John Connally Campaign Material

After years of working behind the scenes, John Connally entered politics at the top, declaring himself a candidate for governor in 1962. He faced a large field of opponents, including incumbent Price Daniel, and early polls showed Connally with only four percent of the vote. But all of Connally's years in politics paid off -- not only was he well-connected with the powerful such as LBJ and oilman Sid Richardson, but he had a strong grassroots organization of politically astute supporters. Connally won the Democratic runoff and then the election.

The following year, he was shot and seriously wounded while riding in an open car with President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, November 22, 1963. After coming through that experience with courage, he was unstoppable, winning landslide reelection in both 1964 and 1966.

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John Connally Campaign Material, Texas Governor's Mansion Collection, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.