1. Three Governor Controversy
UNIT 9

2. Arnall's four years as governor of Georgia ( ) are considered to be among the most progressive and effective in the modern history of the state.
His refusal to step down in 1947, after the death of Eugene Talmadge, led to the "three governors controversy“.

3. The 3 Governor Controversy

4. Eugene Talmadge
Eugene Talmadge served as governor of Georgia from 1933 to 1937 and again from 1941 to 1943.
His tenure included the controversial Cocking affair in 1941, and his death in 1946 touched off the unprecedented "three governors controversy."

5. Melvin Thompson
In 1947 newly elected lieutenant governor Melvin E. Thompson claimed the office of governor, after the death of Governor-elect Eugene Talmadge.
He was contested by both outgoing governor Ellis Arnall and Talmadge's son, Herman.

6. 1946 Governor’s Election
Ellis Arnall could not run for election again because he had already served 2 terms
Eugene Talmadge won the Democratic election but died before he could take office.
Talmadge supporters wanted the candidate with the most “write-in” votes to take office

7. Herman Talmadge
Herman Talmadge, son of Georgia governor Eugene Talmadge, took the governor's office briefly in 1947, and again after a special election in 1948.

8. The son of Eugene Talmadge, Herman Talmadge Jr
The son of Eugene Talmadge, Herman Talmadge Jr. , just happened to have the most votes.
After Ellis Arnall surrendered his claim to the governorship, Georgia was still left with two governors, each of whom had appointed government officials. The result was two months of chaos.

9. In March 1947 the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Melvin Thompson was the rightful governor because he was lieutenant governor–elect when Eugene Talmadge died.
In a 5-to-2 decision the justices ruled that Thompson would be the acting governor until a special election could be held to decide the remainder of the original term.
Within 2 hours of the court decision, Herman Talmadge left the governor's office.
Almost immediately he began campaigning for the special election in September 1948.