The 1948 Oregon gubernatorial special election took place on November 2, 1948 to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Oregon. A special election was needed due to the death of governor Earl Snell, who was killed in a plane crash on October 28, 1947.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1948 Oregon gubernatorial special election

← 1946 November 2, 1948 1950 →

Nominee Douglas McKay Lew Wallace Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 271,295 226,958 Percentage 53.2% 44.5%

County results: McKay:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Wallace:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election John Hubert Hall Republican Elected Governor Douglas McKay Republican

Close

Incumbent governor John Hubert Hall, who took over after Snell's death until the election, lost the Republican nomination 51.13-48.87%, to state senator Douglas McKay, and the Democrats nominated state senator Lew Wallace, who had previously lost to Earl Snell in the 1942 gubernatorial election in a landslide.

In the general election, McKay won the election with 53.23% to Wallace's 44.53%, and was sworn in as Oregon's 25th governor on January 10, 1949.