The 1938 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma. Democrat Leon 'Red' Phillips defeated Republican former State Senator Ross Rizley. Also on the ballot were John Wesley Lanham of the Prohibition Party and Independent John Franing. This election is the last time an alternative party has had a primary for governor in Oklahoma, as the Prohibitionists chose Francis Simpson over Ralph Butterfield, but Simpson then withdrew and the party placed Lanham on the ballot as a replacement.
Phillips' 70% share of the popular vote was the highest by any gubernatorial candidate in Oklahoma to that point and has only been exceeded once in subsequent elections.
Primary election
Oklahoma eliminated the primary runoffs starting with this election.
Democratic party
Nine candidates vied for the Democratic nomination, including former governors Alfalfa Bill Murray and Jack C. Walton. With the elimination of the runoff primary, Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker Red Phillips eked out a narrow win over W. S. Key.
Candidates
- T. W. Bickel
- J. M. Cole
- John W. Davis
- William M. Edwards
- Ira M. Finley, labor activist
- W. S. Key, Oklahoma prison administrator and national guard leader
- William H. Murray, former governor (1931-1935)
- Leon C. Phillips, former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
- Jack Walton, member of Oklahoma Corporation Commission and former governor (1923)
Republican party
Future Congressman Ross Rizley defeated two challengers by a wide margin to claim the GOP nomination.
Candidates
- J. T. Dickerson, attorney and former member of Oklahoma House of Representatives
- Harry E. Ingram
- Ross Rizley, former member of Oklahoma Senate
Prohibition party
Francis Simpson defeated Ralph Butterfield in the primary but then withdrew. John Wesley Lanham of Bethany was named as a replacement candidate. This was the only alternative party gubernatorial primary in Oklahoma until 2018.
General election
Results by county
Phillips was the first Democrat to win Garfield County, Kingfisher County, and Logan County in a gubernatorial election. Texas County would not vote for the losing candidate again until 1990.
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Adair
- Cherokee
- Delaware
- Dewey
- Ellis
- Garfield
- Harper
- Kingfisher
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Mayes
- Nowata
- Pawnee
- Rogers
- Woodward
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican