Three governors controversy

Three governors controversy: 1946-1947

Claim	Claim	Claim
Herman Talmadge	Ellis Arnall	Melvin Thompson
Democratic	Democratic	Democratic
Claim: Elected by the General Assembly	Claim: Being the incumbent governor	Claim: Being the lieutenant governor
Outcome: Resigned	Outcome: Resigned	Outcome: Declared sole governor

The three governors controversy was a political crisis in the U.S. state of Georgia from 1946 to 1947. On December 21, 1946, Eugene Talmadge, the governor-elect of Georgia, died before taking office. The state constitution did not specify who would assume the governorship in such a situation, so three men made claims to the governorship: Ellis Arnall, the outgoing governor; Melvin E. Thompson, the lieutenant governor-elect; and Herman Talmadge, Eugene Talmadge's son. Eventually a ruling by the Supreme Court of Georgia settled the matter in favor of Thompson. Georgia's Secretary of State Ben Fortson hid the state seal in his wheelchair so no official business could be conducted until the controversy was settled.