The 1952 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1952. Incumbent Governor of Montana John W. Bonner, who was first elected governor in 1948, ran for re-election. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by J. Hugo Aronson, a State Senator and the Republican nominee. A close election ensued, with Aronson narrowly defeating Bonner to win the first of his two terms as governor.
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Turnout | 85.70%3.80[1] | ||||||||||||||||
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County results Aronson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Bonner: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | John W. Bonner (incumbent) | 71,597 | 100.00 | |
Total votes | 71,597 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Republican | J. Hugo Aronson | 56,391 | 72.02 | |
Republican | Leonard C. Young | 21,904 | 27.98 | |
Total votes | 78,295 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
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Republican | J. Hugo Aronson | 134,423 | 50.96% | +7.10% | |
Democratic | John W. Bonner (incumbent) | 129,369 | 49.04% | -6.69% | |
Majority | 5,504 | 1.92% | -9.96% | ||
Turnout | 263,792 | ||||
Republican gain from Democratic | Swing |