Elect Donnell Governor

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In 1940, Republican candidate Forrest C. Donnell ran for governor of Missouri in a hotly contested election against Democrat Larry McDaniel. The race took place during a turbulent period in Missouri politics following the fall of Tom Pendergast’s Kansas City political machine, which had long dominated Democratic power in the state. Donnell’s narrow victory ended more than a decade of one-party control and marked the beginning of a new era in Missouri politics. Once in office, he emphasized fiscal conservatism and efficiency, serving as governor from 1941 to 1945 before being elected to the U.S. Senate.

Donnell’s election nearly sparked a constitutional crisis. After the votes were counted, the Democratic-controlled legislature initially refused to certify his win, effectively blocking him from taking office. The standoff became known as the “Great Governorship Steal”, and it lasted for over a month before the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in Donnell’s favor. His eventual inauguration symbolized both a legal and political turning point in the state’s history.