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During the first decades of the 20th century, some white Republicans began to try to build up the party. In 1928, [[Étienne Caire]], a [[business]]man from Edgard in St. John the Baptist Parish, polled 4 percent in the gubernatorial election in his challenge of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RB2Hxcg4zNoC&pg=PA511&lpg=PA511&dq=James+M.+McLemore+of+Louisiana&source=bl&ots=1Yi8hxLt9i&sig=gUMWwG9IvX6ust-vytitdL_u3aA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QUBwUpyHCqrX2QWdlIGwAg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=James%20M.%20McLemore%20of%20Louisiana&f=false|title=''Louisiana Almanac, 2008-2009''|author=[[Milburn E. Calhoun]]|page=511|publisher=Pelican Publishing Company|date=2008|accessdate=November 29, 2013}}</ref> In 1952, Bagwell ran as only the second Republican candidate for governor in the 20th century.

During the first decades of the 20th century, some white Republicans began to try to build up the party. In 1928, [[Étienne Caire]], a [[business]]man from Edgard in St. John the Baptist Parish, polled 4 percent in the gubernatorial election in his challenge of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RB2Hxcg4zNoC&pg=PA511&lpg=PA511&dq=James+M.+McLemore+of+Louisiana&source=bl&ots=1Yi8hxLt9i&sig=gUMWwG9IvX6ust-vytitdL_u3aA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QUBwUpyHCqrX2QWdlIGwAg&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=James%20M.%20McLemore%20of%20Louisiana&f=false|title=''Louisiana Almanac, 2008-2009''|author=[[Milburn E. Calhoun]]|page=511|publisher=Pelican Publishing Company|date=2008|accessdate=November 29, 2013}}</ref> In 1952, Bagwell ran as only the second Republican candidate for governor in the 20th century.

In the gubernatorial [[general election]] held on April 22, 1952, Bagwell polled 4,958 votes (4 percent) of the vote statewide in a low-turnout contest against the Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]], a judge from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who received 118,723 (96 percent). Bagwell reached double digits in only three parishes, St. James (13 percent), Iberia (12.5 percent), and his own East Baton Rouge Parish (11.8 percent). In three parishes, Concordia, DeSoto, and Tensas, Bagwell received not a single vote.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCUXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=Harrison+G.+Bagwell&source=bl&ots=7-PJRE9l32&sig=Du9yYdQmCViyHoo58tfKfpIHjgk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-QSsVK_rCMGGyATVjIGgAw&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Harrison%20G.%20Bagwell&f=false|title=United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County|pages=103–104|publisher=McFarland and Company|location=Jefferson, [[North Carolina]]|isbn=978-0-7864-7034-1|author=Michael J. Dubin|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> ​

In the gubernatorial [[general election]] held on April 22, 1952, Bagwell polled 4,958 votes (4 percent) of the vote statewide in a low-turnout contest against the Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]], a judge from [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], who received 118,723 votes (96 percent). Bagwell reached double digits in only three parishes, St. James (13 percent), Iberia (12.5 percent), and his own East Baton Rouge Parish (11.8 percent). In three parishes, Concordia, DeSoto, and Tensas, Bagwell received not a single vote.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCUXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=Harrison+G.+Bagwell&source=bl&ots=7-PJRE9l32&sig=Du9yYdQmCViyHoo58tfKfpIHjgk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-QSsVK_rCMGGyATVjIGgAw&ved=0CE0Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Harrison%20G.%20Bagwell&f=false|title=United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1932-1952: The Official Results by State and County|pages=103–104|publisher=McFarland and Company|location=Jefferson, [[North Carolina]]|isbn=978-0-7864-7034-1|author=Michael J. Dubin|accessdate=January 6, 2015}}</ref> ​

Bagwell's gubernatorial showing was far below the votes secured by his fellow Republican, [[Clem S. Clarke]], in the [[United States Senate]] special general election of 1948. The [[Shreveport]] [[oil]]man polled just over 100,000 votes in his failed challenge of Democrat [[Russell Long]], older son of Huey Long.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, U. S. Senate election returns, November 2, 1948.</ref> By 2015, Republicans for the first time held both Senate seats from Louisiana.​

Bagwell's gubernatorial showing was far below the votes secured by his fellow Republican, [[Clem S. Clarke]], in the [[United States Senate]] special general election of 1948. The [[Shreveport]] [[oil]]man polled just over 100,000 votes in his failed challenge of Democrat [[Russell Long]], the older son of Huey Long.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, U. S. Senate election returns, November 2, 1948.</ref> By 2015, Republicans for the first time held both Senate seats from Louisiana.​

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Bagwell said that his primary goal in running for governor was to try to establish a competitive two-party system in Louisiana. He said that the state Republican party was being held back by its traditional leaders so that they could maintain their control over the party organization.<ref>{{cite web

Bagwell said that his primary goal in running for governor was to try to establish a competitive two-party system in Louisiana. He said that the state Republican party was being held back by its traditional leaders so that they could maintain their control over the party organization.<ref>{{cite web