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In 1970, Dunn sought the Republican nomination for governor. His opponents for the nomination included state House Speaker and later [[U.S. Representative]] William Lewis Jenkins (born 1936), industrialist Walton Maxey Jarman (1904-1980) of [[Nashville]], the [[Knoxville]] attorney and the former chair of the state party Claude K. Robertson (born 1932; deceased), and the 1962 gubernatorial nominee, Hubert David Patty (1927-2002). Boosted in part by a large turnout in his populous home county of Shelby, Dunn won the nomination, having led his nearest opponent, Jarman, by ten thousand votes.<ref name=langsdon/> In the general election, he defeated the Democrat John Jay Hooker, Jr. (1930-2016), a Nashville attorney.

In 1970, Dunn sought the Republican nomination for governor. His opponents for the nomination included state House Speaker and later [[U.S. Representative]] William Lewis Jenkins (born 1936), industrialist Walton Maxey Jarman (1904-1980) of [[Nashville]], the [[Knoxville]] attorney and the former chair of the state party Claude K. Robertson (born 1932; deceased), and the 1962 gubernatorial nominee, Hubert David Patty (1927-2002). Boosted in part by a large turnout in his populous home county of Shelby, Dunn won the nomination, having led his nearest opponent, Jarman, by ten thousand votes.<ref name=langsdon/> In the general election, he defeated the Democrat John Jay Hooker, Jr. (1930-2016), a Nashville attorney.

Even before Dunn's election, the Tennessee GOP had flexed its muscle in 1966, when [[Howard Baker]], the son-in-law of Senate Republican Leader [[Everett Dirksen]], ran for the U.S. Senate against Governor Frank Goad Clement (1920-1969).  In 1968, Nixon carried the state over [Hubert Humphrey]] and [[George Wallace]], Republicans won control of the state House of Representatives, and Republican Dan Heflin Kuykendall (1924-2008) was elected to the Memphis-based 9th congressional district seat, the first Republican to hold the post since 1872.<ref name=langsdon/>  With future federal judge Harry Walker Wellford (1924-2021) and future Governor and U.S. Senator [[Lamar Alexander]] steering his campaign, Dunn defeated Hooker, 557,024 votes to 498,757.<ref name=langsdon/><ref name=dries>Bill Dries, "Dunn's Book Details GOP Comeback in Tennessee," ''Memphis Daily News,'' accessed December 30, 2012.</ref>

Even before Dunn's election, the Tennessee GOP had flexed its muscle in 1966, when [[Howard Baker]], the son-in-law of Senate Republican Leader [[Everett Dirksen]], ran for the U.S. Senate against Governor Frank Goad Clement (1920-1969).  In 1968, Nixon carried the state over [[Hubert Humphrey]] and [[George Wallace]], Republicans won control of the state House of Representatives, and Republican Dan Heflin Kuykendall (1924-2008) was elected to the Memphis-based 9th congressional district seat, the first Republican to hold the post since 1872.<ref name=langsdon/>  With future federal judge Harry Walker Wellford (1924-2021) and future Governor and U.S. Senator [[Lamar Alexander]] steering his campaign, Dunn defeated Hooker, 557,024 votes to 498,757.<ref name=langsdon/><ref name=dries>Bill Dries, "Dunn's Book Details GOP Comeback in Tennessee," ''Memphis Daily News,'' accessed December 30, 2012.</ref>

Upon taking office, Dunn sought to unify the state, and offered state appointments to both Republicans and Democrats. the Democrats, in control of both state legislative houses,  were initially uncooperative, with House Speaker James R. McKinney and Lieutenant Governor John Shelton Wilder (1921-2010), tried to thwart his legislative agenda.<ref>Rodney Stanley and P. Edward French, "John Wilder: The Longest Tenured State Legislator in Tennessee History''  (University Press of America, 2007), p. 105.</ref> In 1972, Ned McWherter was elected House speaker, and proved more open to cooperation with the Republican governor. Coincidentally, fourteen years later McWherter defeated Dunn's comeback attempt for governor.<ref name=langsdon/>

Upon taking office, Dunn sought to unify the state, and offered state appointments to both Republicans and Democrats. the Democrats, in control of both state legislative houses,  were initially uncooperative, with House Speaker James R. McKinney and Lieutenant Governor John Shelton Wilder (1921-2010), tried to thwart his legislative agenda.<ref>Rodney Stanley and P. Edward French, "John Wilder: The Longest Tenured State Legislator in Tennessee History''  (University Press of America, 2007), p. 105.</ref> In 1972, Ned McWherter was elected House speaker, and proved more open to cooperation with the Republican governor. Coincidentally, fourteen years later McWherter defeated Dunn's comeback attempt for governor.<ref name=langsdon/>