The 1934 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election occurred on November 6, 1934. Incumbent Republican governor Gifford Pinchot was not a candidate for re-election.
The Democratic candidate, George Howard Earle III, defeated Republican candidate William A. Schnader to become Governor of Pennsylvania.
This was the first Pennsylvania gubernatorial election won by the Democratic Party since 1890.
Background
Election eve was marred by the Kelayres massacre, in which a local, small-town, Republican boss and his family fired pistols, rifles and shotguns during a Democratic rally and parade, killing three, and leaving at least a dozen more seriously wounded. News of the attack was reported across the nation with front-page headlines.
In Pennsylvania, the attack was strongly politicized in Democratic newspapers and on the radio. There were numerous reports of Republicans voting Democratic due to the attack. Schnader, as incumbent Attorney General, was forced to comment on the attack in strong terms, and to the end of his life, believed the attack cost him the election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Eugene C. Bonniwell, nominee for governor in 1926 and 1918
- Charles D. Copeland, judge of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
- George Howard Earle III, U.S. Minister to Austria
- William N. McNair, Mayor of Pittsburgh
- John A. McSparran, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture and nominee for governor in 1922
Republican primary
Candidates
- Charles Avery Dravo
- Benjamin G. Eynon
- Tilghman E. Hauseman
- Louis G. Karzis
- Robert E. Lamberton
- Charles J. Margiotti, lawyer from Punxsutawney
- Harry S. McDevitt, judge of the court of common pleas of Philadelphia
- John A. McSparran, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture and Democratic nominee for governor in 1922
- Albert S. C. Millar
- Marion D. Patterson, judge of the court of common pleas of Blair County (withdrew on April 25 and endorsed Shannon)
- Thomas Wharton Phillips Jr., former U.S. Representative from Butler County and candidate for governor in 1926 and 1930
- William A. Schnader, Pennsylvania Attorney General
- Jay Williams Sechler
- Edward C. Shannon, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
- Edward L. Stokes, U.S. Representative from Philadelphia
- George Austin Welsh, U.S. District Court judge and former U.S. Representative from Philadelphia
General election
Candidates
- Herbert T. Ames, former mayor of Williamsport (Prohibition)
- Emmett Patrick Cush (Communist)
- Bess Gyekis (Industrial Labor)
- George Howard Earle III, U.S. Minister to Austria (Democratic)
- Jesse H. Holmes (Socialist)
- William A. Schnader, Pennsylvania Attorney General (Republican)