Richard McMullen Democratic Walter W. Bacon Republican The 1940 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Richard McMullen originally ran for re-election to a second term, and was renominated by the Democratic Party.

However, less than a month before the election, McMullen suffered a heart attack and he dropped out of the race.

The state party named Secretary of State Josiah Marvel Jr., as McMullen's replacement on the ballot.

[2] Ultimately, even as President Franklin D. Roosevelt was handily winning Delaware en route to re-election nationwide, and as Democrat James M. Tunnell was narrowly elected to the Senate, Bacon defeated Marvel by a decisive margin to regain the governorship for the Republican Party.