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1938
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Governor
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California
1938
·
Governor
·
California
California Governor
Winner
DEM
Culbert L. Olson
52.5%
1,391,734 votes
Runner-up
REP
Frank F. Merriam
44.2%
1,171,019 votes
Margin
D+8.3
2,651,463
total votes
3 candidates
2,651,463 total votes
Export CSV
Candidate
Party
Votes ▼
%
Vote Share
Culbert L. Olson
DEM
✓
DEM
1,391,734
52.5%
Frank F. Merriam
REP
REP
1,171,019
44.2%
Other
OTH
OTH
88,710
3.4%
Seat History
Governor in California
2022
Gavin Newsom
DEM
D+18.4
2018
Gavin Newsom
DEM
D+23.9
2014
Edmund G. Brown
DEM
D+19.9
2010
Edmund G. Brown
DEM
D+12.9
2006
Arnold Schwarzenegger
REP
R+17.0
2002
Gray Davis
DEM
D+4.9
1998
Gray Davis
DEM
D+19.6
1994
Pete Wilson
REP
R+14.6
1990
Pete Wilson
REP
R+3.5
1986
George Deukmejian
REP
R+23.2
1982
George Deukmejian
REP
R+1.2
1978
Edmund G. Brown
DEM
D+19.5
1974
Edmund G. Brown
DEM
D+2.9
1970
Ronald Reagan
REP
R+7.7
1966
Ronald Reagan
REP
R+15.3
View all Governor history for California →
Candidates
Culbert L. Olson
DEM
Record
1W-1L
Avg Margin
R+3.5
Career
1938-1942
Governor
Full profile →
Frank F. Merriam
REP
Record
1W-1L
Avg Margin
R+1.4
Career
1934-1938
Governor
Full profile →
Also in California, 1938
US Senate
1 contest →
← All 1938 Governor races
1938 overview
California profile
All elections