| Election Name: | 1966 Tennessee gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Tennessee |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 Tennessee gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1970 Tennessee gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1970 |
| Election Date: | November 8, 1966 |
| Image1: | President John F. Kennedy with Governor of Tennessee, Buford Ellington (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Buford Ellington |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 532,998 |
| Percentage1: | 81.18% |
| Nominee2: | H.L. Crowder |
| Party2: | Independent (politician) |
| Popular Vote2: | 64,602 |
| Percentage2: | 9.84% |
| Nominee3: | Charlie Moffett |
| Party3: | Independent (politician) |
| Popular Vote3: | 50,221 |
| Percentage3: | 7.65% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Frank G. Clement |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Buford Ellington |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1966 Tennessee gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1966, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic governor Frank G. Clement was term-limited and was prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking another term. Former Democratic governor Buford Ellington defeated both independent candidates H.L. Crowder and Charlie Moffett with 81.2% of the vote.
In the primary, Ellington he defeated John Jay Hooker, who was a friend of former governor Gordon Browning, and had been endorsed by the Nashville Tennessean.[1] Ellington was endorsed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the Nashville Banner.
Tensions grew between Governor Frank G. Clement and Ellington leading up to the general election, as Ellington refused to endorse Clement in his U.S. Senate primary campaign against Ross Bass.[1] Clement attempted to spend the state's budget surplus to ensure the Ellington administration did not inherit it.[2]
Primary elections were held on August 4, 1966.[3] 32.5% of the voting age population participated in the Democratic primary.
Major party candidate
Other candidates