Francis Grevemberg - Democratic Gubernatorial Campaign, 1956

Democratic Gubernatorial Campaign, 1956

In 1955, Grevemberg left the state police position to seek the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to succeed Governor Kennon. He finished fourth in the race, with 62,309 votes (7.6 percent). Mayor deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison Sr., of New Orleans polled 191,576 (23.4 percent). The winner in the first round was Huey Long's younger brother, Earl Kemp Long, with 421,681 (51.4 percent). Two other contenders, Fred Preaus of Farmerville and James M. McLemore of Alexandria, divided the remaining 18 percent of the vote. Earl Long was then unopposed in the general election held in the spring of 1956. Never did Earl Long face a Republican candidate for any office.

Questions arose in the campaign about Grevemberg's purchase of the Mirimar Hotel on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, an establishment which sold liquor and operated slot machines. Grevemberg, who himself denied drinking or gambling, said that he should not have bought into the business and sold his interest in the hotel at a loss of $10,000.

Grevemberg had a lieutenant governor candidate on his statewide slate, Democrat Wesley H. Clanton (1906–1986) of Eunice in St. Landry Parish.