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 County results McGrath: 50–60% 60–70% Vanderbilt: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1940 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Democratic nominee J. Howard McGrath defeated incumbent Republican William Henry Vanderbilt III with 55.84% of the vote.
Major party candidates
Other candidates
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J. Howard McGrath | 177,937 | 55.84% | ||
| Republican | William Henry Vanderbilt III (incumbent) | 140,480 | 44.08% | ||
| Communist | Wilfred J. Boissy | 257 | 0.08% | ||
| Majority | 37,457 | ||||
| Turnout | |||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from Rhode Island. McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Senator, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Attorney General of the United States.
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