie clinched the nomination on the fourth ballot.

As the election of 1940 approached, the question arose as to whether Roosevelt would break with American tradition and run for a third term. The start of the war in Europe, in September 1939, persuaded Roosevelt to seek a third term. Roosevelt made it clear he was available for a draft by the Democratic party. The delegates at the Democratic convention chose to do just that.

The Republicans met in Philadelphia in June. There were three leading contenders for the Republican nomination. However, none of these leading candidates won. Instead, the party picked a political novice, Wendell Willkie. Wilkie was a Wall Street novice though he was charismatic and colorful.

. Roosevelt ran on a platform of maximum aid to Great Britain, while at the same time pledging to keep American boys home. Amid the campaign, Roosevelt proposed the first peacetime draft in American history. The draft did not become an issue, as Willkie supported it.

Another of Roosevelt's actions did, however, become an issue. Churchill asked Roosevelt for 50 old World War I destroyers that the US had mothballed. After much hesitation, Roosevelt agreed to a transaction in which Britain would give the United States five bases in the Western hemisphere in return for the destroyers. Roosevelt took this action without Congressional approval. Willkie attacked the action. Roosevelt repeatedly promised that American boys would not have to fight overseas. At one point Willkie hearing Roosevelt make his pledge of "your boys are not going to be sent into a foreign war, stated to his brother: "That hypocritical son of a bitch! This is going to beat me." Roosevelt won, easily receiving 25 million votes to Willkie's 22 million.

Participation of Eligible Voters 62.5%

Democratic Convention
Republican Convention

 

State results in 1940

Electoral Results in 1940

Alabama Franklin Roosevelt 250,726 85.2 Wendell Willkie 42,184 14.3
Arizona Franklin Roosevelt 95,267 63.5 Wendell Willkie 54,030 36.0
Arkansas Franklin Roosevelt 157,213 78.4 Wendell Willkie 42,122 21.0
California Franklin Roosevelt 1,877,618 57.4 Wendell Willkie 1,351,419 41.3
Colorado Franklin Roosevelt 265,554 48.4 Wendell Willkie 279,576 50.9
Connecticut Franklin Roosevelt 417,621 53.4 Wendell Willkie 361,819 46.3
Delaware Franklin Roosevelt 74,599 54.7 Wendell Willkie 61,440 45.1
Florida Franklin Roosevelt 359,334 74.0 Wendell Willkie 126,158 26.0
Georgia Franklin Roosevelt 265,194 84.8 Wendell Willkie 46,495 14.9
Idaho Franklin Roosevelt 127,842 54.4 Wendell Willkie 106,553 45.3
Illinois Franklin Roosevelt 2,149,934 51.0 Wendell Willkie 2,047,240 48.5
Indiana Franklin Roosevelt 874,063 49.0 Wendell Willkie 899,466 50.5
Iowa Franklin Roosevelt 578,802 47.6 Wendell Willkie 632,370 52.0
Kansas Franklin Roosevelt 364,725 42.4 Wendell Willkie 489,169 56.9
Kentucky Franklin Roosevelt 557,322 57.4 Wendell Willkie 410,384 42.3
Louisiana Franklin Roosevelt 319,751 85.9 Wendell Willkie 52,446 14.1
Maine Franklin Roosevelt 156,478 48.8 Wendell Willkie 163,951 51.1
Maryland Franklin Roosevelt 384,546 58.3 Wendell Willkie 269,534 40.8
Massachusetts Franklin Roosevelt 1,076,522 53.1 Wendell Willkie 939,700 46.4
Michigan Franklin Roosevelt 1,032,991 49.5 Wendell Willkie 1,039,917 49.9
Minnesota Franklin Roosevelt 644,196 51.5 Wendell Willkie 596,274 47.7
Mississippi Franklin Roosevelt 168,267 95.7 Wendell Willkie 7,364 4.2
Missouri Franklin Roosevelt 958,476 52.3 Wendell Willkie 871,009 47.5
Montana Franklin Roosevelt 145,698 58.8 Wendell Willkie 99,579 40.2
Nebraska Franklin Roosevelt 263,677 42.8 Wendell Willkie 352,201 57.2
Nevada Franklin Roosevelt 31,945 60.1 Wendell Willkie 21,229 39.9
Now Hampshire Franklin Roosevelt 125,292 53.2 Wendell Willkie 110,127 46.8
Now Jersey Franklin Roosevelt 1,016,808 51.5 Wendell Willkie 945,475 47.9
New Mexico Franklin Roosevelt 103,699 56.6 Wendell Willkie 79,315 43.3
New York Franklin Roosevelt 3,251,918 51.6 Wendell Willkie 3,027,478 48.0
North Carolina Franklin Roosevelt 609,015 74.0 Wendell Willkie 213,633 26.0
North Dakota Franklin Roosevelt 124,036 44.2 Wendell Willkie 154,590 55.1
Ohio Franklin Roosevelt 1,733,139 52.2 Wendell Willkie 1,586,773 47.8
Oklahoma Franklin Roosevelt 474,313 57.4 Wendell Willkie 348,872 42.2
Oregon Franklin Roosevelt 258,415 53.7 Wendell Willkie 219,555 45.6
Pennsylvania Franklin Roosevelt 2,171,035 53.2 Wendell Willkie 1,889,848 46.3
Rhode Island Franklin Roosevelt 182,181 56.7 Wendell Willkie 138,654 43.2
South Carolina Franklin Roosevelt 95,470 95.6 Wendell Willkie 4,360 4.4
South Dakota Franklin Roosevelt 131,362 42.6 Wendell Willkie 177,065 57.4
Tennessee Franklin Roosevelt 351,601 67.3 Wendell Willkie 169,153 32.4
Texas Franklin Roosevelt 909,974 80.9 Wendell Willkie 212,692 18.9
Utah Franklin Roosevelt 154,277 62.3 Wendell Willkie 93,151 37.6
Vermont Franklin Roosevelt 64,269 44.9 Wendell Willkie 78,371 54.8
Virginia Franklin Roosevelt 235,961 68.1 Wendell Willkie 109,363 31.6
Washington Franklin Roosevelt 462,145 58.2 Wendell Willkie 322,123 40.6
West Virginia Franklin Roosevelt 495,662 57.1 Wendell Willkie 372,414 42.9
Wisconsin Franklin Roosevelt 704,821 50.1 Wendell Willkie 679,206 48.3
Wyoming Franklin Roosevelt 59,287 52.8 Wendell Willkie 52,633 46.9