Coloradoans on the Edge: Ralph Carr, Governor 1939-1943

Ralph Carr was first elected Colorado’s 29th Governor on November 8th 1938. Carr was elected as a Republican who opposed the New Deal policies of Franklin Roosevelt while supporting American entry into World War II.

Carr was most noted for his opposition to Japanese American resettlement calling it “the shame and dishonor of race hatred.” Carr also succeeded in reforming Colorado’s budgetary process when he transferred income taxes from public school support to the state’s general fund, thereby averting bankruptcy for the state.

Carr subsequently passed the State Reorganization Act, thought by some to be one of the most successful retooling of Colorado government in the state’s history.            

Ralph Carr was born on December 11th 1887 in Custer County in a little mining town in south central Colorado called Rosita (now a ghost town). His family moved to Cripple Creek in Teller County where Carr attended the local public school system and graduated from Cripple Creek High School.

He graduated from the University of Colorado receiving his LLB, and afterward practiced law in Trinidad and Victor. He became a county attorney (1922 to 1929) and later was Colorado’s assistant Attorney General (1927 to 1929). In 1929 Carr was appointed US District Attorney. He served as DA until 1933 when he was replaced by a New Dealer after the election of Franklin Roosevelt.

In 1938 the Republican Party, in turmoil, nominated Carr for Governor. Even then Colorado showed a strong streak of independence in electing an anti-New Dealer at the height of the New Deal.

Carr however was only to serve one term as Governor.

In 1942 as Japanese Americans were being relocated from the West Coast to prevent them from becoming a “fifth column” for a projected Japanese invasion of the US, Carr welcomed the refugees, strongly condemning the concentration camps in which they were kept.

“If you harm them, you must harm me,” cried Carr. “I was brought up in a small town where I knew the shame and dishonor of race hatred. I grew to despise it, because it threatened the happiness of you and you and you.”

In 1942 Carr narrowly lost election to the US Senate, losing to incumbent Senator Edwin Johnson. It was widely thought Carr’s opposition to Japanese American interment cost him the election.  

However Carr was again nominated by the Republicans for the Governor’s Mansion in 1950. He died before the general election.