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1954 Arizona gubernatorial election
	County results; McFarland: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Pyle: 50–60%
Governor before election; John Howard Pyle; Republican	Elected Governor ; Ernest McFarland; Democratic

The 1954 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Governor John Howard Pyle, the first Republican elected to the office in two decades, ran for reelection for a third term.

Former U.S. Senator Ernest McFarland defeated Governor John Howard Pyle by a narrow margin. McFarland had lost his bid for reelection to the United States Senate to Barry Goldwater in 1952, with McFarland subsequently deciding to run for the office of governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

John Howard Pyle, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Howard Pyle (incumbent)	29,916	100.00%
Total votes			29,916	100.00%

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary took place on September 7, 1954. Due to the Republican Party tidal wave led by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952, incumbent U.S. Senator Ernest McFarland lost his bid for reelection to the United States Senate to Barry Goldwater. He subsequently decided to run for the office of Governor of Arizona and challenge incumbent Republican Governor John Howard Pyle, the first Republican to hold the office for more than two decades. McFarland was challenged in the primary by State Senator William F. Kimball, but McFarland easily won.

Candidates

Ernest McFarland, former U.S. Senator
William F. Kimball, State Senator

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ernest W. McFarland	89,190	74.24%
	Democratic	William F. Kimball	30,954	25.76%
Total votes			120,144	100.00%

General election

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 1954^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ernest W. McFarland	128,104	52.51%	+12.67%
	Republican	John Howard Pyle (incumbent)	115,866	47.49%	−12.67%
Majority			12,238	5.02%
Total votes			243,970	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing	+25.34%

Results by county

County	Ernest W. McFarland Democratic		John Howard Pyle Republican		Margin		Total votes cast^[2]
County	#	%	#	%	#	%	Total votes cast^[2]
Apache	1,457	57.98%	1,056	42.02%	401	15.96%	2,513
Cochise	6,331	58.53%	4,486	41.47%	1,845	17.06%	10,817
Coconino	2,631	50.71%	2,557	49.29%	74	1.43%	5,188
Gila	5,672	67.48%	2,734	32.52%	2,938	34.95%	8,406
Graham	2,321	58.26%	1,663	41.74%	658	16.52%	3,984
Greenlee	3,260	75.96%	1,032	24.04%	2,228	51.91%	4,292
Maricopa	60,728	49.83%	61,139	50.17%	-411	-0.34%	121,867
Mohave	1,367	60.59%	889	39.41%	478	21.19%	2,256
Navajo	2,930	54.90%	2,407	45.10%	523	9.80%	5,337
Pima	23,881	49.57%	24,296	50.43%	-415	-0.86%	48,177
Pinal	5,862	60.40%	3,843	39.60%	2,019	20.80%	9,705
Santa Cruz	1,507	51.17%	1,438	48.83%	69	2.34%	2,945
Yavapai	4,558	49.66%	4,621	50.34%	-63	-0.69%	9,179
Yuma	5,599	60.18%	3,705	39.82%	1,894	20.36%	9,304
Totals	128,104	52.51%	115,866	47.49%	12,238	5.02%	243,970