1932: Dennis Chavez vs. Herbert Hoover

[Bo]

FDR has a stroke right before the Convention. In a surprise move, FDR withdraws from the Presidential race and throws his full support to NM Representative Dennis Chavez. Chavez is thus nominated for President at the Democratic Convention, in a very stunning move. The GOP renominates incumbent President Herbert Hoover. Chavez pledges to improve the economy and help ordinary Americans much more, while Hoover attacks Chavez as an extremist and insists that his policies are beginning to work. Everything else stays the same. You pick the VPs. How would this election turn out? Discuss, with maps.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

[Bo]

Are you sure the U.S. would be that receptive to a one-term Latino Representative back in the 1930s?

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Are you sure the U.S. would be that receptive to a one-term Latino Representative back in the 1930s?

Well, Hoover was pretty much DOA...

Being a Democrat, Chavez automatically retains the South, has an extremely good shot at winning the West, hard hit by the farming crisis...

Unless he slips up badly, Chavez has it in the bag. Any Democrat would.

[Bo]

Are you sure the U.S. would be that receptive to a one-term Latino Representative back in the 1930s?

Well, Hoover was pretty much DOA...

Being a Democrat, Chavez automatically retains the South, has an extremely good shot at winning the West, hard hit by the farming crisis...

Unless he slips up badly, Chavez has it in the bag. Any Democrat would.

A black Democrat wouldn't have had it in the bag. I know prejudice towards Latinos was less than towards blacks in the 1930s, but I'm still thinking some voters would have been alienated by Chavez's ethnicity and vote for Hoover, even if they disagreed with his policies, or just stay home.

[President Mitt]

Being a Democrat, Chavez automatically retains the South

The Deep South barely went for a White Catholic Democrat in 1928; much less the entire South.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Being a Democrat, Chavez automatically retains the South

The Deep South barely went for a White Catholic Democrat in 1928; much less the entire South.

1928 is a far cry from 1932, and I highly doubt Hoover would win the South.

[Bo]

Being a Democrat, Chavez automatically retains the South

The Deep South barely went for a White Catholic Democrat in 1928; much less the entire South.

1928 is a far cry from 1932, and I highly doubt Hoover would win the South.

Some Southern states could vote third-party like in 1948 or 1968, since I'm not so sure many Southerners back then would have been happy with the concept of a Latino President.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Being a Democrat, Chavez automatically retains the South

The Deep South barely went for a White Catholic Democrat in 1928; much less the entire South.

1928 is a far cry from 1932, and I highly doubt Hoover would win the South.

Some Southern states could vote third-party like in 1948 or 1968, since I'm not so sure many Southerners back then would have been happy with the concept of a Latino President.

Well, no third party was offered in this scenario, so I placed them into their habitual role of voting Democratic.

[Bo]

Being a Democrat, Chavez automatically retains the South

The Deep South barely went for a White Catholic Democrat in 1928; much less the entire South.

1928 is a far cry from 1932, and I highly doubt Hoover would win the South.

Some Southern states could vote third-party like in 1948 or 1968, since I'm not so sure many Southerners back then would have been happy with the concept of a Latino President.

Well, no third party was offered in this scenario, so I placed them into their habitual role of voting Democratic.

Touche.

[Bo]

Chavez wins 319-212.

[Thomas D]

Ohio Flips. Otherwise not a big change

[Ameriplan]