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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1938/Governor/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 candidates2,651,463 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Culbert L. OlsonDEM✓
      		DEM1,391,73452.5%
      Frank F. MerriamREP
      		REP1,171,01944.2%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH88,7103.4%

      Seat History

      Governor in California

      2022
      Gavin NewsomDEM
      D+18.4
      2018
      Gavin NewsomDEM
      D+23.9
      2014
      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      D+19.9
      2010
      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      D+12.9
      2006
      Arnold SchwarzeneggerREP
      R+17.0
      2002
      Gray DavisDEM
      D+4.9
      1998
      Gray DavisDEM
      D+19.6
      1994
      Pete WilsonREP
      R+14.6
      1990
      Pete WilsonREP
      R+3.5
      1986
      George DeukmejianREP
      R+23.2
      1982
      George DeukmejianREP
      R+1.2
      1978
      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      D+19.5
      1974
      Edmund G. BrownDEM
      D+2.9
      1970
      Ronald ReaganREP
      R+7.7
      1966
      Ronald ReaganREP
      R+15.3
      View all Governor history for California →

      Candidates

      Culbert L. OlsonDEM
      Record1W-1L
      Avg MarginR+3.5
      Career1938-1942
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Frank F. MerriamREP
      Record1W-1L
      Avg MarginR+1.4
      Career1934-1938
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in California, 1938

      US Senate1 contest →
      ← All 1938 Governor races1938 overviewCalifornia profileAll elections