Republican Party presidential primaries, 1936

Republican Presidential Primaries, 1936
United States
March 10 to May 19, 1936
 
Nominee William Borah Alfred Landon Frank Knox
Party Republican Republican Republican
Home state Idaho Kansas Illinois
States carried 5 2 1
Popular vote 1,478,676 729,908 527,054
Percentage 44.45% 21.94% 15.84%
 
Nominee Earl Warren Stephen A. Day Warren E. Green
Party Republican Republican Republican
Home state California Ohio South Dakota
States carried 1 1 1
Popular vote 350,917 155,732 44,518
Percentage 10.55% 4.68% 1.34%

First place finishes by popular vote

  William Borah (5)
  Alfred Landon (3)
  Frank Knox (1)
  Earl Warren (1)
  Stephen A. Day (1)
  Warren E. Green (1)

Although many candidates sought the Republican nomination, only two, Governor Landon and Senator Borah, were considered to be serious candidates. While favorite sons County Attorney Earl Warren of California, Governor Warren E. Green of South Dakota, and Stephen A. Day of Ohio won their respective primaries, the 70-year-old Borah, a well-known progressive and "insurgent," carried the Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Oregon primaries, while also performing quite strongly in Knox's Illinois and Green's South Dakota. However, the party machinery almost uniformly backed Landon, a wealthy businessman and centrist, who won primaries in Massachusetts and New Jersey and dominated in the caucuses and at state party conventions.

The Primaries

Date Primary William Borah Alfred Landon Frank Knox Earl Warren Stephen A. Day Warren E. Green
March 10 New Hampshire 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%
April 7 Wisconsin 98% 2% 0% 0% 0% 0%
April 14 Illinois 46% 54% 0% 0% 0% 0%
April 14 Nebraska 74% 25% 0% 0% 0% 0%
April 28 Massachusetts 4% 80% 2% 0% 0% 0%
April 28 Pennsylvania 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
May 5 California 0% 43% 0% 57% 0% 0%
May 5 South Dakota 50% 0% 0% 0% 0% 50%
May 12 Ohio 3% 6% 0% 0% 90% 0%
May 12 West Virginia 85% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
May 15 Oregon 90% 4% 0% 0% 0% 0%
May 19 New Jersey 21% 79% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Republican Candidates

Nominee

Withdrew during convention

Withdrew before convention

Declined to run

The Convention

With Knox's candidacy withdrawing in order to become Landon's selection for Vice President, and Day, Green, and Warren releasing their delegates, Landon's victory was assured.

Ballot Alfred Landon William Borah VP Ballot Frank Knox
First 984 19 First 1,003