Three governors controversy

The Three governors controversy was a constitutional crisis that occurred in the U.S. state of Georgia from 1946 to 1947.

Eugene Talmadge, the Governor-elect of Georgia, died before taking office and Constitution of Georgia did not specify an order of succession in such a situation. Three men made claims to the governorship: the outgoing governor Ellis Arnall, the Lieutenant Governor-elect Melvin E. Thompson, and Talmadge's son Herman Talmadge. Georgia's Secretary of State Benjamin W. Fortson Jr. hid the state seal in his wheelchair so no official business could be conducted until the controversy was settled. The Supreme Court of Georgia made a ruling which settled the matter in favor of Thompson four months later.

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